The first top, Broad Cairn (998 metres/3,274 feet) with its rough, bouldery summit and steep sided corrie leading down to the Dubh Loch does have more character to offer than its neighbour Cairn Bannoch (1,012 metres/3,320 feet) and it's also worth taking time to look over one's shoulder, eastwards, to view Loch Muick as height is gained. The third, and final top of the day, Carn an t-Sagairt Mór (1,047 metres/ 3,435 feet) is easily included and well worth the effort for the fine view northwards towards Braemar and eastwards to the mass of Lochnagar - Cac Carn Beag (1,155 metres/3,789 feet) and the many other Munros and tops. The summit slopes of Carn an t-Sagairt Mór are scattered with the wreckage of a 50 Squadron Canberra aircraft that crashed there in January 1956. The largest piece is a section of wing.

This route starts from the car park and picnic site at The Doll, crosses back over the bridge that leads to the car park then turns sharp left to head north along the track through the woods, ignoring the branch for the Capel Mounth, and through a gate - with an electronic visitor counter - beside the smallholding at Moulzie. Skirt around the buildings and continue straight on to reach the edge of another small plantation from where the path now goes to the left to avoid the very boggy inners of the plantation.

Follow the track and cross the water by the bridge (at GR: 278789) from where the path climbs gently towards Bachnagairn on a rough road. Negotiate a couple of flimsy stiles and gates that give access through the one-time electrified deer fences guarding a small wood and continue up the narrow path to reach a substantial wooden bridge across the burn. Continue on the recently refurbished and well maintained track up the hill to a junction near a wooden stable and fenced pen (GR: 256809) then head off left, in a westerly direction, to Broad Cairn - a nicely rounded cone with boulder strewn upper reaches.

Drop down from the summit and take the obvious track northwest onto Cairn Bannoch; about half an hour's easy walking. The descent and subsequent gentle ascent over the short grass and heather are barely noticed. Descend northwest from here to the bealach (at GR: 212836) then up the slightly steeper slope to summit of Carn an t-Sagairt Mór.

From the summit cairn, return to the bealach then bear more southerly to pass the cairn on Fafernie (1,000 metres/3,281 feet). Follow the path along the county boundary line to Knaps of Fafernie - a clutter of large boulders - then bear south-southwest from the head of the heather-clad Glen Callater to meet Jock's Road (at GR: 217805) and head south-southeast, past Crow Craigies and Cairn Lunkard, to the return to the start.