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munros
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Sgor Gaoith (1118m, Munro 36)
Mullach Clach a'Bhlair (1019m, Munro 114)
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ascent
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1025m (3,350ft)
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distance
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21km (13m)
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time
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running : 2:30hr, walking : 7hr*
*Naismith's rule : 4km/h distance + 600m/h ascent
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profile
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location
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start/finish
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Auchlean (grid ref : NN852976)
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maps/guides
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This area is covered by 3 OS Landranger 1:50000 and 1 OS Explorer 1:25000 maps :
 
 
 
 
 
 
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GPX data
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download a GPX file of the main route
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| terrain |
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easy |
| difficult |
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| navigation |
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easy |
| testing |
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| effort |
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stroll |
| long day |
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| scenery |
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ok |
| stunning |
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images
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view photos of the route and hills
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main route summary
Sgor Gaoith and Mullach Clach a'Bhlair lie in the heart of Rothiemurchus - 10,000 acres of Caledonian Forest, Lochs, Rivers, Glens, Mountains, and wild landscapes. Heather, juniper and forests cover the lower slopes, whereas upper ground is flat and diffcult to navigate on in mist. Many features of the last ice-age can be picked out in various places on this route. The two munros couldn't be more different - Sgor Gaoith is craggy on its east side with long drops, whereas Mullach Clach a'Bhlair is the highest point on a vast plateau south-west of Braeriach and Cairn Toul.
main route outline
Getting there
This route starts from a car-park, ½km north of the house at Auchlean, which is at the end of the public road heading down Glen Feshie on the east side of the River Feshie. A narrow road also heads down the west side of the river, but cars have to be left more than 1km further north than the car-park on the east side.
Sgor Gaoith
Leave the car-park and head 500m south down the road. Just before Auchlean, a cairn marks the start of the Moine Path heading east over the heather. Follow this fine path through a forest and up the western shoulder of Carn Ban Mor (which used to be a munro). At a slight levelling at 750m and just before the last haul up Carn Ban Mor, a faint path heads off north-east. This path climbs gently around, and to the north of Carn Ban Mor, from where a faint path is followed to Sgor Gaoith's summit. Having hauled yourself up gradual, wide slopes, the crags and rocky summit come as quite a suprise.
Mullach Clach a'Bhlair
Return towards Carn Ban Mor and continue to the small cairn on the summit. After aiming south-south-west for 350m, you'll come across the Moine path again. If in mist, turn left (south-east) onto the path and follow it until a track heading south-west is met, which should be followed for 3km to a junction with a track coming up from Glenfeshie Lodge. Alternatively, if visibility is good, then from Carn Ban Mor, just aim south until you eventually meet up with the track and follow it to the junction. From this junction, the track heads south-west for 500m, then starts to contour around the eastern side of the Mullach Clach a'Bhlair's summit - look out for a path, marked by a small pile of stones, heading off right. This path carries on for another 500m to the small untidy cairn on the disappointing summit.
Return
Get back onto the track and head back to the junction with the track coming up from Glenfeshie Lodge. Follow the track down towards Glenfeshie Lodge for 1km to where it levels out at around 750m. Come of the track and onto a faint path heading west above the edge of Coire Garbhlach. Reach a minor top at 800m, with a cairn (if the cairn has been dismantled, then re-build it, as I have done more than once), then head north-west down heather to cross the Allt Garbhlach. A faint path can be picked up to follow though the heather to the forest and back to Auchlean. Crossing the Allt Fhearnagan on the way can be problematic in spate.
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Alternatives :
Via Gleann Einich
Ascent : 1850m, distance : 50km (incl 24km on bike)
Heading in down Gleann Einich, allows for the route to be extented over other peaks, or to bag other minor summits such as Einich Cairn or Tom Dubh. The route including Braeriach is described. A bike is recommended for the 12km down to Loch Einich. Due to the climb up Sgor Gaoith from Loch Einich and the difficulty of navigation on the featureless plateau, this route should not be attempted in winter conditions or in thick mist.
Park in the lay-by at the entrance to the camping site in Coylumbridge, 2.5km east of Aviemore. Cycle down the track, through the campsite to Gleann Einich, following the signs. Reach Loch Einich and leave bikes. Cross the outflow from the loch (very difficult in spate), then head up very steep and loose ground from the shore to the bealach between Sgoran Dubh Mor and Sgor Gaoith. Continue over Sgor Gaoith to Mullach Clach a'Bhlair as described on the left. Return onto the track, then follow it north to the junction, then head north-east over the Moine Mhor until it meets with the Allt Sgairnich. Continue north-east-east to Loch nan Cnapan (an excellent spot for wild camping), then north-east over grassy ground for 3km onto Carn na Criche (marked 1265m on the OS map). Cross the Wells of Dee, bag Braeriach and return over Einich Cairn to reach the south side of Coire nan Clach. Follow the coire down to Coire Dhondail, where a fine path is picked up to follow down to the ground just north of Loch Einich.
Sgor Gaoith on its own
Ascent 1000m, distance : 15km
From Feshiebridge, head down the road on the east side of the River Feshie for 4km to where the road crosses the Allt Ruadh via a bridge. Just before this bridge, there is a track heading east into the forest. Follow this track through the forest, then continue on a well defined path for a further 2km to where the path meets with a burn coming down from Coire na Cloiche. Leave the path and head due east up heather-clad slopes (you might want to detour north-east to bag Geal-charn). Up onto the bouldery crest, head south-east onto grass, then climb to the bealach between Sgoran Dubh Mor and Sgor Gaoith. An easy stroll over more grass is all that awaits to attain Sgoran Dubh Mor and Sgor Gaoith.
Head south-west from the summit for 500m, then drop down on ever thickening heather to pick up the path crossing the Allt a'Chrom-alltain and follow it back down to Glen Feshie.
Mullach Clach a'Bhlair from Glenfeshie Lodge
Ascent 850m, distance : 24km
A bike is useful for the 12km round trip to Carnachuin and back.
On the B970, 500m south-east of the watersport centre on Loch Insh, a narrow road heads down into Glen Feshie. Drive for 4km down this to the end of the public road and park near the barrier across the road. You used to be able to cycle 6km down the tarred private road to a bridge by the cottages at Carnachuin. However what used to be a rickety old bridge has now been washed away by the river, so you'll need to cross by the bridge 1km south of Auchlean and follow the path on the eastern side of River Feshie instead. Reach the eastern bank where the old bridge used to cross, then on a fine track, head up through the forest and juniper bushes onto open hillside. The track heads up to join with the track coming over from Carn Ban Mor, which is followed to Mullach Clach a'Bhlair as detailed in the main route.
Return by the same route.
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