Braemar Bike & Hike
This is a four day Braemar Bike & Hike event exploring remote hills in the Cairngorms National Park. It will include the extremely remote Carn an Fhidhleir and An Sgarsoch on day one. Beinn a’Chaorainn and Beinn Bhreac on day two. Carn Bhac, Beinn Iutharn Mhor and An Socach on day three. Beinn Bhrotain and Mondadh Mor on day four.
This is a Bike & Hike event so you will need to bring a mountain bike and a helmet with you.
An Sgarsoch & Carn an Fhidhleir
This is a long day in wild country to tackle two very remote Munros. We cycle out from the Linn of Dee on good landrover tracks passing White Bridge on our way to the Red House. This is currently in the process of being converted into a new bothy by the Mountain Bothies Association and is in a truly wild location. Heading past the bothy we continue on a good track that has two fords to cross. Beyond these we head down to the Geldie Burn and leave the bikes. Crossing the Geldie usually requires a paddle so some sandles are a good idea!
Once we are over the Geldie we continue past the ruined Geldie Lodge on a path contouring the hillside. This finishes before we cross the Allt a’Chaorainn after which the going is rougher. We cross boggy ground to reach the north ridge of Carn an Fhidhleir. A steep grassy climb brings us to the summit ridge and easier walking.
A path leads us away from the summit before heading down to the beallach before An Sgarsoch. There is a steady climb through heather and grass to reach the summit of An Sgarsoch. We head east and then north to descend back to Geldie Lodge and a refreshing paddle to reach the bikes. It’s a long ride back to the cars after some well won Munros.
Distance: 40km Ascent: 1050m Time: 9-12hrs
Beinn a’Chaorainn & Beinn Bhreac
We will meet up at the Linn of Dee carpark again and head in to Derry Lodge on our bikes. Leaving the bikes we will head along the beautiful Glen Derry making for the Lairig an Laoigh. Here we strike up steep slopes at first to climb on to Beinn a’Chaorainn. The views are wonderful in the heart of the Cairngorms and hopefully we can have some lunch at the summit!
Leaving the summit we head down an cross the wild Moine Bhealaidh towards Beinn Bhreac. It is always a little further than it looks walking over this section and it’s much better if you can see where you’re going. Beinn Bhreac is a short and easy climb up on the other side. It has good views as we drop down and back into the pinewoods to return to the bikes at Derry Lodge.
Distance: 30km Ascent: 900m Time: 7-9hrs
Carn Bhac, Beinn Iutharn Mhor & An Socach
We will meet at the car park at the entrance to Glen Ey. An excellent vehicle track heads through the estate buildings and into the Glen. It has one steep climb and proves an easy ride to the ruins of Altanour lodge. Here we leave the bikes and head up a rougher track that leads us up towards Carn Bhac. It’s easy ground and soon a rougher path crosses the boulderfield to the first summit. An easy descent leads to rough peat hags and some pathless walking to reach the steep flanks of Beinn Iutharn Mhor.
The climb is a steep mix of boulders and grass that eventually eases onto a lovely ridge. Following this to the broad summit boulderfield and its expansive views. More boulderfields lead onto easier grassy walking as we make our way around to Lochan nan Eun. This time we head east along the shore and over rough boggy ground. We head for the steeper slopes of An Socach and weave up on bits of path to the bouldery summit. It’s a great view point on a clear day especially down the long Glen Ey.
Our route descends north from the summit along a bouldery ridge before going down a steep heathery slope. This gives way to boggy ground and heather as the gradient eases. We head over to the stream and ford it to gain a boggy path back to the bikes at Altanour. It’s a lovely cycle back to finish off another big rewarding day.
Distance: 34km Ascent: 1200m Time: 9-11hrs
Beinn Bhrotain & Monadh Mor
Another start at the Linn of Dee, but this time we cycle out to White Bridge and along the side of the River Dee. Leaving the bikes we pick up a faint path climbing steadily up Carn Cloich-Mhuillin. This is a fine summit and one of the original Munros before it was demoted to a top in 1981. As we head over towards Beinn Bhrotain the ground gets increasingly rocky and bouldery. The views from the summit are expansive and worth the effort.
We weave our way over the boulders and down to narrow col before climbing steeply up the other side. Once out of the col the gradient eases for a lovely high level walk along Monadh Mor. There are a few routes back down to the bikes, but weather and energy levels will determine which we take. However, retracing our route back over Beinn Bhrotain back is always a good option!
Distance: 32km Ascent: 1200m Time: 8-10hrs
If you’re only interested in walking on specific days then please let me know and I will see what I can do. The running order may change depending on the weather.
£300
Group size is limited to a maximum of 6 people. To book your place on this walk please read my booking information and complete a booking form using the button below.