Walk Report – Bynack More, 11th August 2024
What a day! A combination of weather and transport difficulties had twice delayed this outing over the last couple of years, but on this occasion 22 walkers left Blairgowrie at 7.30am on Sunday the 11th to enjoy not only some of the best walking but almost perfect weather too.
The A group (14 walkers) had a particularly challenging day, climbing Bynack More by a less travelled way that involved often rough terrain without the comfort of a track. The coach dropped them at the old ski area of Coire na Ciste from where they traversed NE over rough ground before heading sharply downhill and east to east the deep corrie of Strath Nethy, fortunately the river was low so the crossing was easy. Heading steeply up Bynack Beag, they eventually reached the summit of the Munro, Bynack More (1090m). Here the walkers enjoyed exploring its famous rocky outcrops, the Barns of Bynack. The walkers didn’t hang around long to enjoy the extensive summit views, a combination of hot weather and little breeze meant that they were not alone – millions of our famous midges enjoyed their exposed limbs to the full! The group returned by the normal route down to Bynack Stable then into the glen that contains the Green Lochan and on to the waiting coach close to the Reindeer Centre.
The B group (4) had chosen to walk the well-trodden ridge that sits above the Queen’s Forest. They followed the path north west from the Reindeer Centre through the camp site at Badaguish before climbing their first peak, Craiggowrie. This marks the start of a long ridge that includes Creagan Gorm and eventually the Corbett Meall a Bhuachaille (810m). The views from the ridge were never less than spectacular, the ever-present panorama of the Cairngorm massif to the south always in view. Eventually the path drops steeply in an easterly direction to the famous and recently refurbished bothy at Ryvoan. From there the group followed the track down towards Glenmore, stopping to admire Lochan Uaine (Green Lochan) on the way back to the coach.
The C group (4) had an equally enjoyable but more leisurely day, spending time by the Green Lochan before walking up to Ryvoan Bothy. The weather had ensured that the all the paths were busy, there many tourists encountered as well as locals, many foreign tongues were heard. There was plenty of opportunity to chat, one C party member was fluent in both French and Spanish much to the delight of visitors from those countries. The group eventually walked to the shores of Loch Morlich. The beach resembled a scene from a Mediterranean resort.
