M71 |
1064 m. |
3491 ft.
Pronunciation kaarn an claes
Translation Hill of the green grassy place
OS 43 | Gridref NO 185789
Alex, Cord, Frank enjoyed it
From our cottage in Braemar we drove up the road in Glen Clunie to a spot by the Clunie Water where there were already a number of cars parked when we arrived. From the parking we took the path, crossed the Water and headed due east beside a burn which tumbles down the valley. We looked at the waterfalls which we reached after 20 or 30 minutes of walking.
When the terrain steepened we headed directly for the north-east face of Carn an Tuirc and climbed that steep-sided hill using traces of a track. Gras, stones and some scree were the order of the day. Further up some boulder fields announced the arrival at summit altitude. We walked the few metres to the cairn and rested in the sunshine. However, it was not warm since the wind was blowing quite heavily and soon we needed to protect our bodies against the cold. Form the summit of Carn an Tuirc we followed the scar aka track on the plateau which leads in a long arc towards the second Munro of the day: Carn of Claise. We got to this summit by following the track until it met a stone wall which we followed for a hundred metres to the summit cairn. Again the wind was strong and we paused in the lee of the wall which offered us some respite. Then, refreshened by tea and sweets we headed due east into the wide and shallow corrie below. We crossed this somewhat boggy terrain and headed for drier ground up to the ridge which soon leads to the summit of Tolmount. There we sat and took in the views of the White Mounth. Tolmount is a great view point perched high above Glen Callater. After some time we let go and retraced our steps down the ridge which then led down to the col between this Munro and Tom Buidhe, our last hill of the day. Soon we climbed up onto the ridge which after a final short steepening deposited us at the summit cairn. We did not linger long but headed due west over the higher ground of Ca Whims. From there the terrain rose very gradually which in the end allowed us to bypass the bulky summit of Carn of Claise on its south side. Traversing some remaining larger snow fields we arrived on the plateau between this hill and Glas Maol, which we had visited a few days before. Veering to the right after some time we reached the crest of the ridge which ends at Sron na Gaoithe. Before the ridge climbs to this little summit we dropped into the glen on the east side of the hills outcrops of rock. The path was quite steep but we made very good downhill progress. Soon we were back on the flatter meadowy ground of the valley floor, crossed an interesting newish foot bridge and strolled back to our car. A long day of plateau walking in good conditions (only a few showers). Bagging was the reason for starting this walk but it proved to be Very nice, offered us extensive views and which we shared in good company. A day joyful and relaxed hiking!
Description
Of these four hills, Cam an Tuirc and Cairn of Claise overlook the head of Glen Clunie a few kilometres north-east of the Cairnwell Pass, showing shallow grassy corries and rounded shoulders to the A93 road. Tolmount, a few kilometres east, stands at the head of Glen Callater with a steep craggy face above this glen, and Tom Buidhe to its south is a rounded swelling on the Mounth plateau. The four can be climbed in a round tour from the head of Glen Clunie.Leave the A93 road 2km north of the Cairnwell Pass at (148800) and descend a short distance to cross the Cairnwell Burn by the old bridge, a remnant of the 18th century military road. Follow the Allt a'Gharbh-choire E for 1km by a path shown on the OS 1:50,000 map and cross the tributary coming down from the north-east. Continue ENE up the path which leads round to the north-east side of Carn an Tuirc and avoids the unpleasant boulder slopes of the east face and reach the flat stony summit. (3 km, 510m, 1 h 40min).Continue E across the summit boulderfield and, where the slope steepens towards Coire Kander, turn SE down a wide grassy ridge to the saddle from where Cairn of Claise lies 1.5km SSE. Climb the easy slope by a track which leads to near the summit. (5.5km, 620m, 2h 20min). A pleasant walk ENE down grassy slopes leads to a shallow peaty col from which a wide shoulder leads to Tolmount. (8.5km, 700m, 3h l0min). The summit stands near the steep headwall of Glen Callater.To the south the rounded top of Tom Buidhe rises from the plateau. It is best approached by going round the upper part of the shallow green corrie, one of the sources of the River South Esk, which separates Tolmount from Tom Buidhe. A short ascent SE up a grassy slope studded with a few boulders leads to the rounded summit of the latter. (l0km, 790m, 3h 40min).Return due W along the highest ground over Ca Whims. After about 2km bear WSW, contouring at about 970m between the upper slopes of Cairn of Claise on one's right and steepening ground dropping towards the Caenlochan Glen on one's left. This traverse across tussocky grass and blaeberry leads in about 2km to the smooth ground of the watershed where the Mounth plateau is reduced to a broad ridge between the Caenlochan Glen and the Garbh-choire.Go SW along this ridge, following a vehicle track, to reach the path of the Monega road, the highest drove route in the Highlands, which comes up from Glen Isla over Little Glas Maol. The path crosses the ridge and leads NW down the spur of Sron na Gaoithe towards Glen Clunie. Follow it, and leave the crest of the spur to descend its north flank just before reaching the rocky knob at its termination.Below this the path disappears, but an easy grass slope leads down to the Allt a'Gharbh-choire which must be crossed to reach the bridge at the starting point of the route.