Lochnagar & the 5 White Mounth Munros

Lochnagar and the 5 White Mounth Munros

Distance – 29km (18 miles) Total ascent – 1130m Munros Lochnagar (Cac Carn Beag) - 1155m Carn a’ Choire Bhoidheach – 1110m Carn an t-Sagairt Mor – 1047m Cairn Bannoch – 1012m Broad Cairn – 998m Times

Meet at the Spital of Glen Muick visitor car park, 9am. This walk can take 9-11 hours depending on the weather and group. An earlier or later start time can be arranged by request. Directions From Ballater, take the bridge over the Dee and turn right for Balmoral. The road to Glen Muick is just a few hundred yards on your left and is well sign posted. Continue all the way along the single-track road to the visitor centre car park. There is currently a £4 charge per car, this money goes toward maintenance of paths and facilities. There is an informative visitor centre with toilet facilities. Safety Aspects

There is little in the way of hazards on this walk except the usual underfoot conditions that you find while walking in Scotland, a short burn crossing, some rough tracks, very few boggy areas, a couple of boulder sections and all of these surfaces can be slippery underfoot in wet conditions. The main risk will be a slip, so adequate footwear is essential, boots or trail shoes with a good grip. If the weather forecast is extremely poor, especially for high winds, the walk may be postponed. In the unlikely event someone is injured on the way or pulls up with an injury we may have to turn back as a group. There will always be another day and the safety of the group is the most important aspect. Your guide will carry all the essential safety equipment required to keep the group safe and will show these items to you prior to departure. You will be given a short safety discussion at the start of your walk.

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Kit - This kit list can be used as a guide for what you need to bring on a summer day’s hill walk with Hillgoers, please contact us for any kit advice.

Essentials In the bag

Walking boots / shoes Comfortable, waterproof, support the ankle and good grip.

Socks Woollen socks, merino mix.

Walking trousers Quick drying walking trousers (not jeans).

Waterproof over trousers Something you can pull on and off quite easily.

Base layer T-shirt or shirt next to your skin, should be breathable product like merino, avoid cotton as this holds moisture.

Mid Layer Warm and comfortable.

Extra warm layers (fleece Fleece or down jacket. or down jacket) Outer jacket Waterproof with built in hood.

Gloves layers of gloves can be a good option.

Hats A good warm hat and a spare is good too. A buff can take the chill off your neck too. Rucksack A comfortable day sack with hip belt. Waterproof cover or liner inside to keep your kit dry.

Food Enough for a day on the hills, you will burn a lot of calories so additional snack bars are good too.

Drink We use a filter water bottle so we can pick up water when needed, saves carrying.

Torch Head torch with new batteries and spares.

Personal items Anything you would normally take with you for a long day in the hills, toiletries, small first aid, etc.

Midge net / spray Depending on time of year.

Sun cream Depending on forecast!

Optional

Walking poles Great items and take the strain off your knees.

Camera / mobile phone

Map and Compass We can provide discounted Harvey Maps and Silva Compass.

What your guide will also bring

Map, Compass and spares   Whistle   Spare layers Down jackets, hats and gloves – If cold please use them.   Group shelter & Blizzard Large enough for whole group & emergency warm bag.  Bag  Group First aid kit   Unlocked mobile phone/s   GPS  

The Scottish Mountaineering Club guide book for the Cairngorms, written by Adam Watson, states that Lochnagar surpasses all other hills in the North East and we agree. The hills of the Mounth are simply stunning. The ground is more fertile compared to the Cairngorm plateau, so you will find more vegetation and wildlife as a result, including some very rare plants on the northern facing corries. Mountain Hare and Ptarmigan are often seen, as are Red Deer and occasionally the magnificent Golden Eagle. The area is also full of history, we look forward to sharing this with you on our walk.