cairngorms · 5-day itinerary
Five days on the Cairngorm plateau
A backpacking traverse through the heart of Britain's only true alpine landscape — including a Corrour bothy night.
The Cairngorm plateau is the closest thing Britain has to an Arctic landscape — high, exposed, navigationally serious, and capable of swallowing a navigation error for an entire day. Five days lets you traverse from Aviemore via Ben Macdui and Corrour Bothy down to Mar Lodge / Linn of Dee, taking in all of the Cairngorm 4000s en route if conditions allow.
This is a real backpacking trip. Carry tent, sleeping bag, stove, three days of food, and the full /kit/wild-camping list. Corrour bothy on the second night is one of the most iconic in Scotland but on summer weekends fills early — bring the tent anyway. Mobile signal is non-existent for most of the route.
Day-by-day plan
Aviemore to Cairngorm and Loch Avon
Train to Aviemore. Bus 31 / 34 to Cairngorm Mountain car park (640m). Climb Cairn Gorm (1245m) via the ridge from Ptarmigan, then descend north-east to Loch Avon (one of the most isolated lochs in the Highlands) for a wild camp at the head.
- Distance
- 12 km, 600m ascent
- Overnight
- Wild camp at Loch Avon head
- Transport
- Train + bus from Edinburgh/Glasgow to Aviemore + Cairn Gorm
On this day
Loch Avon to Corrour Bothy via Ben Macdui
Climb south-west from Loch Avon over the shoulder of Beinn Mheadhoin and on to Ben Macdui (1309m, the second-highest summit in Britain). Descend south-west across the plateau and down the steep ground to Corrour Bothy at the foot of the Devil's Point.
- Distance
- 14 km, 600m ascent / 800m descent
- Overnight
- Corrour Bothy (or wild camp adjacent if bothy is full)
Corrour day — Devil's Point, Cairn Toul, Angel's Peak
Day-pack day from Corrour. Bag Devil's Point (1004m), Cairn Toul (1291m), Sgor an Lochain Uaine (Angel's Peak, 1258m), and optionally Braeriach (1296m). Long day on the plateau — 8-10 hours.
- Distance
- 15-20 km depending on Braeriach
- Overnight
- Corrour Bothy second night
Corrour to Glen Lui via Derry Cairngorm
Climb east from Corrour up the steep ground to Carn a' Mhaim (1037m), continue to Derry Cairngorm (1155m), then descend to the Robber's Copse and Glen Lui to wild camp or stay at Bob Scott's Bothy near Derry Lodge.
- Distance
- 14 km, 500m ascent
- Overnight
- Bob Scott's Bothy, Derry Lodge
Glen Lui to Linn of Dee
Walk out via the Linn of Dee — a gentle 5km finish through pinewood. Pick up by pre-arranged transport, or walk on to Mar Lodge / Braemar for the bus back.
- Distance
- 6 km
- Overnight
- Travel home from Braemar
On this day
Accommodation
- Aviemore for night zero
B&Bs and hostels for the night before you start
- Corrour Bothy
MBA bothy — first come first served. Bring a tent backup
- Bob Scott's Bothy
Replacement bothy built 2007 — generously sized
- Braemar for night five
Fife Arms is premium; the Invercauld Arms and various B&Bs for budget
Getting there
Highland Mainline train to Aviemore (regular service from Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness). Local bus to Cairn Gorm base. Pickup at Linn of Dee requires pre-arranged taxi from Braemar (~14km, £25-£30), or extend the final day by 9km on foot to Braemar for the Stagecoach 201 bus to Aberdeen.
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