Lochnagar and The White Mounth

A relatively leisurely two-day trek taking in the White Mounth of Lochnagar Munros and experiencing varying landscapes and environments, with a high wild-camp to hopefully enjoy sunset and sunrise from a mountain vantage.

Starting at the Spital of Glen Muick Car Park, south of Ballater, for the beginning of our trek on the Balmoral Estate along the west bank of the impressive Loch Muick to Glas Allt Shiel built by Queen Victoria after the death of Prince Albert.

From the lodge we will tackle the major, but steady, climb of the day towards Cac Carn Beag, the summit of Lochnagar. On route we will pass the Glas Allt Shiel Falls, a place often visited by Queen Victoria, and skirt above the cliffs dropping into the vast bowl of Loch Nagar.

From here on the walking is generally leisurely often on good paths, or short vegetation which is easy underfoot. This circular route takes us to the summits of Carn a’ Choire Bhoidheach and then Carn an t-Saigart Mor, the site of one of the most extensive aircraft wrecks in Scotland.

The final two Munros of Cairn Bannoch and Broad Cairn are easily summited although the later has some boulder fields to negotiate before reaching the main descent path and our return down to the head of Loch Muick.