"Dark Lochnagar"

Photographs by David McConnell Hunter

These photographs were taken with a simple point-and-shoot camera on Sunday, June 11, 2000 after completing a four-day hike in the Cairngorms. Lochnagar lies entirely within the royal estate of Balmoral and the route taken is a classic. I had a small tape recorder with me and you can listen to my rather naïve account due to it being my first visit to this area. It was an exhilarating experience and I was glad at long last to visit this location, made famous in Lord Byron's famous poem.

Click the start arrow for a recording of the way up

Click the start arrow for a recording of the way down


The blue line shows the route taken
(map courtesy of the Scottish Mountaineering Club)

Click here for a detailed map of the summit


Glen Muick and the River Muick, looking north


Looking west to Lochnagar from the Spittal of Glenmuick


Self-timer photo looking to the north-east corrie of Lochnagar


Lochan na Gaire (wee loch of the noisy sound)
from which Lochnagar gets its name


The summit plateau


Looking north to the highest point: Cac Carn Beag (pass of the small cairn)


The summit marker on Cac Carn Beag (3,786 feet)


Looking south through the mist to Cac Carn Mor
(pass of the large cairn) the second highest point (3,768 feet)


Looking east through one of the gullies leading from the summit


The precipices ("steep frowning glories") of Lochnagar


The descent to the east via the burn known as the "Glas Allt"


View east to Loch Muick from the head of the Glas Allt waterfall


The Glas Allt waterfall


The house known as "Glas-allt-Sheil" built for Queen Victoria in 1868

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