Overview: Cairngorm is without a doubt Scotland's most easily accessible 4000er, with thousands of skiers each year approaching within a few hundred metres of the summit. Ignoring the skiers’ chairlifts, this popular circular route takes in all nine "tops" along with the main summit. Once on the almost featureless summit plateau the route hugs the edge as it traverses above the winter climbers’ playground of the Northern Corries, then drops down to the Chalamain Gap and an easy return to the car parks.

Maps: O/S Map LR090
Strenuousness: 3
Difficulty: 2
Photogenic Grade: 3
Start Point: NH 998 074

Section 1: Coire na Ciste to Cairngorm
Length: 3miles (4.7Km)
Height Gain: 2400ft (734m)

Starting at the car park head slightly east to cross the Allt na Ciste and reach a multi-path junction. Take the path heading south east with the objective being an obvious rib heading uphill to the summit of Sron a Cha-no. Follow the rib for 2km to Sron a Cha-no’s small summit cairn with its impressive views across Strath Nessy to the Munro Bynack More. From the summit of Sron a' Cha-no take the broad and easy ridge south west onto Cnap Coire na Spreidhe, where you join the main track from Ptarmigan and Corie Cas. Navigation is simple as the route now follows a broad highway past Marquis' Well and onwards to the summit plateau. The observatory soon comes into view, followed shortly by the unmistakable, extra large, summit cairn.

Section 2: Cairngorm to Creag an Leth-choine
Length: 3.25miles (5.04Km)
Height Gain: 792ft (241m)

After a well deserved break and two tops behind you it’s soon time to start on the remaining 7 tops left to go. Keeping the rim of Corie Cas to your right head downhill to the west. The path follows the rim curving right first to take in Fiacaill a Choire Chais, then turns back left to the head of Coire Raibeirt. From the head of the coire climb again, with Coire an t-Sneachda far below to the right, to the top of Stob Coire an t-Sneachda. Now turn right to take in Fiacaill Coire an t-Sneachda. And skirt the crags towering above Corie an Lochain to the top of Cairn Lochan and another summit. The route now descends west, then north west with an escape to Corie Cas and Corie na Ciste car parks leading off north here. To complete the final two tops of the circuit continue on to take in the Fiacaill na Leth-choine then turn north west to the obvious summit of Creag an Leth-choin standing at the entrance of the famous Lairig Ghru.

Section 3: Creag an Leth-choine to Coire na Ciste
Length: 4.5miles (7Km)
Height Gain: 690ft (210m)

The descent takes the path down the north west flank of Creag an Leth-choire, without taking in the final cairn north of the summit. You soon join the ever popular path coming from the Lairig Ghru, and the southern Cairngorms, then turn east to head through the Chalamain Gap. The path now drops to join the Allt Creag and Leth-choin and a final easy 3km walk back to the car parks and your start point.