+ 95
Tour of the Northern Corries
Hiking Trail
Hard
6.98 mi
2,636 ft
A classic hike around of Scotland's most famous peaks.
With expansive views across the Eastern Highlands and 3 Munros en route, it's easy to understand why this is considered such a famous and iconic hike.
The route begins at the carpark of Cairngorm Mountain resort and the fact that you can drive to such a high altitude (over 600 metres asl) means that there is relatively little uphill hiking required to tag these 3 summits. Indeed, completing this entire walk requires doing less uphill than climbing a single Munro from sea level!
Start your day (after a coffee at Cairngorm Mountain resort base station, of course) by hiking south on a gradually ascending path which leads you over to the western end of Coire an Lochain, the famous bowl north of Cairn Lochain's summit. The trip over to the Coire can feel something of a slog but it's an effort worth making so that you can experience the rest of this hike.
Once at the Coire follow a good path as it swings east and climbs onto the summit of Cairn Lochain. From here you have fabulous views across the Cairngorm plateau, Ben Macdui and the Lairig Ghru - Scotland's best known mountain pass.
The views just keep on coming as you traverse east across to your next summit - Stob Coire an t-Sneachda. From Sneachda drop down to a wild and windy col just next to the cairn at point 1141 (which is a famous landmark because it represents the edge of the Cairngorm plateau and it's the last thing you need you locate in bad visibility before you reach the "safety" of the Cairngorm Mountain resort).
Make a final climb up from the col to the summit Cairn Gorm mountain and then descend down to top station at Cairngorm Mountain resort. Grab a drink and then continue downhill to the carpark with 3 Munros in the bag. Written by Charlie Boscoe
With expansive views across the Eastern Highlands and 3 Munros en route, it's easy to understand why this is considered such a famous and iconic hike.
The route begins at the carpark of Cairngorm Mountain resort and the fact that you can drive to such a high altitude (over 600 metres asl) means that there is relatively little uphill hiking required to tag these 3 summits. Indeed, completing this entire walk requires doing less uphill than climbing a single Munro from sea level!
Start your day (after a coffee at Cairngorm Mountain resort base station, of course) by hiking south on a gradually ascending path which leads you over to the western end of Coire an Lochain, the famous bowl north of Cairn Lochain's summit. The trip over to the Coire can feel something of a slog but it's an effort worth making so that you can experience the rest of this hike.
Once at the Coire follow a good path as it swings east and climbs onto the summit of Cairn Lochain. From here you have fabulous views across the Cairngorm plateau, Ben Macdui and the Lairig Ghru - Scotland's best known mountain pass.
The views just keep on coming as you traverse east across to your next summit - Stob Coire an t-Sneachda. From Sneachda drop down to a wild and windy col just next to the cairn at point 1141 (which is a famous landmark because it represents the edge of the Cairngorm plateau and it's the last thing you need you locate in bad visibility before you reach the "safety" of the Cairngorm Mountain resort).
Make a final climb up from the col to the summit Cairn Gorm mountain and then descend down to top station at Cairngorm Mountain resort. Grab a drink and then continue downhill to the carpark with 3 Munros in the bag. Written by Charlie Boscoe
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Strava Routes
Route and Elevation
Segments
| Name | Distance | Elev. Diff. | Avg. Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| COIRE CAS CAR PARK UP NORTHERN CORRIES PATH PART 1 | 0.60 mi | 79 ft | 1.8% |
| BURN CROSSING UP NORTHERN CORRIES PATH PART 2 | 0.85 mi | 587 ft | 13.1% |
| LOCHAIN LURCHERS RIDGE CLIMB | 0.63 mi | 663 ft | 19.8% |
| Coylum Rd Climb | 0.42 mi | 410 ft | 18.1% |
| MIADAN JUNCTION TO CAIRN LOCHAIN | 0.53 mi | 463 ft | 16.2% |
| CAIRN LOCHAIN TO 1111m VIA TOP OF FIACAILL OF SNEACHDA | 0.62 mi | -285 ft | -8.6% |
| 1111m TO WINDY COL | 0.76 mi | -217 ft | -1.2% |
| Coylum Rd Climb | 0.27 mi | 184 ft | 12.6% |
| WINDY COL PATH JUNCTION TO CAIRN GORM WEATHER STATION | 0.54 mi | 446 ft | 15.4% |
| CAIRN GORM WEST SIDE APPROACH DEFINED ROUTE | 0.32 mi | 354 ft | 20.5% |
| WINDY RIDGE PATH ROUTE | 1.45 mi | -1,440 ft | -18.8% |