Derry Cairngorm

Derry Cairngorm, at 1,155 metres, is a bald, stony Cairngorm summit above Glen Derry, often linked with Beinn Mheadhoin from the Deeside side as an alternative to the Speyside approach over Cairn Gorm.

The route starts from the Linn of Dee, following a track to Derry Lodge — an impressive building, now boarded up, that belongs to the National Trust for Scotland. Beyond a footbridge over the River Derry, the path climbs through heather and pine forest up Creag Bad an t-Seabhaig, with good views back down the glen, before easing towards Càrn Crom, whose summit cairn is worth a short detour for views to Cairn Toul and Braeriach. The path descends slightly to a bealach before rising over two stony domes, the furthest being Derry Cairngorm itself, its summit covered in boulder fields. This is a grand viewpoint taking in much of the Cairngorms, with the view across to Lochan Uaine below Ben Macdui's Sròn Riach ridge perhaps the finest feature.

From here, the route continues north-west along a boulder-covered ridge, crossing a bealach and skirting the domed top of Creagan a' Choire Etchachan, before joining the path from Loch Etchachan to Ben Macdui and turning off towards Beinn Mheadhoin's plateau of granite tors.

The combined round taking in both Derry Cairngorm and Beinn Mheadhoin, returning via Glen Derry, is a long day of around 24-26 kilometres with substantial ascent, typically nine to eleven hours.

The approach tracks are excellent, but the exposed boulder fields on Derry Cairngorm's summit and the rocky scramble required to reach Beinn Mheadhoin's highest tor both demand care; the return through Glen Derry crosses the Glas Allt Mòr, which has no bridge and can become a serious, potentially impassable obstacle in high water — a genuine hazard worth checking conditions for in advance.

Parking at the Linn of Dee is chargeable; there is no public transport to the start.