Lairig an Laoigh — Nethy Bridge to Braemar via the Cattle Pass of the Cairngorms

While the Lairig Ghru gets the glory, the Lairig an Laoigh — the Pass of the Calves — has been moving cattle from Speyside to Deeside since before anyone was writing it down. The track runs south from Nethy Bridge through Abernethy Forest, past the ruins of Bynack Stable, and up into the open bowl below Bynack More before dropping into the Derry and Lui Water country above Braemar. The river crossings at the Allt Dearg and the ford below Loch Avon feeder streams are the crux — after heavy rain these are serious obstacles, not scenic inconveniences. The middle section across the high plateau is genuine wilderness: no shelter, no signal, no bail-out road within miles.

This is expert-level territory. You need a capable long-wheelbase 4×4 with good ground clearance, a snatch strap, and a second vehicle or PLB — non-negotiable. The upper track is wet peat and embedded boulders most of the year; only July through September offers anything like reliable ground conditions. No permit required but this is National Nature Reserve land — go light, camp low impact, and know where you’re crossing on the NNR boundary. Braemar is your fuel and resupply point at the south end. The reward is a Cairngorm traverse most people will never see.