Walks | North-East
Ben Avon
Start: Tomintoul, Viewpoint Car Park
Description: Long cycle and walk into the largest area of high land in the UK on landrover track from Tomintoul to Inchrory, then on sketchy paths on the hill. Not one to take lightly!
OS Map: #36, Grantown & Aviemore
Multimap: Online Map
Ben Avon, along with Beinn a'Bhuird makes up the largest tract of high land in the country. It stretches 12 km from Glen Quoich in the South-West to Inchrory in the North - a vast plateau dotted with large granite tors - great fun for a spot of rock climbing! However, when the cloud rolls in, the hill offers up a serious challenge in navigation skills.
Starting from the viewpoint Car Park just to the South of Tomintoul, follow a well kept estate landrover track alongside the River Avon for approximately 8 miles. The glen around the track grows increasingly rough and remote feeling, in stark contrast to the large and luxurious Victorian Lodge at Inchrory. Continue past the lodge for about one mile, dropping down to and crossing the bridge, and continuing up towards the Linn of Avon. Just beyond a gate take a left onto a rougher track, and continue on the bike as far as you dare.
Keep a good eye out for the path as it strikes directly up hill to the first shoulder. As the heather shortenson Carn Fiaclach, the going becomes easier and the faint path heads South-West towards the first crags at Meall Gaineimh. Pass below these crags, and contour along the high ground to East Meur Gorm Crag. A sharp little drop crosses the burn, and from here the best plan is to again contour around the hillside above Big Brae (approproate name!) until the large tor (1122m) North of Clach Choutsaich is visibile on the skyline to the West. Follow a burn most of the way up to this huge lump of rock.
The true summit - Leabaidh an Daimh Buidhe is clear across the large bowl to the West. Again, skirt around the bowl by heading North-West then South-West to save any extra climbing, and it is wirth spending some time investigating this rocky feature. The views West into Garbh Coire and to Beinn a'Bhuird need plnty time to be fully appreciated. Directly South Braemar is marked out by a bright patch of grass.
The return can be made by the same route - or alternatively, head North to Stob Bac an Fhurain and then follow the head of the crags East to regain the outward route. Watch out in poor visibilty though! Pace yourself, there's plenty walking and biking to be done to return to the car!
Alternate routes to Ben Avon begin from Invercault to the South, or even Cock Bridge to the East.