A classic circuit around the big mutha of the eastern Highlands taking in the mountain's main summit along with no less than eight subsidiary tops. Watch the weather though.
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Cairngorm > Fiacaill Coire an t-Sneachda > Leth-choine >
Cairngorm
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10.75miles (17Km)
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Height Gain: Height Gain: 3882 ft (1185 m)
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Overview: A circular traverse of Scotland's most easily accessible 4000er taking in in all nine "tops" along with the main summit and all without the funicular...
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Maps: Ordnance Survey: Explorer 403, LR 36
Online: Streetmap
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Strenuousness: 3
Technicality: 2
Photogenicness: 3
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Start Point: SD
900 626 -
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This is a satisfying circular traverse of Scotland's most easily accessible 4000er which ignores the funicular - no aid here - and takes in all nine "tops" along with the main summit of Cairngorm itself. Please note that the Cairgorm plateau is almost featureless once away from the summit itself, and is a serious proposition in winter conditions where navigation can be very difficult. Bear in mind that the weather in the eastern Highlands can change suddenly at any time of year and snow outside winter is far from uncommon. In other words, treat this route with respect.
Section 1 Coire na Ciste to Cairngorm
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Length: 3 miles ( 4.7Km)
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Height Gain: 2400 ft (
734m)
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From the car park walk slightly east, crossing the Allt na Ciste, to a major crossroads of paths. Turn south east (map bearing 129 degrees) and gain an obvious rib heading uphill for 1 1/4 miles to the summit of Sron a Cha-no.
The summit is the first of the Cairngorm tops, and from its small cairn you get impressive views east over Strath Nethy to Bynack More. From Sron a' Cha-no a broad ridge leads easily up Cnap Coire na Spreidhe, before being joined by the main track from Ptarmigan and Corie Cas.
From here to the summit of Cairngorm, passing Marquis' Well along the way, is simply a matter of following the broad highway towards the obvious weather station, mast and oversized summit cairn.
Section 2 - Cairngorm to Creag an Leth-choine
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Length: Length: 3.25miles (5.04Km)
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Height Gain: 792ft (241m)
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Although the bulk of the climbing is now behind you, there are still an impressive seven tops left to go. Head west, downhill, with the rim of Corie Cas to your right. The path temporarily curves right to take in the top of Fiacaill a Choire Chais, then curves back left as it drops down to the head of Coire Raibeirt on the right.
Climb again, alongside the steep headwalls of Coire an t-Sneachda to the top of Stob Coire an t-Sneachda then curve gently right to take in Fiacaill Coire an t-Sneachda. The wide path now skirts the crags towering above Corie an Lochain to the top of Cairn Lochan.
Descend west at first, then north west, over easy slopes. An obvious path heads off north here, providing a shorter escape route back to the Corie Cas and Corie na Ciste car parks, but with only two tops left it's worth carrying on to take in the Fiacaill na Leth-choine.
Continue north west to the obvious summit of Creag an Leth-choin, guarding the northern entrance to the Lairig Ghru.
Section 3 - Creag an Leth-choine to Coire na Ciste
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Length: 4.5miles (7Km)
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Height Gain: 690ft (210m)
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Ignoring the final cairn of the ridge to the north take the path down the north west flank of Creag an Leth-choire to join the path coming from the Lairig Ghru, then turn right to follow it through the Chalamain Gap. From here the path drops to join the Allt Creag an Leth-choin and an easy two-mile walk back to the car parks and your start point
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