This man has better video's than the BBC has programmes........long may you and your excellent video's and narration continue, Murray. Absolute splendid entertainment. You are a true UA-cam STAR! 😀
Another Gem! Not only is the camera work spectacular but you paint a beautiful picture in words. I particularly enjoyed your 'classic, glaciated...scoured ---- bowl..'
@@maxdilcon5679 different kind of emptiness and vastness, you are comparing apples to oranges there (and I'm from the Alps, I've seen a "hill" or two in my life ;) )
I've been on the Summit of Ben Macdui on 4 occasions, and only once managed to get a view. But that time would be up there as among my favourite days in the mountains. I climbed Derry Cairngorm, Macdui and down your route of ascent, in perfect winter conditions, with a thick covering of well consolidated snow and views over half of Scotland it seemed. A 12 hour day with only 8 hours of daylight, tough, but worth it. You certainly have to work for the rewards on Macdui! A truly fabulous mountain, thanks for sharing, brought back great memories.
Interesting traverse. I left my bike at Derry lodge and headed to Carn a Mhaim then up the Taylor burn to Macdui. Annoyingly it was a hot day we were all disheveled yet the top was crowded with fresh face people. Think they got the ski lift up. Another great film though.
Fabulous video Murray. No matter which way you looked, views to die for. The Scottish mountains never fail to impress. Thanks for sharing yet another superb video. And glad the knee held out. Things looking really positive on that front. Take care and ATB
once again another great video Murray. In the late 80s, I camped 3 nights at Loch Uaine, fantastic. so the 3days of exploring thereby and 2 days walking in and out I never saw anyone. (tinned food so heavy pack) many thanks for sharing ATB
Superb adventure and so pleased your knee held up well enough, Murray! That's encouraging news! I dream of a visit to the Cairngorms one day. Thank you for sharing. Always a great way to start my Thursday. :-)
Thanks Jono - hope your knee is getting better too - mine has been ok with only a few set backs recently - hoping I am on the road to recovery! Take care and thanks for watching Murray
Love it, absolutely love it...... magic scenery Mur. What a treat these videos are. Thoroughly enjoyed 👍 thankyou for giving us all a wonderful glimpse of the world you see. 😀
Good to hear your knee is holding out they’re buggers when they go Murray had one replaced already and I’m hanging on to my left! A great day on the hill thanks for taking us with you. 👍
Thank you for a great video, which shows how useful a bike can be. Beautiful views of the iconic Cairngorms....glad your knee stood up to the test....Thanks very much for sharing your adventure.
It's always an absolute pleasure watching your videos they are so well put together even when the weather is not great it's still a joy watching your clips glad to see your knees holding up and all the best for the future and oh yeah nice to see Ray from RS outdoors haven't seen him for a little while and I know you don't things together so I expect it was very nice seeing him all the best be safe be lucky
Thanks Kevin - it was great catching up with Ray on this trip - a great weekend was had - cant wait to get back to the Cairngorms :) Take care and thanks for watching ATB Murray
Thanks Stephen. I would recommend the Linn of Dee route up Ben Macdui, I think its a little more scenic than the route from the north - but it is longer - the only down side (or upside depending on which way you look at it :)) Take care and thanks for watching ATB Murray
Super video. I’ve come down the Sron Riach ridge from Macdui before. It is a super ridge and I remember looking down on the Lochan Uaine from above and thinking it would be a great place for a remote camp. Like you I had cycled in and then walked up via the Hutchinson Memorial hut onto Macdui. Thanks for sharing.
That was an excellent hike Murray, really enjoyed watching this one. I reckon I will eventually tick off these hills after I finish off the Crianlarich range.
Superb pal,superb footage,superb scenery ,was that back in the middle of june murray still snow up there,i remember i did ben macdui a few years ago by the same route but cut off to do Carn Ma Ham and down the ridge and up the boulder field to ben macdui walking and took me around 12 hours,cheers pal.
Thanks Phil - this was actually in May - its been taking me longer to edit my videos of late as been super busy at work and been working weekends :( !lol Take care and thanks for watching ATB Murray
Great video Murray. I've not been on the Gorms, my list just got longer 😁 the views look amazing. Glad to see you managing better with the knee improving 🤞👍Thanks for all the info and camera work. Alioban x
The bike definitely adds to the whole experience, it's a good choice Murray, well done, that was excellent, great to see you're on the mend, achieving 30Km with no pain is a great morale booster.
Macdui has long been my favourite walk, but I've never done it from that route in. Always start up the Chalamain Gap, Lurcher's Crag and on to Macdui, descend via Cairn Gorm and a hot drink in the Ptarmigan. Another great video, Murray.
this is so awesome, thanks for sharing your adventures with us!! so much fun to go along with you and live vicariously through you haha keep it up Murray!! 🤗
Thanks Sue, it was a great trip into the Cairngorms - it really has a remote and wild feel about the place :) Take care and thanks for watching ATB Murray
Great video as always. Was running the Ben lui 4 on Tuesday and shared a quick “nice weather today” with 2 gentleman. One of which I only realised until a minute or so later was Jerry. Shame I didn’t realise sooner haha. Bumping in to ray here also shows that even in these vast landscapes it’s a small world. All the best
That was indeed Gerry - I think he and Fraser were up Ben Oss and co during that week - hope you had a great run :) Take care and thanks for watching Murray
Ahh, another beaut. I need to get back up there. A few years ago I got rained off the west coast and went east doing the 5 munro White Mounth. Amazed at the distance you travel above 3,000ft in a day in stunning scenery. Did Ben Mc the next day and nearly got pushed over a precipice on an ice field by the wind in the middle of summer! Never take this place lightly.
As always a great video Murray, hope you've banked some brownies since then. I wasn't able to get to Scotland during my bike touring trip this year. Hawes in the Yorshire Dales was as far north as I got but I'm determined to get to some your hiking spots in the future.
It’s so nice to revisit places you’ve been to through someone else’s eyes! I was there a few weeks ago doing a circular route from Linn of Dee to Ben Macdui and come back via Derry Cairngorm ( no bike so it was a long day) and I hit a jackpot with the weather! Blue skies, T-shirt and shorts on the plateau. The views just made me want to cry. Surprisingly I have met absolutely no-one on the way up and yet there was a small crowd of people on Ben Macdui that must have come from completely different directions. This walk made me completely fall in love with the Cairngorms and i decided to do a backpacking trek from Pitlochry to Aviemore next week. Lack of phone signal and it’s remoteness adds so much value to this area. It’s so close to the main cities in Scotland and yet so far away. During times when you simply can’t escape constant bad news this is a perfect place to be.
Hello, I'm doing it this Saturday after camping near Derry Lodge. Did you park at the Linn of Dee and if so did you have to pay for parking, many thanks.
@@northernembersoutdoors1045 yes I did and sadly there is a parking fee. I recommend taking coins as the machines were not always working with cards. I think it was around £3
Fantastic sounds like you had a great Cairngorm adventure - I love it when it is nice a quiet and no one else is around :) Take care and thanks for watching Murray
Awesome Murray. My first big exped for 3 days as I recall. Doing the route to Macdui you did, before going on to Cairngorm and back via the Lairig Laoigh with my brother and a dog!. Beautiful remote wilderness but needs good weather. Not somewhere to wander when the weather is foul!. Those views were amazing, reckon Lochan Uaine would be an amazing campsite, but not alot of shelter . Need to peg the tent down with rocks, when the unique weather the Cairngorms can generate hits you. Great video, was right with you all the way
Sounds like an amazing Cairngorm adventure Lyndsey - I have to agree it is a place to go when the weather is good - not a place to be when the cloud is down and wind is howling! Take care and thanks for watching Murray
Wow! What an absolutely epic hike!the scenery in the high mountains of the Cairngorms is simply stunning!🤩. We would love to visit one day, in the meantime we absolutely love watching you explore these remote and beautiful places. Your knee held up amazingly well!😊👍. Bet the free wheel down on the bike felt great after that epic hike. Thanks so much for taking us on your adventure as always, we hope you didn't get into too much trouble with the better half for being home late!😆. ATB Shell and Pete
Thanks Folks - it was a rather fine trip and a good test for the knee - the free wheel was indeed a pleasure back to the van ;) Take care and thanks for watching ATB Murray
Great video as always. We look forward to our weekly Scottish mountain fix! Could you share the brand/model of the backpack you're using? Tried searching based on the logo without joy. Thanks!
Hi Jon - its a Sigmond backpack from Decathlon - its pretty decent and a reasonable price too (in comparison to other brands) Take care and thanks for watching ATB Murray
Hi loved that corrie , just a thought ..you probably have this covered,( patches inner tube micro pump) but to bike back after a puncture... on the rim, on these tracks no fun! The van would be a bit further away, especially if the weather closes in.Never wise after the event. ATB.Fraser
Hi Murray, thanks for sharing your adventure with us again, and great to hear your knee was ok afterwards. You can always blame Ray for keeping you chatting too long if you got a telling off from the wife! Haha
I've been eagerly reading my way through Robert MacFarlane's books after falling in love with his latest one, "Underland", and I have to say they give me a deep appreciation for the wildness and beauty and difficulty of places like the Cairngorms, as do your spectacular videos. Not to mention the geographical lingo I've managed to pick up- words like corrie and claggy (sp?) just aren't commonly circulated where I am in Canada.😉 I have to admit, when I first started watching your channel I was just so entranced by the idea of being able to hike and camp in any direction over these scenic hills and not have to worry about bears, cougars, wolves etc. That's still a big selling pint for me. But places like this are definitely remote and have their own hazards. Stay safe out there, and thanks for another beautiful episode!
Thanks Anna - I am glad we don't have to worry about larger predators in our hills - the only one we need to worry about is the dreaded midgie!! a million small teeth all ready to have their dinner on my blood !!lol Take care and thanks for watching Murray
Ben Macdui was my first proper 'expedition', and we took the path from the lairig ghru. Walking round the curve of carn a mhaim, and the vast amphitheatre of the cairngorms opening up before my 14 year old eyes, is something I will never forget. Then having to cross a snowfield with crampons and ice axes in the middle of June just blew my little towny mind. Unforgettable.
Like you Ross, one of my first experiences of the Scottish mountains was as a 14 year old been taken through the Lairaig Ghru, I was transfixed by the massive mountains surrounding us- the Cairgorms are a truly magical place:) Take care and thanks for watching Murray
Hello Murray. Just going through your videos as usual...great stuff! Will be in Scotland in May and planning some hikes. If you could recommend two hikes in the Cairngorms and two in Glencoe what would those be? We are seasoned hikers and backpackers here in the Canadian Rockies. Thanks and keep up the great work 🙏
Hi Mason, hope you have a great time when you come over to Scotland :) There are so many walks and hikes that I would actually recommend you head over to the excellent walkhighlands webpage and have a look there. It has lots of user reports as well as all the info you will need for your hikes. The user reports will give you a feel for the hike and the webpage divides the walks into difficulty ratings too which is excellent. Good luck and have fun in May Thanks for watching ATB Murray
Thanks William - I had a shot of one recently and it was awesome - couldn't believe how good it was! Will need to save up lots of pennies to be able to afford one though as I had a look at them online ! Maybe one day :) Take care and thanks for watching ATB Murray
10 minutes in and you perfectly explain the mountains in the Cairngorms. You look at a mountain and think it is a certain distance, then walk another hour and it doesn't look any closer. I find it like explaining Las Vegas to people, until they've been there they do not get a sense of how truly massive it is.
Absolutely - glad I’m not the only one where the mountain doesn’t seem to get any closer - and that always seems the case in the Cairngorms ⛰⛰👍 Take care and thanks for watching Murray
This is amazing, today I was literally going to ask you if you've been up ben Macdui. I'm camping friday night and climbing on Sat so wanted to see some quality footage and this comes out! Have you done a previous video also?
Hope you have fun on your trip to the Cairngorms this weekend - I have a Cairngorm playlist and there are a few Macdui videos in there if you are interested - ua-cam.com/play/PLhFhqvuwQ5xUxqg9W6AML336DZ_x89IRW.html Take care and thanks for watching ATB Murray
@@ScotlandsMountains Thanks for that, will watch tonight, this video was awesome, really helped me, so much so I've decided just to do Macdui, i was considering one or two of the others sround but this will be enough ha ha. many thanks for that.
Wow Murray you certainly pushed the envelope on this day ma man 👍👏 Great film of an amazing place no better area in Scotland i would say. Im actually glad Ben Macdui isn't the highest peak in Scotland can you imagine the scene similar to the tourist path on Ben Nevis?
It was the longest hike after my knee issues but a wonderful trip and much quieter area of the Cairngorms or way up Ben Macdui - fabulous adventure :) 👍
I've become such an avid watcher of your channel. And I'm planning to do some munros, Particularly this one. I think you inspire people to go to these places, but I'd love a video on how you navigate yourself so well when using a phone with no signal isn't an option. Particularly for learners to be educated.
My brownie points balance is always in the red...my goal is to try and keep it as close to zero as possible! lol What a fantastic journey though. That does indeed look like a cracking camping spot. :-)
I went up Càrn a’ Mhaim & Ben Macdui during the Archie challenge and the views are just incredible! The route between Mhaim & Macdui though… that boulder field in the heat we had that day was brutal, I thought it would never end 😂
Fantastic Kara - that was a great weekend and the weather couldn't have been better for the amazing challenge :) Stay tuned for my video on my Archie which was Ladhar Bheinn in Knoydart - should be up at the start of August :) (its a long one though as I spent 4 days in Knoydart before summiting - you have been warned ;)lolo Take care and thanks for watching ATB Murray
Braeriach the biggest hill in Scotland, not Ben Nevis. Braeriach 2196 mtrs (see 25.10 min of video), a new reprint of the Munros will be coming out. Cairngorms are brilliant, stunning scenery, Mtn bikes make a huge difference. Although smaller paths can be a pain with the water run off channels, my bike skills not good enough to jump them. Keep up the good work.
@@ScotlandsMountains great filming, I really appreciate you putting the graphic labels on the views, with the heights , and a tiny transposition of numbers keeps us viewers on our toes! Keep up the good work.
If memory serve me right there was one - I think I had my tripod and camera placed on it when I did a bit to camera from the summit :) Take care and thanks for watching Murray
Hello. Maybe i'm just dumb, but i don't understand how i don't see the selfiestick while you are filming yourself. Is there a trick to that? Because i find it a bit annoying to see the stick in my videos. Thanks for the info, and for the awesome report.
Hi Wim, it is a 360 camera and some clever magical software seems to mask it out !! all wizardry to me though!! lol Take care and thanks for watching ATB Murray
Tell me Murray what’s the point to carry ice axe in the spring conditions especially with your sour knee . Your equipment should be light as much as possible . I’m a little older than you and my rucksack must be light as much as possible due my back pain . Safety first of course but I don’t take any unnecessary stuff.
TBH I have been caught out before not having it well into spring - I always have it especially on longer journeys when one cannot see the whole route from the car . I remember one trip many moons ago in May and we started up the south facing side of the hill (which had no snow ) - however the route went over a shoulder to the north side and well let’s just say I would have been sensible to have turned back as I had no axe or spikes ( the naivety of youth 😂).
This man has better video's than the BBC has programmes........long may you and your excellent video's and narration continue, Murray.
Absolute splendid entertainment. You are a true UA-cam STAR! 😀
thank you for your kin words Steve - hope you enjoy the videos :)
Take care and thanks for watching
Murray
The most beautiful awesome country in the world brilliant video just brilliant
Another Gem! Not only is the camera work spectacular but you paint a beautiful picture in words. I particularly enjoyed your 'classic, glaciated...scoured ---- bowl..'
🙏
I cannot even begin to comprehend the sheer vastness and emptiness of the Cairngorms. Another great video, thank you!
Thank you - the Cairngorms are a wonderful place :) 🙏👍
Yeahh American or Asian ranges make the cairngorms look like a collection of hills
@@maxdilcon5679 different kind of emptiness and vastness, you are comparing apples to oranges there (and I'm from the Alps, I've seen a "hill" or two in my life ;) )
@@maxdilcon5679 Olympus Mons piddles on anything in the Americas or Asia, so there.
@@maxdilcon5679
Then go and watch a video about them then, BYE 🏴🏴
Marvellous video. You make the best advertisements for trekking in Scotland on UA-cam.
thank you - very much appreciated :)
Take care and Thanks for watching
ATB
Murray
Oooooooo Good Morning From Liverpol Great To Gert My Mountain Fixxxxxx Over Breakie Excellent as always Love Them Cheers Tc
Another great video.. Those views bring back memories.
What a great man, all the best Murray in your future adventures, and take it easy buddy!
Beautiful! I’m so happy your knee cooperated for a long summer trek. Spectacular! TY!
Thanks Julie - much appreciated :)
Take care and thanks for watching
ATB
Murray
Nothing beats getting out of the Van nice and early with the birds in full song and a blue sky above before stomping another mountain.
It was rather nice :) can’t wait to return to the mountains :)
Take care and thanks for watching
Superb intro. Magic meeting Ray and both my knees have now gone Murray. Your videos keep me inspired for my return.
Fantastic again Murray. Thanks a lot. Such a great collection of shots too. Super!
Thanks for sharing the lovely mountains and countryside of Scotland with us. I really enjoyed this one.... Regards, Ron.
I've been on the Summit of Ben Macdui on 4 occasions, and only once managed to get a view. But that time would be up there as among my favourite days in the mountains. I climbed Derry Cairngorm, Macdui and down your route of ascent, in perfect winter conditions, with a thick covering of well consolidated snow and views over half of Scotland it seemed. A 12 hour day with only 8 hours of daylight, tough, but worth it. You certainly have to work for the rewards on Macdui! A truly fabulous mountain, thanks for sharing, brought back great memories.
Lovely - nothing beats the mountains when they have a nice covering of snow - especially the Cairngorms :)
Take care and thanks for watching
Murray
Another great video, the views were definitely worth the effort you put in to the trip, cheers.
Thank you Murray a lovely video, what a beautiful place Scotland is, breathtaking.
Thanks John - much appreciated :) The Cairngorms are a special place :)
Take care and thanks for watching
ATB
Murray
Amazing
Interesting traverse. I left my bike at Derry lodge and headed to Carn a Mhaim then up the Taylor burn to Macdui. Annoyingly it was a hot day we were all disheveled yet the top was crowded with fresh face people. Think they got the ski lift up. Another great film though.
Fabulous video Murray. No matter which way you looked, views to die for. The Scottish mountains never fail to impress. Thanks for sharing yet another superb video. And glad the knee held out. Things looking really positive on that front. Take care and ATB
Thanks Tony, the views were pretty special:) A fine place indeed :)
Take care and thanks for watching
ATB
Murray
once again another great video Murray. In the late 80s, I camped 3 nights at Loch Uaine, fantastic. so the 3days of exploring thereby and 2 days walking in and out I never saw anyone. (tinned food so heavy pack) many thanks for sharing ATB
Fascinating historical info about that bothy. And it looked like a lovely way up Macdui too.
Great video and glad your knee held up.
Thanks Jeg :)
Superb adventure and so pleased your knee held up well enough, Murray! That's encouraging news! I dream of a visit to the Cairngorms one day. Thank you for sharing. Always a great way to start my Thursday. :-)
Thanks Jono - hope your knee is getting better too - mine has been ok with only a few set backs recently - hoping I am on the road to recovery!
Take care and thanks for watching
Murray
Love it, absolutely love it...... magic scenery Mur. What a treat these videos are. Thoroughly enjoyed 👍 thankyou for giving us all a wonderful glimpse of the world you see. 😀
Good to hear your knee is holding out they’re buggers when they go Murray had one replaced already and I’m hanging on to my left! A great day on the hill thanks for taking us with you. 👍
Thanks Carl - hope your knee is ok now and you are managing to get out and about! It a bugger getting old!lol
Take care and thanks for watching
Murray
Thank you for a great video, which shows how useful a bike can be. Beautiful views of the iconic Cairngorms....glad your knee stood up to the test....Thanks very much for sharing your adventure.
It's always an absolute pleasure watching your videos they are so well put together even when the weather is not great it's still a joy watching your clips glad to see your knees holding up and all the best for the future and oh yeah nice to see Ray from RS outdoors haven't seen him for a little while and I know you don't things together so I expect it was very nice seeing him all the best be safe be lucky
Thanks Kevin - it was great catching up with Ray on this trip - a great weekend was had - cant wait to get back to the Cairngorms :)
Take care and thanks for watching
ATB
Murray
Cinematography is amazing, a credit to you, I love all your content 🏴🏴
Thank you 🙏 very much appreciated 👍
Fantastic video as always Murray. Never done Ben Macdui so the ride in from Linn of Dee seems like a good route. Looking forward to the next video! 👍🏻
Thanks Stephen. I would recommend the Linn of Dee route up Ben Macdui, I think its a little more scenic than the route from the north - but it is longer - the only down side (or upside depending on which way you look at it :))
Take care and thanks for watching
ATB
Murray
That downhill cycle to Linn of Dee at the end of a long day on the hills always makes you glad you brought the bike.
It’s soooo good :) I walked it a few years back and was extremely jealous every time a bike passed me ! Lol
Wow, Murray, this is taking it to the next level. Some stunning drone shots here!
thanks Kim - much appreciated
Take care and thanks for watching
Murray
Super video. I’ve come down the Sron Riach ridge from Macdui before. It is a super ridge and I remember looking down on the Lochan Uaine from above and thinking it would be a great place for a remote camp. Like you I had cycled in and then walked up via the Hutchinson Memorial hut onto Macdui. Thanks for sharing.
That was an excellent hike Murray, really enjoyed watching this one. I reckon I will eventually tick off these hills after I finish off the Crianlarich range.
Superb pal,superb footage,superb scenery ,was that back in the middle of june murray still snow up there,i remember i did ben macdui a few years ago by the same route but cut off to do Carn Ma Ham and down the ridge and up the boulder field to ben macdui walking and took me around 12 hours,cheers pal.
Thanks Phil - this was actually in May - its been taking me longer to edit my videos of late as been super busy at work and been working weekends :( !lol
Take care and thanks for watching
ATB
Murray
Absolutely fantastic Murray. Ben Macdui has always been on my bucket list since doing Ben Nevis via the CMD. Totally brilliant.
Fantastic. I was up Cairngorm today and down to fiacaill ridge.
Great video Murray. I've not been on the Gorms, my list just got longer 😁 the views look amazing. Glad to see you managing better with the knee improving 🤞👍Thanks for all the info and camera work. Alioban x
Thanks Alioban - the Cairngorms are fantastic , well worth a visit when the weather is nice :)
Take care and thanks for watching
Murray
Incredible drone shots in the intro.
Love your videos Murray
The bike definitely adds to the whole experience, it's a good choice Murray, well done, that was excellent, great to see you're on the mend, achieving 30Km with no pain is a great morale booster.
🙏 much appreciated- hoping to get out this weekend 🤞🤞
Excellent video. Loved the idea of "negative equity" in terms of brownie points. Hope you weren't in too much trouble.
I'm still trying to build up the brownie points ;) lol
A never-ending task, that one!
Macdui has long been my favourite walk, but I've never done it from that route in. Always start up the Chalamain Gap, Lurcher's Crag and on to Macdui, descend via Cairn Gorm and a hot drink in the Ptarmigan. Another great video, Murray.
It well worth exploring from the Linn of Dee albeit a little further to hike to get to the summit though :)
Take care and thanks for watching
Murray
this is so awesome, thanks for sharing your adventures with us!! so much fun to go along with you and live vicariously through you haha keep it up Murray!! 🤗
Thanks Kristina - hope you enjoyed the video :)
Take care and thanks for watching
Murray
Great vid thanks Murray! Hope the missus went easy on ya!
I am still recuperating the browni points from this trip !lol
Take care and thanks for watching
Murray
Another cracking video and nice to see the old renegade making a guest appearance 👍
Thanks Ian , it was great seeing Ray again for sure - always enjoy chatting with Ray :)
Take care and thanks for watching
Murray
The still shots really shows off the beauty of the mountains
Another mountain where you really have to watch your step
Great video..take care 🇨🇦❤️
Thanks Sue, it was a great trip into the Cairngorms - it really has a remote and wild feel about the place :)
Take care and thanks for watching
ATB
Murray
Great video as always. Was running the Ben lui 4 on Tuesday and shared a quick “nice weather today” with 2 gentleman. One of which I only realised until a minute or so later was Jerry. Shame I didn’t realise sooner haha. Bumping in to ray here also shows that even in these vast landscapes it’s a small world. All the best
That was indeed Gerry - I think he and Fraser were up Ben Oss and co during that week - hope you had a great run :)
Take care and thanks for watching
Murray
Ahh, another beaut. I need to get back up there. A few years ago I got rained off the west coast and went east doing the 5 munro White Mounth. Amazed at the distance you travel above 3,000ft in a day in stunning scenery. Did Ben Mc the next day and nearly got pushed over a precipice on an ice field by the wind in the middle of summer! Never take this place lightly.
Ben macdui has got to be one of my favourite mountains to climb I did macdui and cairngorm in a day this time last year what a beautiful place….
As always a great video Murray, hope you've banked some brownies since then. I wasn't able to get to Scotland during my bike touring trip this year. Hawes in the Yorshire Dales was as far north as I got but I'm determined to get to some your hiking spots in the future.
It’s so nice to revisit places you’ve been to through someone else’s eyes! I was there a few weeks ago doing a circular route from Linn of Dee to Ben Macdui and come back via Derry Cairngorm ( no bike so it was a long day) and I hit a jackpot with the weather! Blue skies, T-shirt and shorts on the plateau. The views just made me want to cry. Surprisingly I have met absolutely no-one on the way up and yet there was a small crowd of people on Ben Macdui that must have come from completely different directions. This walk made me completely fall in love with the Cairngorms and i decided to do a backpacking trek from Pitlochry to Aviemore next week. Lack of phone signal and it’s remoteness adds so much value to this area. It’s so close to the main cities in Scotland and yet so far away. During times when you simply can’t escape constant bad news this is a perfect place to be.
Hello, I'm doing it this Saturday after camping near Derry Lodge. Did you park at the Linn of Dee and if so did you have to pay for parking, many thanks.
@@northernembersoutdoors1045 yes I did and sadly there is a parking fee. I recommend taking coins as the machines were not always working with cards. I think it was around £3
@@ysabellpp thanks for that, it really helps, I'll get some coins together, looking forward to it, cheers.
Fantastic sounds like you had a great Cairngorm adventure - I love it when it is nice a quiet and no one else is around :)
Take care and thanks for watching
Murray
This was the route I took to reach Ben Macdui a couple of years ago. Fantastic to see this again :-)
Good to know your knee held up Murray. The sappers' bothy is a very welcome lunch spot on a cold and windy day. ATB
Thanks Ian - the knee has been holding up ok - only a few slight set backs but been ok thankfully :)
Take care and thanks for watching
Murray
Awesome Murray. My first big exped for 3 days as I recall. Doing the route to Macdui you did, before going on to Cairngorm and back via the Lairig Laoigh with my brother and a dog!. Beautiful remote wilderness but needs good weather. Not somewhere to wander when the weather is foul!. Those views were amazing, reckon Lochan Uaine would be an amazing campsite, but not alot of shelter . Need to peg the tent down with rocks, when the unique weather the Cairngorms can generate hits you. Great video, was right with you all the way
Sounds like an amazing Cairngorm adventure Lyndsey - I have to agree it is a place to go when the weather is good - not a place to be when the cloud is down and wind is howling!
Take care and thanks for watching
Murray
Wow! What an absolutely epic hike!the scenery in the high mountains of the Cairngorms is simply stunning!🤩. We would love to visit one day, in the meantime we absolutely love watching you explore these remote and beautiful places. Your knee held up amazingly well!😊👍. Bet the free wheel down on the bike felt great after that epic hike. Thanks so much for taking us on your adventure as always, we hope you didn't get into too much trouble with the better half for being home late!😆. ATB Shell and Pete
Thanks Folks - it was a rather fine trip and a good test for the knee - the free wheel was indeed a pleasure back to the van ;)
Take care and thanks for watching
ATB
Murray
Wow! Amazing, thanks
Great video as always. We look forward to our weekly Scottish mountain fix!
Could you share the brand/model of the backpack you're using?
Tried searching based on the logo without joy.
Thanks!
Hi Jon - its a Sigmond backpack from Decathlon - its pretty decent and a reasonable price too (in comparison to other brands)
Take care and thanks for watching
ATB
Murray
Hi loved that corrie , just a thought ..you probably have this covered,( patches inner tube micro pump)
but to bike back after a puncture... on the rim, on these tracks no fun! The van would be a bit further away,
especially if the weather closes in.Never wise after the event.
ATB.Fraser
Early gang ...N.1 DUDE...LOVED IT ...MICK FROM LIVERPOOL
Hi Murray, thanks for sharing your adventure with us again, and great to hear your knee was ok afterwards. You can always blame Ray for keeping you chatting too long if you got a telling off from the wife! Haha
haha - I never thought of blaming Ray !lol
I've been eagerly reading my way through Robert MacFarlane's books after falling in love with his latest one, "Underland", and I have to say they give me a deep appreciation for the wildness and beauty and difficulty of places like the Cairngorms, as do your spectacular videos. Not to mention the geographical lingo I've managed to pick up- words like corrie and claggy (sp?) just aren't commonly circulated where I am in Canada.😉 I have to admit, when I first started watching your channel I was just so entranced by the idea of being able to hike and camp in any direction over these scenic hills and not have to worry about bears, cougars, wolves etc. That's still a big selling pint for me. But places like this are definitely remote and have their own hazards. Stay safe out there, and thanks for another beautiful episode!
Thanks Anna - I am glad we don't have to worry about larger predators in our hills - the only one we need to worry about is the dreaded midgie!! a million small teeth all ready to have their dinner on my blood !!lol
Take care and thanks for watching
Murray
Great presentation thanks ...streams might be tricky in the evening of a rainy day?
awesome again buddy
Ben Macdui was my first proper 'expedition', and we took the path from the lairig ghru. Walking round the curve of carn a mhaim, and the vast amphitheatre of the cairngorms opening up before my 14 year old eyes, is something I will never forget. Then having to cross a snowfield with crampons and ice axes in the middle of June just blew my little towny mind. Unforgettable.
Like you Ross, one of my first experiences of the Scottish mountains was as a 14 year old been taken through the Lairaig Ghru, I was transfixed by the massive mountains surrounding us- the Cairgorms are a truly magical place:)
Take care and thanks for watching
Murray
@@ScotlandsMountains the pleasure is all mine, sir
Another cracker in the Gorms Murray.,👍😎 Just catching up on yur vids. Covid finally got me. 😷 On the mend now tho. 👌
Hope you are ok - I finally got it a month ago and was floored by it? Get well soon Kevin
Murray
@@ScotlandsMountains Aye nearly back to normal. I hope. I'll tell ye after I get back to the hills. 😉
Wow what a trip. Hope you didn't get in too much trouble for being late lol.
I am still regaining the brownie points ;)lol
Take care and thanks for watching
Murray
Hello Murray. Just going through your videos as usual...great stuff! Will be in Scotland in May and planning some hikes. If you could recommend two hikes in the Cairngorms and two in Glencoe what would those be? We are seasoned hikers and backpackers here in the Canadian Rockies. Thanks and keep up the great work 🙏
Hi Mason, hope you have a great time when you come over to Scotland :) There are so many walks and hikes that I would actually recommend you head over to the excellent walkhighlands webpage and have a look there. It has lots of user reports as well as all the info you will need for your hikes. The user reports will give you a feel for the hike and the webpage divides the walks into difficulty ratings too which is excellent. Good luck and have fun in May
Thanks for watching
ATB
Murray
@@ScotlandsMountains thank you Murray. I will head over to that website. Appreciate the reply.
Great video. I think you should consider an eMTB to save the knees.
Thanks William - I had a shot of one recently and it was awesome - couldn't believe how good it was! Will need to save up lots of pennies to be able to afford one though as I had a look at them online ! Maybe one day :)
Take care and thanks for watching
ATB
Murray
Stunning views
It’s a rather fabulous area the Cairngorms Sharon 👍👍 hope you enjoyed the video 😃
10 minutes in and you perfectly explain the mountains in the Cairngorms. You look at a mountain and think it is a certain distance, then walk another hour and it doesn't look any closer. I find it like explaining Las Vegas to people, until they've been there they do not get a sense of how truly massive it is.
Absolutely - glad I’m not the only one where the mountain doesn’t seem to get any closer - and that always seems the case in the Cairngorms ⛰⛰👍
Take care and thanks for watching
Murray
Great video as always, what trousers are they your wearing if you don't mind me asking
This is amazing, today I was literally going to ask you if you've been up ben Macdui. I'm camping friday night and climbing on Sat so wanted to see some quality footage and this comes out! Have you done a previous video also?
Hope you have fun on your trip to the Cairngorms this weekend - I have a Cairngorm playlist and there are a few Macdui videos in there if you are interested -
ua-cam.com/play/PLhFhqvuwQ5xUxqg9W6AML336DZ_x89IRW.html
Take care and thanks for watching
ATB
Murray
@@ScotlandsMountains Thanks for that, will watch tonight, this video was awesome, really helped me, so much so I've decided just to do Macdui, i was considering one or two of the others sround but this will be enough ha ha. many thanks for that.
Great news about the knee
Cool video. And as a Moray person, I'm claiming Ben Macdui for ourselves (which it kinda is).
That one's on the 'to do' list! 😁
Wow Murray you certainly pushed the envelope on this day ma man 👍👏 Great film of an amazing place no better area in Scotland i would say. Im actually glad Ben Macdui isn't the highest peak in Scotland can you imagine the scene similar to the tourist path on Ben Nevis?
It was the longest hike after my knee issues but a wonderful trip and much quieter area of the Cairngorms or way up Ben Macdui - fabulous adventure :) 👍
I've become such an avid watcher of your channel. And I'm planning to do some munros, Particularly this one. I think you inspire people to go to these places, but I'd love a video on how you navigate yourself so well when using a phone with no signal isn't an option. Particularly for learners to be educated.
My brownie points balance is always in the red...my goal is to try and keep it as close to zero as possible! lol What a fantastic journey though. That does indeed look like a cracking camping spot. :-)
Its always the goal to get the points in to the green sector !!lol
Catch up soon Julian
Take care and thanks for watching
Murray
I went up Càrn a’ Mhaim & Ben Macdui during the Archie challenge and the views are just incredible! The route between Mhaim & Macdui though… that boulder field in the heat we had that day was brutal, I thought it would never end 😂
Fantastic Kara - that was a great weekend and the weather couldn't have been better for the amazing challenge :) Stay tuned for my video on my Archie which was Ladhar Bheinn in Knoydart - should be up at the start of August :) (its a long one though as I spent 4 days in Knoydart before summiting - you have been warned ;)lolo
Take care and thanks for watching
ATB
Murray
I think we all guesstimate early afternoon and it manifests in to mid evening 🤔 🤣
Glad I’m not the only one that does this 😂😂 I think my wife has just about forgiven me 😂😂🤞🤞
Take care and thanks for watching
Murray
Brownie points Murray, 15 shelves and hanging a picture of the mother in law might help 😂 but joking apart great vlog I enjoyed that 👍👍
😂😂😂
nice nature
Braeriach the biggest hill in Scotland, not Ben Nevis. Braeriach 2196 mtrs (see 25.10 min of video), a new reprint of the Munros will be coming out. Cairngorms are brilliant, stunning scenery, Mtn bikes make a huge difference. Although smaller paths can be a pain with the water run off channels, my bike skills not good enough to jump them. Keep up the good work.
I cannot believe no one has correctly measured Braeriach - definitely a 2000m mountain 😂😂
@@ScotlandsMountains It would happily stand out in the Pyrennees
I think a 2 and a 1 got accidentally swapped there!
@@ScotlandsMountains great filming, I really appreciate you putting the graphic labels on the views, with the heights , and a tiny transposition of numbers keeps us viewers on our toes!
Keep up the good work.
Everytime that bell went off I was checking my phone😊
I ve still no idea how I managed to ping it twice #phantombell 😂😂
I heard the phantom bell
Exact route I took after getting off the bus from Aberdeen in the late 1990s
Is there still a direction finder on the summit of Ben Macdui?
If memory serve me right there was one - I think I had my tripod and camera placed on it when I did a bit to camera from the summit :)
Take care and thanks for watching
Murray
I read somewhere that until the mountains were actually measured Ben Cruachan was considered the highest mountain in Scotland.
Hello. Maybe i'm just dumb, but i don't understand how i don't see the selfiestick while you are filming yourself. Is there a trick to that? Because i find it a bit annoying to see the stick in my videos. Thanks for the info, and for the awesome report.
Hi Wim, it is a 360 camera and some clever magical software seems to mask it out !! all wizardry to me though!! lol
Take care and thanks for watching
ATB
Murray
did you realise you stated Braeriach at 2196m???
I re measured it when I was up and its definitely now 2196m ;)
Braeriach 2196m ? 😮
New height - I measured it and it’s defined 2196m 🤫
@@ScotlandsMountains it's a good job your maths is better than your typing 😂
@@mattallen6424 dammit 😂😂
is that mountain not supposed to be haunted
Tell me Murray what’s the point to carry ice axe in the spring conditions especially with your sour knee . Your equipment should be light as much as possible . I’m a little older than you and my rucksack must be light as much as possible due my back pain . Safety first of course but I don’t take any unnecessary stuff.
TBH I have been caught out before not having it well into spring - I always have it especially on longer journeys when one cannot see the whole route from the car . I remember one trip many moons ago in May and we started up the south facing side of the hill (which had no snow ) - however the route went over a shoulder to the north side and well let’s just say I would have been sensible to have turned back as I had no axe or spikes ( the naivety of youth 😂).
No need to justify good hill sense and experience.
Those Highlanders hunt in packs. You need to be able to defend yourself
First 🤣 never got to do that before
Seriously though one of if not the most favourite of my areas to hike. Will add this one to my favourites. 🙂
It’s a wonderful area :) hope you enjoyed the vid 👍👍😀
The mountains are so bare, absolutely no trees. Maybe they were all chop down in the stone age.
The big question is: are you still in negative points at home? 😉😁
Always trying to gain brownie points Erin😂😂