📌 Glenmore, Highland
★★★★
Set apart from other high ground, the isolated position of Meall a’ Bhuachaille (Hill of the shepherd) is one of the best viewpoints for Glenmore Forest Park and the northern Cairngorms. The broad ridge is often free of snow or cloud when the main Cairngorm plateau is locked in ice or fogbound, making it a viable option when others are open only to more experienced walkers. On the outward route, An Lochan Uaine (the green lochan) indeed takes on this unusual hue (especially during sunshine) and makes for a lovely destination in itself. Keep your eyes peeled for red squirrels both in the forest and on the visitor centre feeders at the start; if you’re really lucky, the local reindeer herd also occasionally wanders across these hills. Refreshments are available at the start, and also at the excellent Penny Bun restaurant: at Badaguish on the return leg.
📷 Chronological photo guide
Ascent from Glenmore 
Rough descent to An Lochan Uaine 
An Lochan Uaine 
Ryvoan Pass 
Ryvoan Bothy 
Ascent to Meall a’ Bhuachaille 
View back to the Ryvoan Pass 
Meall a’ Bhuachaille summit 
Continuation to Creagan Gorm 
Loch Morlich from the descent from Meall a’ Bhuachaille 
Looking back to Meall a’ Bhuachaille 
Creagan Gorm summit 
Looking north 
View back along the ridge from the approach to the 711m top 
711m top, looking up Strathspey 
Loch Morlich & the high Cairngorms 
Approach to Craiggowrie 
Craiggowrie summit, looking north 
Descent WSW from Craiggowrie 
Forest track return 
Red squirrel at Glenmore Visitor Centre (start / finish)
🌍 Location
📌 Start / finish at Glenmore Visitor Centre, minor road 5 mi east of Aviemore
🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NH 977098
🛰️GPS coordinates: 57.167447,-3.693679
🚌 Bus stops at visitor centre
🚗 Car park (charge)
📝 Key info
▶ 16 km / 10 mi | ▲ 990 m | ⌛ 5-6 hr
Features: 🌲 Glenmore Forest Park ★★★; 💧 An Lochan Uaine; △ Meall a’ Bhuachaille (810 m, Corbett); △ Creagan Gorm (732 m); △ Craiggowrie (687 m)
⬤ Tough | Good tracks and paths, steep on ascent of Meall a’ Bhuachaille. Rough sections before An Lochan Uaine; boggy on descent from Craiggowrie.
Download file for GPS➡️ Anticlockwise circuit: start – An Lochan Uaine – Ryvoan Bothy – Meall a’ Bhuachaille – Creagan Gorm – Craigowwrie – enter forest at 🧭 NH 951131 – Badaguish Outdoor Centre – start
🥾 On our last visit
Wildlife: A pair of birds of prey overhead, chaffinches, tits, robins, very windblown butterflies. Red squirrels outside the visitor centre at the start on multiple previous visits.
Weather: Quite sunny with some larger areas of cloud & blustery winds. 8°C at start, warming into the high teens in Glenmore later.
September 2025 (some photos less recent)
