Cairngorms midsummer mini adventure

 

There is nothing better than 3 days in the wilderness to restore energies and forget about your daily life. It was like destiny wanted us there. What are the odds of finding space in the Aviemore youth hostel for 3 nights, and bike space on both outbound and inbound train, and kind of good weather too??

Day 1 – Cairn Toul traverse (turned back after first 2 Munroes) – 20km

21 June 24

We took the after work train on Thursday and arrived in Aviemore at 8.30pm. The road was empty, I've never see it like that! Quick stop at the shop, check in and off to bed, both exited and scared for the big day to come. We knew the forecasts were not great up in the mountains but we tried anyway.

We left the hostel at 7am, cycled 8km to the start of the path, lock them there and off we went. It was actually quite warm in the forest, and gosh I missed it so much! We kept going until we got at the junction to go up the first hill. Took off the shoes, forded the stream,and up we went on the steep path. We could see black clouds in the Lairg Ghru, and on the tops, but we were super motivated to get the loop done (we already failed twice before...).

 

 

 

We later found out we didn't have to ford...

The views were getting better the higher we went, until we got eaten by the clouds and saw nothing, we could just feel and hear the strong wind roaring. Visibility was down to 10m, sometimes I couldn't even see Paul just behind me. We followed the path and managed to bag the first 2 Munroes, after which the path disappeared and Paul had to stop several times to check the navigation, and every time I was losing heat. Scared of hypothermia I decided it was time to turn back, a bit of a failure, again, but we figured there was no point in keeping going as we couldn't see anything and it was becoming dangerous... Happy first day of summer, wherever summer is!!

We turned back, got to the place were we could sea again, found shelter behind a rock and had our lunch with the most amazing view in front of us, frankly, no regrets at all! Back to the bikes we had the most pleasant cycle back and since we were back early we strolled around the shops for a chilled out afternoon.

That's were we were...total blackness

 

 

 

Day 2 - Bynack More and loop - 20km cycled and 36 walked.

Today we definitely made it up for the day before! The weather improved and we managed to destroy ourselves, I mean, to put km in the legs as training for the upcoming Alps trip.

We set off again at 7am, cycled the 10km to Glenmore, parked the bikes at the visitor center, and started walking along a nice path in the forest, description of the walk here:

https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/cairngorms/creag-mhor.shtml

It was warmish and definitely not as windy as the day before, but by the time we reached the top of the Munroe the clouds arrived and took the views. We sat and ate a piece of cake thinking they would clear, but they only cleared when we were half way through the descent... Oh well!

Oh well, what can you do

The sun came out and the layers were removed one at a time. We backtracked until we got on the path that would take us to the fords of Avon. The path was a bit rocky but still good (it's part of the Cairngorms loop, no way I would take the bike there!). We arrived at the Bothy in time for lunch (8 min, we eat fast!), then we started climbing until we reached the most heavenly of the places, truly stunning and by far the best part of the walk.

Pictures don't make justice to this place

After the loch the path climbed up a steep path with big rocks, but still very enjoyable. We then got to the top and started the descend on the most terrific of the paths, it was all bog and rocks which made the going very slow...even me I sank in the big twice!!! Let's not talk about Paul's shoes...

To the 10km of boggy shit, we are done!!

Paul trying to clean shoes, socks and trousers

 

After 10km of that shit, at 4.30pm we finally reached the good path and at 5.30pm we were at the bikes, destroyed, relieved and happy that the day went exceptionally well. To reward ourselves we went for beer and pizza at la Taverna. We both slept very well!

 

Day 3 - Cycle to Pitlochry via the Gaick Pass - 80km

Summer finally arrived!!! Not at the start of the day, but eventually the warm sun came out when we reached the highest point and the last loch. It was the most pleasant cycle ever, especially the bit by the last loch. We even saw 2 adders, got to Blair Atholl in time to get our pastry, laid on the grass for 1h playing the lizards, and just enjoyed the feeling of cycling like when I was a kid in Italy in summer, can life get any better?