The remote Coire Cath nam Fionn is the main attraction of this mountain, offering 3 very obvious gully lines on Bheinn Bhrotain, and the potential for some interesting skiing on the face below Leac Ghorm on Monadh Mor.
Getting there
The easiest approach is from the Braemar side, cycling from Linn of Dee to White Bridge on the land rover track. Cross the bridge, and take the path on the South side of the river. It contains numerous drainage ditches, but they are all pitched in a way that allows you to ride through them on a decent mountain bike. Bikes are usually left at the stream crossing at NN997897. Beyond that, the path is less bike friendly, and it is not worth the effort on a bike with skis on, but it is up to you!. You have various approach options from this point:
- From leaving the bike at NN997897, you can head up over (or round) Carn Cloich-mhuilinn and onto the top. Quite rough going.
- Instead of cutting uphill, continue walking up Glen Dee, until a fork in the path by a very small cairn at NN986914. This path crosses the Allt Garbh and follows the North side of it. It is initially a well made path, but reverts to eroded heather before long, crossing back over the Allt Garbh higher up, Not long after the manufactured path ends, you may find the going relatively easy up the ridge that leads to the 1108m Eastern top of Beinn Bhrotain, If on foot, this would be the driest option. If on ski, heading up the Allt Garbh and into Coire an t-Sneachda may be best.
- The longest approach is to continue North up Glen Dee, and then round into Glen Geusachan, approaching the corrie from below. The path undulates a fair bit as it rounds the headland separating the glens, and can be a bit boggy, but has the advantage of allowing you to assess conditions from below. Locating the top of the gullies can be tricky as well, so in poor visibility, this approach would be best.
As mentioned, care is required locating the top of the gullies from above, as they lie part of the way down a convex slope.
If you are feeling like you have some energy after skiing on the steeper runs, and are returning to Linn of Dee, the descent down the Allt Garbh is highly recommended as a shortcut to the trudge out of Glen Geusachan, as it holds snow well late in the season.
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