Beinn a' Chaorainn (Cairngorms)

Beinn a' Chaorainn, at 1,083 metres, is a remote hill in the heart of the Cairngorms, guarding the eastern side of the Lairig an Laoigh pass and facing its higher, better-known neighbour Beinn Mheadhoin across the divide. Not particularly conspicuous among the imposing peaks nearby, it should not be confused with the identically-named Munro in Glen Spean above Loch Laggan.

The route starts from the Linn of Dee car park, following a footpath signed for Glen Lui through the woods, past a boardwalk, and onto a track running alongside beautiful pinewoods towards Derry Lodge — many walkers cycle this stretch. Staying on the east side of Glen Derry on an excellent path (recently reinstated by the National Trust after previously being a Land Rover track), the route continues north through forest for a couple of kilometres before a narrow path climbs through trees towards the bealach between Meall Lunndain and Beinn Bhreac. Higher up, the path dries out and is joined by another coming in from the right, heading over a curious hummock above the bealach before a final soggy climb to the plateau between Beinn Bhreac's two tops.

From Beinn Bhreac, a path keeps to the east side of extensive peaty ground before petering out and reappearing across the vast, largely featureless Moine Bhealaidh (Yellow Moss) plateau — the stony south-eastern shoulder of Beinn a' Chaorainn eventually gives drier going for the final climb to the large summit cairn, with extensive views taking in Ben Macdui to the left of Beinn Mheadhoin's numerous granite tors.

The best descent follows the south-west shoulder, with the steep final slope down towards the Lairig an Laoigh eased by heading further south; from the Lairig, a path drops into upper Glen Derry with fine views into Coire Etchachan, eventually rejoining the broad path from the Hutchison Memorial Hut and crossing the Glas Allt Mòr side-stream back towards the start.

The combined round taking in both Beinn a' Chaorainn and Beinn Bhreac from the Linn of Dee is a long day, over 28 kilometres, typically eight to ten hours or more; energetic parties sometimes extend the day further to include Beinn a' Bhùird via the exposed tundra connecting the two mountains.

The Moine Bhealaidh plateau is genuinely featureless and demands confident navigation in poor visibility, and the Glas Allt Mòr crossing on the return could pose problems in wet weather — full self-sufficiency and route-finding skills are essential given the remote nature of this whole area.

Parking at the Linn of Dee is chargeable; a bus service runs from Braemar, though only from July to September.