Ben Macdui
| Distance | Approximate Time | Height Gain | OS Map |
| 24 kms | 9 hours | 950 metres | Explorer 403: Cairn Gorm & Aviemore |
Description
This a challenging and rewarding ascent of the UK's second highest mountain. Local folklore talks about the hill being haunted by the Grey Man of Ben Macdui - remember to check behind you when the mists envelope the hill!
Ben Macdui is the high point of the huge Cairngorm plateau - the largest area of land over 4000 feet (1200 metres) in Britain. The ski developments at Cairngorm give relatively easy access with a car park at over 600 metres and most walkers probably ascend Ben Macdui from here, often over the summit of Cairngorm before crossing the high plateau.
A longer route of ascent but one that will better suit the purist is to start at Linn of Dee and follow a route through the Caledonian Pinewoods to the now deserted Derry Lodge before climbing to the plateau either directly or over the subsidiary top of Carn a Mhaim.
Further information about this Munro can be found within the Munros section.
Access Info
The approach from the north starts from the Cairngorm Mountain Railway car park, which is easily reached (and well signposted) from Aviemore. There are also buses from Aviemore to this car park.
More Info
Further information is contained within the Scotland's Munros section of this site and the SMC guidebooks 'The Munros' and 'The Cairngorms' give excellent descriptions. Both of these books can be obtained by logging on to The Scottish Mountaineering Club's website.
