Creag Mhòr and Loch Avon

Hidden deep within the Cairngorms lies one of Scotland’s most spectacular wild landscapes: the great trench of Loch Avon (pronounced “An”), cradled between sheer granite cliffs, with the rugged top of Creag Mhor rising above. This is a place where the scale of the Cairngorm plateau is at its most dramatic—towering cliffs, vast corries, and shimmering waters all combining to create a scene of rare Highland grandeur. The approach, often made from the Cairngorm Ski Centre, begins with a climb across the high plateau, skirting around Cairn Gorm and into the heart of the mountains. The ground soon falls away to reveal Loch Avon in its ice-carved hollow, hemmed in by mighty cliffs such as Shelter Stone Crag, Carn Etchachan, and Hell’s Lum Crag—a climber’s paradise. Above them all, Creag Mhor provides a lofty perch with unrivalled views over the loch and across to the neighbouring Munros of Ben Macdui and Beinn Mheadhoin. The descent to the shores of Loch Avon is steep and boulder-strewn but well worth the effort. Down by the loch, the atmosphere is otherworldly: a place of silence, broken only by the call of ptarmigan or the rush of water feeding into the loch. It feels like the very heart of the Cairngorms. This is not a short outing—it demands stamina, navigation skills, and respect for the elements—but those who make the journey are rewarded with one of the most unforgettable views in the Scottish Highlands.