Britain’s great high plateau of arctic ground and huge corries, holding the country’s second-highest summit and serious in any season
This is the biggest sweep of high, cold ground in Britain — a granite plateau that holds snow late and turns arctic in winter. The Cairngorms National Scenic Area covers 655 square kilometres of plateau, corrie and old pinewood across the Highlands, Aberdeenshire and Moray.
Ben Macdui is the summit most people aim for, the second-highest in the country, with Braeriach and Cairn Gorm nearby around the deep trench of the Lairig Ghru. Further east the huge whalebacks of Ben Avon and Beinn a’ Bhuird have granite tors and take a long day to reach.
None of this is casual walking. The plateau is exposed and featureless in cloud, the weather changes fast, and winter here needs an ice axe, crampons and the skills to use them. Check the mountain forecast and the avalanche report before you set out, and be ready to turn back.
