📌 Glenmore Forest Park, Highland
★★★
Ord Bàn is a steep-sided, characterful hill south of Aviemore, with sweeping views over Strathspey, the Cairngorms and the Monadhliath. A short but steep path zigzags up to the summit from the busy Loch an Eilein car park (if you have time, combining the two routes makes a varied half-day outing) through forest, ferns and latterly heather. This route will live long in the memory for us due to the number of sheep ticks we found crawling on us by the time we reached the top, as well as back at the car park. Consider yourself warned!
📷 Chronological photo guide
The start of the path to Ord Bàn is just behind this building 
Ascent path 
Loch an Eilein & the Cairngorms from the ascent 
View in February 
Rocky step 
Looking north towards Aviemore from the summit 
Looking towards the Meall a’ Bhuachaille ridge 
Looking east towards the Cairngorms 
Looking southeast 
Looking southwest up Strathspey 
Looking west towards the Monadhliath in winter
🌍 Location
📌 Start / finish at north end of Loch an Eilein, minor road end 3 mi south of Aviemore
🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NH 897085
🛰️ GPS coordinates: 57.154590,-3.824765
❌ No public transport within 1 mi
🚗 Car park (seasonal charge)
📝 Key info
▶ 2 km / 1 mi | ▲ 180 m | ⌛ 1 hr
Features: △ Ord Bàn (428 m, sub-2000′ Marilyn)
⬤ Moderate | Vertigo-inducing ladder stile very near start, then fairly steep ascent on a narrow path. Small rocky step near summit may require hands.
Download file for GPS➡️ Out-and-back walk: start – climb ladder stile behind old building to northwest of car park – path initially ascends to southwest, almost parallel to fence – Ord Bàn – return by outward route
🥾 On our last visit
Wildlife: Not much, except that we managed to accumulate well over 100 sheep ticks each on this walk – be warned!
Weather: Mostly cloudy, a little sunshine but also a little rain on the summit. Cloud slowly lifting off the higher Cairngorms.
July 2021
