Date/Time
Date(s) - 19/08/201212:00 am
Walk Details
Pub Stop?: No O/S Map Sheet No.: 43 Grid Ref. Start: Grid Ref. Finish Walk (Miles): 12 Walk Hours: 6 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 west side (1) of the A93 road, or on the east side (2), both finishing at the Spittal of Glenshee Hotel where the bus will be parked. Please indicate on the attendance sheet which route you will be taking. If any member(s) require a shorter walk please advise your committee member in charge of the bus so that early discussion can take place with the driver.
(1) For the “west side walk”, from the ski centre at (NGR 138.782). Take the ski track climbing NW’wards up Butchart’s Corrie towards the col between Cairnwell and Carn Aosda. Once past a ski hut, turn S’wards with good views W’wards towards lonely Loch Vrotachan and climb the ridge to a minor top overlooking the corrie before turning W’wards and heading round deep Coire Direach to reach the summit of Carn-nan-Sac (920m). From here, head W’wards across the plateau to the highest point of the walk – Carn a’Gheoidh (975m). From this summit, either (a) head W’wards towards a small tarn (sometimes dry), then swing S’wards to gain the sharp peak of Carn Bhinnean (917m) with fine views W’wards over to Glas Tulaichean (1051m) and Beinn Iutharn Mhor (1045m). Descend SE to avoid the loose summit screes and loose boulders and follow the west side of the Allt Aulich to eventually gain the wide track in the valley of Gleann Taitneach. Head down this glen (southwards) to reach the Spittal of Glenshee Hotel. Or (b) from the summit, head S’wards over Carn Mor (876m), Creagan Bheithe (759m) and Ben Gulabin (806m) to descend to the Spittal Hotel.
Walking distance approximately 12 miles.
(2) 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 149.775. From here, climb E’wards up to the summit of Meall Odhar (922m). From this top, veer SE’wards along a ridge before dropping slightly to cross the col between it and Glas Maol. Then climb to the summit of Glas Maol (1068m), passing an old fence junction where the three counties of Aberdeenshire, Perthshire, and Forfarshire meet. From the summit, turn SW’wards following a ridge S’wards 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. Continue SW’wards down the scree and across a col at the head of Glen Brighty to reach Carn Ait (864m), which also has two tops. Here, we leave the county boundary we have been following to head S’wards over two minor tops – Carn Aig Mhala (768m) and Carn Chomh-Stri (718m) to reach Carn an Daimh (755m). From here descend W’wards 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 (NGR 111 703), just north of Spittal of Glenshee hotel where our bus will be parked. (NGR 111.698).