Braemar to Tomintoul (and back) - Day 1,2

In May 2016, I returned to the Cairngorms for another multi-day adventure, this time a 60 mile solo hike to the highest village in the Scottish Highlands, Tomintoul. I start and finish at the village of Braemar in Aberdeenshire, heading out via Mar Lodge Estate and returning via Invercauld estate... 4 days, 3 nights wild camping and 3 bothy visits. Re-edited version.

Day 1 - Started from Braemar early afternoon and walked about 7 miles to Bob Scott's bothy where I wild camped for the first night. Met some guys who were staying in the bothy, members of the mba.

Day 2 - Walked 13 miles from Bob Scott's bothy to Faindouran bothy via The fords of Avon and visited Hutchinson memorial hut en-route.  Wild camped at Faindouran bothy and had the place all to myself.  :) 

Bothy bagging gone wrong! Day 3

DAY 3



In the final part of my walk, I head for The Shieling of Mark bothy, climbing over Hill of Rowan towards Invermark. From Invermark I take a side trip to Queen's Well before passing through Glen Lee to visit the Glen Lee Hut and The Stables of Lee bothy then I continue uphill towards the Shieling of Mark. But do I make it to my destination?? Watch to find out!

Bothy bagging gone wrong! Day 2

DAY 2

I continue my walk to the next bothy heading West to Glen Esk and navigating my way over Clachnaben and Mount Battock. The plan on day 2 was to camp at Tarfside sports ground but I never made it that far and ended up wild camping by a river about 1.5 miles from Tarfside.

Bothy bagging gone wrong! Day 1

DAY 1

In my first hike of 2016, I head to Deeside in Aberdeenshire on another bothy bagging trip. The original plan was to visit 6 bothies starting from Banchory in Deeside and finishing at Crathie in Balmoral. I planned out my route on Google Earth. Things didn't quite go to plan. I couldn't find Shieling of Mark bothy (yet I was so close) this also meant that I couldn't navigate my way to the next place, which would have been Glen Muick. I became stuck in a valley and had to turn back the way I came. My quickest escape route was a climb over Mount Keen (939 m ascent) from Invermark, to follow a path towards Ballater but the Ballater path wasn't clear so I ended up walking 16 miles from the top of Mount Keen to Aboyne (a route that was familiar to me). I did not film this because I was not in the mood after my mistake. During my expidition I passed through Banchory, Aboyne, Glen Esk, Tarfside, Invermark, Loch Lee and climbed Clachnaben, Mount Battock, Hill of Rowan and Mount Keen for a second time. I visited three bothies including Charr, Glen Lee hut and Stables of Lee. I must have walked about 70 miles up and over the hills but failed at my challenge.

Ben Vorlich from Arrochar

Ben Vorlich is a bulky and very rugged mountain, the most northerly of the Arrochar Alps. It is possible to walk a fine circuit taking in the Little Hills from Ardlui to the north, but the ascent here, from Inveruglas via the Loch Sloy dam road, is the quickest.

Munros included on this walk: Ben Vorlich (Loch Lomond)
Date walked: 14/04/2016
Time taken: 4 hours
Distance: 13.5 km
Ascent: 945m

 Ben Vorlich is a bulky and very rugged mountain, the most northerly of the Arrochar Alps. It is possible to walk a fine circuit taking in the Little Hills from Ardlui to the north, but the ascent here, from Inveruglas via the Loch Sloy dam road, is the quickest.

I took a bus from Glasgow to Tarbet on Thursday afternoon, arriving in Tarbet about 2pm.

Upon arrival I immediately began my hike towards Sloy dam, picking up the woodland path at Tarbet station and following it to meet the Glen Loin loop above Arrochar.  My aim was to find somewhere suitable to wild camp, close to the dam, and near the start of the mountain path.  I just took my time, pondering along through the trees looking for the Glen Loin caves en-route (and not having much success).

I eventually reached Sloy dam around 6pm and found a great little spot to pitch up, in front of the dam (enough flat ground for a small 2 man tent).  I had seen a better spot earlier on the trail but wanted to be closer to the dam.

I had a peaceful night all alone by the dam, not much people around except for the Scottish Hydro workers who drove past a few times in the morning.

I was up for about 9am to make a start on the long daunting climb to the summit of Ben Vorlich.  Actually it wasn't too bad, a tad cold, there was some light snow at one point and there was a considerable amount of snow lying near the top.  I was presented with some bonnie views of Sloy damn as I made progress but due to mist I couldn't see much else. 

It took me about an hour and a half to reach the summit, where it was VERY cold, icy and very windy, couldn't stay long, only long enough to smile for a selfie. I met one other guy coming down as I was on my way up.

I was back down by about half past 1, not sure what took me so long but my hands were freezing and the first thing to do was make a nice hot drink and some noodles to get warmed up.  I was pretty much bored after that, I had contemplated climbing Ben Vane but I didn't have time as I had to head back over to Arrochar to meet Jay at Ben Arthurs bothy.

Bothy bagging in the Cairngorms - Day 3 and 4

 Day 3 - I ascend over the hills from Loch Callater to Loch Muick where the next bothy is located. I enjoy a few Beers, sitting out by the loch until the sun goes down. Then I get the fire sparked up inside the bothy.

Day 4 - Walked along Loch Muick to the Spittal of Glenmuick and went in search of Shieling of Mark bothy, walked up the Glen for about 3 miles but couldn't spot it so returned to the spittal of Glenmuick and walked to Ballater (8 miles) where I caught the bus home.

Bothy bagging in the Cairngorms - Day 2

Day 2 - Had breakfast in the bothy before walking 9 miles back to Braemar where I grabbed supplies from the shop before making my way to the next bothy at Loch Callater. 7 miles.