Date/Time
Date(s) - 10/05/200912:00 am
Walk Details
Pub Stop?: No O/S Map Sheet No.: 43 Grid Ref. Start: Grid Ref. Finish Walk (Miles): 10 Walk Hours: Bus Time to Walk: Bus Time from Walk: Departure time from walk:Walk Notes
The walk today covers the hills to the south of the Cairnwell ski area either on the east side of the A93 road(1), or on the west side (2), both finishing at the Spital of Glenshee Hotel where the bus will be parked.
(1) For the east side walk leave the bus at NGR 141.775 on the A93 road just beyond the ski centre and follow a track uphill to the bottom of a ski tow at NGR 148.775. From here climb eastwards up to the summit of Meall Odhar (922m, 3024 ft). From this top continue southeastwards along a ridge before dropping slightly to cross the col between it and Glas Maol. Then climb to the summit of Glas Maol (1068m, 3503 ft), passing a fence junction where the three counties of Aberdeenshire, Perthshire, and Forfarshire meet.
From the summit turn southwestwards following a ridge past a cairn to reach a col where the climb up the ridge of Creag Leaclach begins, a long hill with scree slopes on both sides. There are two tops on this ridge, about half a mile apart, the highest one being 987m, 3237ft. Continue south/southwestwards down the end screes and across a col at the head of Glen Brighty to reach Carn Ait (864m, 2833ft) which also has two tops. Here we leave the county boundary we have been following to head south/southwestwards over two minor tops – Carn Aig Mhala and Carn Chomh-Stri to reach Carn an Daimh (755m, 2476 ft).
From here descend westwards to pick up a path between this top and Bad an Loin which follows a glen down to the farm of Tomb, where the access road leads westwards to join the A93 road just north of Spital of Glenshee.(NGR 112.703)
Walking distance = 10 miles + ascent of 1700ft
(2) For the west side walk, from the ski centre (NGR 138.782) take the ski track climbing west/northwestwards up Butchart’s Corrie towards the col between Cairnwell and Carn Aosda. Once past a ski hut turn south westwards and climb the ridge to a minor top overlooking the corrie before turning westwards and heading round Coire Direach to reach the summit of Carn-nan-sac (920m, 3017 ft). From here head westwards across the plateau to the highest point of the walk – Carn a’Gheoidh (975m, 3198 ft). From this summit head southwards over a broad col towards Carn Mor to pick up a path to the west of the top which leads southwards down a ridge to Creagan Bheithe (759m, 2489 ft).The path then descends to the remains of a ski hut in the dip between Creagan Bheithe and Ben Gulabin and continues down a burn for a short distance before crossing it and contouring the hillside southwards to reach the A93 road about a mile north of the Spital of Glenshee.