Beinn a' Bhuird

This vast mountain stretches 10 kilometres from south to north between the pinewoods of Glen Quoich and the bare reaches of Glen Avon. The western side is rather featureless, being uniform heathery slopes , but the eastern side of the mountain has a magnificent line of corries overlooking the upper part of Glen Quoich and the narrow defile of Slochd Mor which drops northwards to Glen Avon. Between Glen Quoich and Slochd Mor, Beinn a' Bhuird is connected to Ben Avon at the col called The Sneck.

Two routes to Beinn a'Bhuird are possible from the south. One starts from Keiloch near Invercauld Bridge a few kilometres east of Braemar and goes up Gleann an t-Slugain to the point just beyond the ruins of Slugain Lodge where the path reaches the Quoich Water. Cross the stream, climb the ridge to Carn Fiaclach, and continue up this ridge past the South Top to reach the plateau of Beinn a' Bhuird. Finally, go north along the plateau for 2½ kilometres to reach the North Top, which is the highest point. An alternative return route can be made by descending east to The Sneck and walking back along the path down the Quoich Water to Slugain Lodge.

The second route starts from the Linn of Quoich at the end of the public road from Braemar via the Linn of Dee and Mar Lodge. Go along the track on the south-west side of the Quoich Water and continue north at the stream junction up a track which leads onto An Diollaid, a subsidiary ridge of Beinn a' Bhuird. This track, which is being restored to its natural state, leads up the ridge and onto the plateau a short distance south of the North Top.

(Copyright The Scottish Mountaineering Club)