Bike & Hike to Lochnagar

A Sunday off that promised sunshine toward the end of September enticed me to make the drive to Ballater for a hike up Lochnagar. Having slept in a bit more than planned, I decided to take my bike so I could zip along the first flat section of my route and save some time.

The weather couldn’t have been more perfect. I arrived at the car park in patchy sunshine with a cool breeze that quickly moved the clouds across the sky. It wasn’t long before I had hopped off my bike and taken my camera out. The wind had blown some light rain into the sunrays painting a vivid rainbow that arced across the path. I got the feeling it was going to be a good day.

Loch Muick is beautiful. I rode along the edge of it appreciating the variety of plant life that borders it: birch, rowan, bracken and heathers. After a fun downhill I arrived in a small patch of woods where I locked up my bike and began my hike up to the trig point at 1155m.

I set myself a steady pace up the first steep section but was quickly distracted by the stunning waterfall above; the Falls of the Glasallt. I stopped in my tracks – it was completely magical. Crystal water tumbled over rocks toward the Loch lined by lush ferns and thick mats of moss and heather. I could hardly believe no one else was on this path at this point but I took the opportunity to jump with glee like a little kid.

The path continued up and up, handrailing Glas Allt. The landscape became more open and heathery the more I climbed, and the wind became more assertive. I had treated myself to a new hardshell jacket a few days prior and I was excited to test it out. As I neared 800m, the wind ripped over the hills and brought snow with it. I broke out in a huge grin. This was the kind of thing I absolutely love, feeling safe and cosy in my kit but enjoying being out in the elements.

Visibility quickly deteriorated the higher I went – but my path was obvious and straightforward. Figures began to appear ahead of me in the cloud as different paths brought other hikers closer to the top. I arrived at the summit the same time as a couple other parties and we exchanged the courtesy of taking each other’s photo at the top. I enjoyed the sense of achievement at the trig point but didn’t stay long – it was bitingly cold and there was no view whatsoever. I was reminded of something I had read on the WalkHighlands website that Queen Victoria had summited Lochnagar and wrote of her experience ‘But alas! Nothing whatever to be seen; and it was cold, and wet, and cheerless.’ I was glad to be having a cheerful time despite the conditions.

I was pelted with hail on the way down and almost as soon as I was below 800m – glorious sunshine once again. I was treated to the view of Loch Muick from above as I descended the final steep slope on foot before gladly hopping on my bike to enjoy a smooth ride back to the car park.