Bynack More

About Bynack More

Standing proud at the northeastern edge of the Cairngorms, this Munro offers a sharper character than the main high plateau. The long approach through the Ryvoan Pass leads to a steady climb on stony ridges, eventually revealing the Barns of Bynack—extraordinary granite tors that dwarf almost any others in the range.

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• •The name derives from the Scottish Gaelic A' Bheithneag Mhòr. While 'Mhòr' means big, 'Bheithneag' is a diminutive of 'Beinn,' leading to the slightly paradoxical translation 'The Big Little Mountain.' This likely refers to its shapely, pointed profile which makes it look like a classic mountain in miniature compared to the sprawling, bulkier Cairngorm massifs.
• •Just south of the summit lie the Barns of Bynack. These are spectacular, weather-sculpted granite tors that stand like ruined fortresses against the skyline. They are significantly larger and more dramatic than the tors found on the neighbouring Ben Avon.
• •The summit offers a celebrated perspective into the heart of the range. You can look directly across the deep, glacial trench of the Lairig an Laoigh towards the rugged cliffs of Shelter Stone Crag and the dark waters of Loch Avon.
• •Most walkers pass An Lochan Uaine on the approach through the Ryvoan Pass. The water has a distinct, intense green hue caused by light reflecting off the schist on the loch floor, though local folklore insists the colour comes from fairies washing their clothes.
• •Despite being one of the more accessible Munros from Aviemore, the return trip is a substantial 20-kilometre outing, often making the final flat miles back through the woods of Glenmore feel considerably longer than they did in the morning.