Lochnagar, Fafernie & Broad Cairn, map 44; 8th August 2003

Route: 1985m = 6515' ascent, 24.45 miles, 11 hrs

Route: i) On the ascent, the Corbett Conachcraig (NO27968653, 865m) could be included at a cost of ¾ mile and 190m ascent.
ii) The route includes a large number of Munro tops which could be omitted with a consequent significant saving of ascent and distance.
iii) Navigation between tops in the vicinity of White Mounth may be a problem in cloud if a GPS location is unavailable.
iv) A return can be made down to Loch Muick after Carn an t-Sagairt Mor (or earlier, as here) but the saving by omitting the Munros Cairn Bannoch and Broad Cairn (and their Tops) is only 325m of ascent.
v) A return from Carn an t-Sagairt Mor via some or all of Meikle Pap, Cuidhe Crom and Little Pap might enable the outlier Meall Coire na Saobhaidhe to be reached by a different route which includes all the Munro tops with less ascent. Many permutations are possible, but much of the terrain is rocky and so keeping to standard paths is usually advantageous.
vi) There are paths out to Conachcraig, Meikle Pap and Meall Coire na Saobhaidhe. However, the descent from Cuidhe Crom to Little Pap is pathless and all over large boulders. These boulders also continue down to around 850m along the NE flank of Cuidhe Crom.
vii) The ridge from Fafernie over Cairn Bannoch to Broad Cairn is easily included when climbing Tom Buidhe and Tolmount from Acharn at the head of Glen Clova (NO28367610), as described here.
viii) Alternatively, the second half of the walk can be done from Spittal of Glenmuick as given here.
ix) Pick a day with excellent visibility as the views are magnificent, especially over the corries and lochs.