An Socach from Baddoch

Bridge over Baddoch Burn

On the A93, south of Braemar, around halfway between Braemar and Glenshee Ski Centre, there is a small forestry area on a couple of sharp bends in the road. There is roadside parking for a few cars by the gate here, or on a layby on the northern edge of the plantation.

Looking back along the crest from An Socach's summit

Head through the gate in the deer fence, then follow the track up to near the house at Baddoch . Continue south-west on the track for a further for 2km, crossing Baddoch Burn on the way via a bridge .

You'll come to a burn which flows down from Coire Fhearneasg - this can be moderately difficult to cross in spate. Now on the south side of this burn, then head up on a rough path worn by boots through the heather to a cairn at 720m on Socach Mòr.

The path continues up over more heather, then boulderfield to the cairn on An Socach's east summit (this is not the Munro summit).

From the cairn on An Socach's east summit, head south-west on a faint path, following the crest of An Socach's plateau over more boulderfield for around 2km. Reach the two cairns on An Socach's west summit and savour some fine views.

The cairn on Socach Mor

You could head due south on a faint path to the col above the Allt Cac Dubh, then head east to pick up the track above Baddoch Burn, but the terrain is pretty rough and mostly pathless.

The easier option would to be return the way up.