logo Walking Britain
Home About Holidays FAQ Email MENU ☰

Lairig Ghru & Chalamain Gap from Glenmore

Cairngorms Walk

Nat Park - Cairngorms - Cairngorm North

County/Area - Highland

Author - Paul Gasson

Length - 11.0 miles / 17.9 km    Ascent - 1600 feet / 485 metres

Time - 7 hours 10 minutes    Grade - mod/hard

Maps Ordnance Survey Logo Anquet Maps Logo

Ordnance Survey Explorer OL57Sheet Map1:25kBUY
Anquet OS Explorer OL57Digital Map1:25kBUY
Ordnance Survey Landranger 36Sheet Map1:50kBUY
Anquet OS Landranger 36Digital Map1:50kBUY

Walk Route Description

Photo from the walk - Lairig Ghru & Chalamain Gap from Glenmore
Click image to visit gallery of 2 images.

This route starts at the Glenmore Visitor Centre approximately 4 miles east of Aviemore and reached off the B970 at Coylumbridge. Although not including any high peaks in the Cairngorms, the walk nevertheless includes some rough mountain walks with intimate views of this magnificent landscape.

Leave the Visitor Centre and walk east towards Loch Morlich to locate the cycleway on the north side of the road. Cross the outfall from Loch Morlich by the bridge and enter Rothiemurchus forest. Follow the forest road from about 1.6 km (1 mile) to a sign for Lairig Ghru.

Follow the footpath for 1.3 km (0.8 miles) to an obvious crossroad ( Piccadilly). Go left here to approach the Lairig Ghru on a rough hill path with some exposed sections above the Allt Druidh. Continue on this path for 4.5k (3 miles) climbing steadily from Piccadilly to reach the point where the path crosses the Allt Druidh at around the 600 metre contour.

Do not cross the river instead turning due North from here. The route climbs gently on a rough path to reach the Chalamain Gap. This ravine is completely choked by boulders and care is needed not to twist an ankle with easy scrambling for about 0.5 km before emerging onto a good hill path across the moor.

This moorland path eventually enters the ravine of the Allt Choire Chais which is crossed by a footbridge, from where an excellent path leads to the Ski Road some 2 km. from the start. The road walk can be avoided by crossing the road and continuing on a footpath on the other side of the road which crosses the Allt Mor on a footbridge and rejoins the road at Hayfield, close to the start.

Other walks nearby

Walk 2412 Craiggowrie & Creagan Gorm from Loch Morlichmod/hard7.3 miles
Walk 1904 Loch Morlich circular (near Aviemore)easy4.0 miles
Walk 1605 Loch an Eilein & Rothiemurchus Forest from Loch Morlicheasy/mod10.0 miles
Walk 2421 Braeriach via the Chalamain Gaphard15.0 miles
Walk 1881 Ben Macdui & Cairn Lochan from the Ski Centrehard10.4 miles
Walk 2672 Cairngorm Mountain via Coire an t-Sneachdamod/hard6.0 miles
Walk 1390 Cairn Lochan via the Fiacaill Buttress from Ski Centrevery hard5.7 miles
Walk 1276 Loch Avon Circular via Cairn Gorm Mountainhard9.0 miles
Walk 2314 Cairngorm & Ben Macdui from the ski centrehard11.0 miles
Walk 1721 Braeriach via Lairig Ghruhard18.2 miles

Recommended Books & eBooks

Walking in Torridon

Walking in TorridonThis guidebook contains 52 day walks in Torridon, a remote and much-loved area of the Scottish Highlands. Based around Shieldaig and Slioch, the routes are split into 3 sections: easy walks, long and high level walks and mountain ascents over 2000ft including 9 Munros, and 5 outline suggestions for major ridge walks.
More information

Great Mountain Days in Scotland

Great Mountain Days in ScotlandInspirational guidebook to 50 challenging routes for mountaineers, scramblers, hillwalkers and fell runners, many long enough to backpack over 2 days, especially in winter (12 to 25 miles). A mix of classic routes and unsung gems across Scotland from Galloway to the Outer Hebrides in widely differing wild landscapes. With customised OS mapping.
More information

Messaging & Social Media

Message Walking Britain and follow the latest news.

Facebook  Twitter

Mountain Weather

Stay safe on the mountains with detailed weather forecasts - for iOS devices or for Android devices.