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 … [Read More]

One day after the fine tour of Beinn a’Ghlo Frank and me had set our sights on something shorter. Glas Maol and Creag Leacach are easy Munros as both can be climbed from the Cairnwell pass. We had driven up to the pass by Glen Shee and reached the parking opposite the Cairnwell at eleven o’clock in the morning. The weather was acceptable: Wind, a little rain and sleet on the higher ground.

We used the landrover track that gives access to the café and ski tows on Meall Odhar’sslopes. Soon we reached the flat summit of this hill. The route ahead was obvious and we saw other hikers ahead of us who climbed the steep flank of Glas Maol. Via the flat stretch of the connecting ridge we soon reached the foot of this steep section and then climbed up the path to the level summit plateau of Glas Mol. A heavy snow shower and gusty wind greeted us at the summit cairn of this first Munro of the day. Frank put on his waterproof trousers and I wanted to follow his example only to realize that mine were in the car. Ok, nevermind. Wet trousers in driving wind are not too bad as long as you keep moving! So very soon we turned south west and trodded towards the ridge that connects the two hills and which forms a nice sweeping arc.

After half an hour of strolling along the broad ridge the terrain became more defined until finally leading to the nice sharpish summit of Creag Leacach. There we sat in the sunshine, ate our provisions, drank some tea and I felt my trousers slowly drying in the wind. With the showers having subsided and the sun creating illuminative effects on the hillsides the day became more and more pleasant. We then left the summit and headed back to Meall Odhar. Instead of getting there via the summit of Glas Maol we decided to use the path that skirts the western flank of the hill. There were … [Read More]

One day after the fine tour of Beinn a’Ghlo Frank and me had set our sights on something shorter. Glas Maol and Creag Leacach are easy Munros as both can be climbed from the Cairnwell pass. We had driven up to the pass by Glen Shee and reached the parking opposite the Cairnwell at eleven o’clock in the morning. The weather was acceptable: Wind, a little rain and sleet on the higher ground.

We used the landrover track that gives access to the café and ski tows on Meall Odhar’sslopes. Soon we reached the flat summit of this hill. The route ahead was obvious and we saw other hikers ahead of us who climbed the steep flank of Glas Maol. Via the flat stretch of the connecting ridge we soon reached the foot of this steep section and then climbed up the path to the level summit plateau of Glas Mol. A heavy snow shower and gusty wind greeted us at the summit cairn of this first Munro of the day. Frank put on his waterproof trousers and I wanted to follow his example only to realize that mine were in the car. Ok, nevermind. Wet trousers in driving wind are not too bad as long as you keep moving!

So very soon we turned south west and trodded towards the ridge that connects the two hills and which forms a nice sweeping arc. After half an hour of strolling along the broad ridge the terrain became more defined until finally leading to the nice sharpish summit of Creag Leacach. There we sat in the sunshine, ate our provisions, drank some tea and I felt my trousers slowly drying in the wind. With the showers having subsided and the sun creating illuminative effects on the hillsides the day became more and more pleasant. We then left the summit and headed back to Meall Odhar. Instead of getting there via the summit of Glas Maol we decided to use the path that skirts the western flank of the hill. There were … [Read More]