Cairngorm Skyline recce

This is a route Sinco and I have been dreaming up for a while and I think we managed to piece together an absolute blinder of a potential skyline/skyrace or at the very least an AL in the heart of the Gorms taking in some nice scrambles and some awsome running in between 4 of the top 5 highest munros in the UK!

We wanted something around 30-40kms and as much ascent as possible with some good hands on thrown in between. We knew we wanted to include Fiacaill Ridge and NE Ridge of Angels Peak and try to tick some big hills a long the way so we had to tie in both sides of the Lairig Ghru (LG).

The way it worked out and in between racing and other commitments and with a bute of a weather window, Rob and I decided to try it the same day as the LG race. It was very hot in record temps, so hot that several people got into difficulty during the race with heat stroke!

Fiachaille Ridge before getting hands on

Starting from Cairngorm Ski centre car park the route takes in Fiacaill ridge (Grd 2 scramble) and up onto Stob Coire an t-Sneachda. From here it's off grid for a km or so SE until picking up the Coire Raibert path from Cairngorm down into Loch Avon. This is a great section and early on the route it's fast and technical.

Fiacaill ridge looking back to Loch Morlich and Meall a Bhuchaille at the back

Fiachaill ridge and Rob approaching the tricky step which isn't really tricky

Coire Raibert path down to Loch Avon with Derry Cairngorm top centre and Beinn Mheadhoin left

Once down to the loch the route goes SW towards the west end of Loch Avon and then climbs up past the Shelterstone and up into Pinnacle Gully. It's loose here and stone fall is a risk.

The views and scenery here are incredible but not even close to what's to come!! It just gets better and better..

The infamous Sheltrer Stone crag

Looking back to Loch Avon

Pinnacle Gully and plenty loose rock

Pinnacle Gully with Four Fingers Pinnacle looming at the top center

Rob starting the easy scramble at the foot of Four Fingers Pinnacle

Near the top of the gully is Four Fingers Pinnacle, a freestanding, spike of rock. You have to go off route to climb it and this probably wouldn't feature in a race as it's exposed and not really practical because you would need to down climb it exactly the same route as ascent.
We both wanted to climb it but the race would pass this on the left and continue up and out of the main gully.

Four Fingers Pinnacle (an exposed Grd 3 scramble)

Rob with a 100ft drop behind him!

From the top of the gully and from the flank of Carn Etchachan, it's SW off grid over to Ben Macdui.

Looking down Castlegates Gully with the Torrs of Beinn Mheadhoin top right

From the summit of Ben Macdui we dropped down into the Lairig Ghru over some difficult, steep, bouldery ground heading for the Gharbh Choire bothy path. The goal is the path from the bothy to the foot of Angels Peak. This was the way we decided on the day but I think for a race I would go from the LG head W and contour Angels Peak and arrive at Lochan Uaine at it's N end pretty much where the photo 2 below was taken from.

Lairig Ghru looking S and Devils point to the right

When we got down to the LG we briefly ran North and with some racers who were taking part in the Lairig Ghru hill race organised by my club Deeside Runners. We then peeled off to the West towards Garbh Choire over some difficult, boggy, deep heathery and undulating ground then started the climb up to Lochain Uaine.

Rob joining in the action during the Lairig Ghru hill race!

The crest of the North East Ridge of Angels Peak or Sgor an Lochain Uaine

From the Loch run round to the Ridge and start up onto the crest sticking to it all the way up. This isn't hard at all, I think Grd 1 maybe 2 at the most. It's just big boulders and blocks. The most difficult thing is choosing a route as there's plenty options.

Looking down onto Lochan Uaine and the Lairig Ghru path at the foot of Ben Macdui in the back ground

North East Ridge of Angels Peak

We didn't summit Cairn Toul that day but I think I would include it in the race for a bit more descending and ascending plus another top 5 highest tick. So from CT it's all now very runnable
back past Angel's Peak following the cliff edge all the way round to Braeriach and then onto Sron na Lairige and the path back down to the LG.

The views from Braeriach are UNREAL!! Fingers crossed weather is clear if you ever get up here because it really is spectacular!

From Braeriach (3rd highest munro in the UK) looking SE down the Lairig Ghru with Ben Macdui (2nd highest) and Carn a Mhaim to the east and left of the photo and Angels Peak and Cairn Toul (4th highest) to the West and right.

From Braeriach  looking over to Angel's Peak and Cairn Toul behind

From the LG and onto the Chalamain Gap path up to the foot of Creag a Chalamain (possible summit here for the race?) then drop down through the Chalamain Gap which is great fun and surprisingly fast if you've got a long stride and can jump from boulder to boulder (quite dangerous here though and has claimed a few broken legs over the years but mainly in winter!) then continue towards the Sugar Bowl carpark and then turn S back to the Ski center either via the now closed, damaged path which we did that day but for race day I doubt that would be doable so possibly after going through the Gap, go off grid due E crossing the Allt Creag an leth-choin and pick up the Macdui path back to the carpark.

Chalamain Gap going up and SW, the route would descend this going NE

Total route is 32km/3350mtrs but it could easily be made longer and with more ascent. The big issue with it is getting permission as it's pretty sacred here! Although there are plenty mad races in the UK  on some very special ground, I really don't see an issue. All the trails are well used anyway with the amount of hikers and tourists out and about over the years and the scrambling wouldn't cause any damage on real hard Gorms granite.
The Ski center would be a good base as well, plenty parking and a cafe.

I think it would make an awsome race and a Skyline here is what's missing. Apart from the LG and the biannual Glenshee 9, there's no other big races here or near it. Just need an RO coz I'd want to race it! :)

The route

Updated route taking in Cairngorm for 5 munros and also Creag a Chalamain.