Bynack More

Immerse yourself in the natural splendour of the Highlands by conquering this challenging peak

- by ROBERT WIGHT

A RELATIVELY lonely hill at the north-eastern corner of the main Cairngorm plateau, Bynack More is separated from its neighbouring Munros by Strath Nethy and upper Glen Avon. It’s a fine, large hill. Its top is an expansive plateau, like many other of the Cairngorm hills. Its actual summit is a cairn among large boulders.

South of the summit there are granite tors the size of buildings, which burst from the otherwise featureless plateau. These are the Barns of Bynack. Nearby are smaller tors, the Little Barns of Bynack.

Probably the best view of the hill is from the Strathspey side, from the north. From this aspect, Bynack More appears as a graceful, conical peak, quite distinct from the rounded, hulking giant of Cairn Gorm slightly to the west.

The usual route of ascent starts from just before Glenmore Lodge. The big advantage of this route is you could cycle the first 4km (2.5miles) or so, to as far as Bynack Stables, which aren’t as grand as they sound. All you'll find is a rough shack. Leaving your bike here means returning by the same route. The round trip is about 22km (13.7 miles), with 750m (2,461ft) of ascent and should take around six hours - less if you cycle.