Ground Conditions: End of September and well into autumn. It has been a very hot summer, with serious fires in the Cairngorms centered around the area of Bynach More. Now, after some rain the ground is not as dry and there have been reports of the rivers being hard to cross. [September 2026]

East Drumochter Hills

There are two Munros in the land East of the A9. Much of this land is a flat plateau resembling Pennine Moors rather than the Scottish Hills. But this is a true Munro experience with some rough walking over the high plateau with some good views over to the higher Cairngorms.

Parking is at the large car park just off the A9 at Balsporran Cottage, although busy there is always room.

Section 1: To the summit of A'Buidheanach Beag
Distance: 4.0 kms. | Ascent: 525 m. | Estimated Time: 2 hrs. 20 min.
From Balsporran Cottage, the first task is to safely cross this busy road. Once on the other side, go through the gate and follow the track that leads to Drumochter Lodge. Just before this there is an obvious track that climbs steeply up the hillside. Join this path by crossing the river and then follow the good track up the hillside. This continues well past the point that it stops being marked on the map. Towards the top the angle relents to lead to a wide and open plateau. The walker continues over this moor to the trig point marking the top of A'Buidheanach Beag.

Section 2: Onto the summit of Cairn na Caim
Distance: 5 kms. | Ascent: 200 m. | Estimated Time: 1 hrs. 50 min.
Next is to continue along the ridge to A' Buidheanach Mor. From the summit the walker can see a distinctive track that goes around the south of A'Buidheanach. The route is to make directly to this path. The area lower down can be quite wet. Now on the track it is followed all the way to Carn na Caim. This follows the council boundary as marked on the map and by iron fence posts on the ground. At the small top marked with a cairn .902 there is a steep track down to the A9. This is the return route. Now the walker follows the track in a generally northerly direction over another small top. Keep following the track to the end as marked on the map. The summit of Cairn na Caim is easily reached over the plateau.There are good views over to the main Cairngorm plateau to the north, and Ben Alder over the West Drumochter hills to the west.

Section 3: Steeply down to the valley
Distance: 6.5 kms. | Ascent: 20 m. | Estimated Time: 2 hrs. 0 min.
The way back is to retrace the route back to .902 along the track. Then follow the steep track down to the main Drumochter valley. Towards the bottom the track takes a significant turn right. It is better to follow the grouse butts directly down to the forest. There is a gate to get into the forest and continue walking downhill to reach a track and the A9. Again cross the road safely, and get onto the cycleway. The route back is south down the cycleway.

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