Ptarmigan, Cairngorm and railway access (1 Viewer)

[mcapper]

Does anyone know when the Cairngorm railway stops allowing access to the top of the mountain?

I've heard that in winter one can get onto the mountain but in the summer you can't. But when is the change over?

I'm hoping to visit at the end of April and want to see my first Ptarmigan.

If it is closed, does anyone know any other sites in the area - or if it is possible to walk to a site from the base of the mountain - given that I will only be in the area for 1 day!

Any info much appreciated..

Many thanks

Matthew

 

[dave123]

we went up the railway last june. but you cant get out the building up topand walk round.you can walk from the bottom up to the top though.its a long way though but well worth it .

 

[markho]

When I went last year there was no access from the viewing area at the top, which is where the train finishes. From the car park , which is where it starts I went right along a path to a high plateau . Hell of a walk , takes a while so make sure the weather is Ok before you go. Should see Dotterel too.

 

[Pie Face]

Does anyone know when the Cairngorm railway stops allowing access to the top of the mountain?

I've heard that in winter one can get onto the mountain but in the summer you can't. But when is the change over?

I'm hoping to visit at the end of April and want to see my first Ptarmigan.

If it is closed, does anyone know any other sites in the area - or if it is possible to walk to a site from the base of the mountain - given that I will only be in the area for 1 day!

Any info much appreciated..

Many thanks

Matthew

Hi Matthew

You can take the path up from the car park it takes c1.5 - 2hrs to get to the summit and a bit less to get down. Well worth it even just for the view and you'll probably get Snow Bunt's at the summit.

Mark

 

[markgrubb]

Does anyone know when the Cairngorm railway stops allowing access to the top of the mountain?

I've heard that in winter one can get onto the mountain but in the summer you can't. But when is the change over?

I'm hoping to visit at the end of April and want to see my first Ptarmigan.

If it is closed, does anyone know any other sites in the area - or if it is possible to walk to a site from the base of the mountain - given that I will only be in the area for 1 day!

Any info much appreciated..

Many thanks

Matthew

In winter they allow skiers out onto the slopes from the top of the railway and spectators if there is racing. They do police it and stop walkers however so the long hike is your only option.

 

[mcapper]

Thanks everyone. Looks like I need to set aside some time for walkies!

Matthew

 

[mountain man]

Hi Matthew,

Why not do Carn Ban Mor - accessed from Feshiebridge - as a more exciting alternative? It's a slightly longer walk, but Ptarmigan are easy and you'll feel like you're out in the wilds of the Highlands as opposed to visiting a high altitude Alton Towers. I've seen them at the summit area and also in the big scree slope looking right as you ascend. Also, just a bit further on from Carn Ban Mor and you can add Sgor Gaoith to your Munros list.

Tom

 

[Edward woodwood]

agree with the Macca, Carn Ban Mor is much nicer. Very scenic.

Ptamigans are fairly easy and dotterel running around on the summit

just needs a wind turbine to really top it off

Tim

 

[markgrubb]

Hi Matthew,

Why not do Carn Ban Mor - accessed from Feshiebridge - as a more exciting alternative? It's a slightly longer walk, but Ptarmigan are easy and you'll feel like you're out in the wilds of the Highlands as opposed to visiting a high altitude Alton Towers. I've seen them at the summit area and also in the big scree slope looking right as you ascend. Also, just a bit further on from Carn Ban Mor and you can add Sgor Gaoith to your Munros list.

Tom

It's great up there but make sure you are well prepared for the hills at that time of year-maps,clothing, food,navigation skills etc-there is a lot of potential danger in the area if the weather gets bad...

 

[Vipers]

Hi Matthew

Last April we walked up Cairngorm and all the Ptarmigan we saw were within sight of the cafe. We were sitting having a coffee in the cafe and two flew right passed.
Then as we started walking down, there was a pair just below the cafe. So you stand a very good chance of seeing them from the Ptarmigan cafe itself. Good luck!

 

[dbradnum]

just needs a wind turbine to really top it off

:'D:'D:'D

Awesome - that post's been there a whole hour, and no-one's taken it seriously yet! Is this a record? How will you handle the shock, Tim?

 

[mcapper]

Tom, Tim et al.

Given just one day, the plan that is formulating is to start with the Capercaille watch, then try and get the crossbills crested tits in Abernethy, then try a walk for ptarmigan. Then maybe a bit of sleep - unless I try the speyside wildlife hide for pine martin and badger!!

I've had a look at Carn Ban Mor on the map and it looks a nice walk. The logistics of it don't worry me as I've a fair bit of walking experience (famous last words!!).

On the map there is a narrow road from Feshiebridge that runs south ending at a hamlet called Auchlean. Then a path runs east from there up to Carn Ban Mor itself.

Do any of you know where one would actually have to start the walk. Can you park at Auchlean?

Street map link attached if helpful

http://www.streetmap.co.uk/newmap.s...srf&searchp=newsearch.srf&ax=289890&ay=812988

Many thanks for your help.

Matthew

 

[Pie Face]

Tom, Tim et al.

Given just one day, the plan that is formulating is to start with the Capercaille watch, then try and get the crossbills crested tits in Abernethy, then try a walk for ptarmigan. Then maybe a bit of sleep - unless I try the speyside wildlife hide for pine martin and badger!!

I've had a look at Carn Ban Mor on the map and it looks a nice walk. The logistics of it don't worry me as I've a fair bit of walking experience (famous last words!!).

On the map there is a narrow road from Feshiebridge that runs south ending at a hamlet called Auchlean. Then a path runs east from there up to Carn Ban Mor itself.

Do any of you know where one would actually have to start the walk. Can you park at Auchlean?

Street map link attached if helpful

http://www.streetmap.co.uk/newmap.s...srf&searchp=newsearch.srf&ax=289890&ay=812988

Many thanks for your help.

Matthew

Hi Matthew

You can park at Auchlean on the grassy area just before some buildings.

Mark

 

[mountain man]

Hi Matthew,

Yes, park at the very end of the track at Auchlean. It's just one well marked track all the way to the summit. I think it's called the Foxhunter Trail? I seem to remember it taking about 5 hours, all in all, allowing for plenty of time on the summit and crossing to Sgor Gaoith (which allows some absolutely spectacular views over the Cairngorms).

You certainly could do Capers at first light, Crested Tit around Loch Garten, but Crossbills are always hit and miss, and then head up to Carn Ban Mor late morning.

 

[mcapper]

Mark / Tim

All sounds like good advice. Many thanks again

Matthew

 

[fatboyfat]

Does anyone know when the Cairngorm railway stops allowing access to the top of the mountain?


You can still access th top from the funicular railway until the last day of April. No access from May 1st.

Hope this helps!

FBF[/B]

 

[Vipers]

You can still access th top from the funicular railway until the last day of April. No access from May 1st.


FBF[/B]

I was at the top of Cairngorm last April and there was no access to the summit from the railway.

 

[jpoyner]

Does anyone know when the Cairngorm railway stops allowing access to the top of the mountain?


You can still access th top from the funicular railway until the last day of April. No access from May 1st.

Hope this helps!

FBF[/B]

As far as I understood it depended on snow cover/skiing availability. If there was no snow/skiing then no access as the problem is with erosion. There is a serious safety aspect also of just letting people wander out in winter (and at a that altitude we are talking "winter" being anything from October to May). I seriously wouldn't advise heading off looking for Ptarmigan from that point in winter unless you are well equipped and an experienced hill walker. In bad visibilty you could become lost even within a few hundreds yards of the station.......I speak from experience!! And those 400 foot cliffs are not that far away!

John

 

[Big Phil]

You can see Ptarmigan up any hill in that area if you go above c900m, take your pick!. If theres heavy snow on the hills (a remote possibilty in late April these days) the Northern Corries offer a safer, lower option, I've had some memorable days watching Ptarmigan lek on the frozen lochans in that area. Carn Ban Mor (mentioned above) is a bit snoozeworthy in my opinion, a grassy pimple compared to the adjacent Cairngorms with some of the most stressed looking birds in the Highlands......

 

[Capercaillie71]

Carn Ban Mor (mentioned above) is a bit snoozeworthy in my opinion, a grassy pimple compared to the adjacent Cairngorms with some of the most stressed looking birds in the Highlands......

Interesting point this. I've climbed every mountain in the Cairngorms and I've seen Ptarmigan and Dotterel on most of them and Snow Buntings on quite a few. I've often wondered why Carn Ban Mor is always mentioned as THE place to go to see these birds. Is it just because it is one of the more accessible tops (from Speyside at any rate) or is it particularly good for these species? I agree with Big Phil that it is quite a dull hill.