The forecast promised a 70% chance of cloud-free Munros and delivered the other 30% for the entire day. That is fine. Loch Avon is worth walking to even when you can only see the near shore of it.
The route
Up from the Coire Cas car park, over the shoulder of Cairn Gorm, then down the steep ground into the basin. The loch appears suddenly — no gentle reveal, just a grey sheet of water where a moment ago there was hillside.
We followed the north shore to the Shelter Stone, ate lunch out of the wind, and climbed back out via Coire Domhain. Eleven kilometres, 780 metres of ascent, four and a half hours moving.
What I’d do differently
Carry the heavier waterproof. The light one is a fair-weather lie I keep telling myself.