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On an overcast morning, I set off from Blairgowrie with just the one son in tow - the younger one feeling his bed was a better bet at this time on a Saturday. We crossed the bridge into Rattray and headed up the A93 Glen Shee road. A few miles north of Bridge of Cally we turned onto the narrow B951 linking Glen Shee and Glen Isla. We parked in the lay-by on the border between Perth and Kinross and Angus.
Following the Walk Highlands route to the summit we walked a short stretch of road (which is also a part of the Cateran Trail) before climbing a gate and starting up the path. The path is on a fairly constant gradient, more or less straight up the hill, until it levels off a bit near the top. As we climbed, the day seemed to brightened somewhat, and the tops of the higher peaks to the north emerged from the mist.
The first half of the hill is a sheep field, though there were not any sheep present at the time. However, there were many tall thistles by the path, clover being visited by bees and tussocks of deergrass providing shelter to daddy-long-legs. Crossing a gate, the path heads through heather moorland for the remainder of the ascent.
- Looking back downhill, from the heather to the grass
At the top, there is a mast, trig point, large cairn and a view indicator. You're supposed to be able to see Schiehallion, and even Ben Nevis from here on a clear day. However, it's still a rather cloudy day - good for walking, less so for seeing far off Munros. There are good views closer at hand though. Up to the head of Glen Shee, over to Glen Isla, south to Strathmore and, squinting between the hills to the east, possibly the coast near Brechin.
- Mount Blair boasts a number of structures at the summit
- Looking towards the head of Glen Shee
- Glen Isla
- A substantial cairn
After pausing for a spot of rest and refreshment, we decided to take an alternative route down, rather than retracing our steps on the path we came up on. Crossing the fence at the rickety stile next to the cairn, we set the cairn to our backs and set off, following the fence downhill on a sheep path.
- Looking NW from the style
- The fence and our path gradually diverging from the upward path, seen on the far right
From this path, there are better views south-west down Glen Shee.
- SW down Glen Shee
- The sharp delineation between heather and grass
Arriving at a pair of gates, one of which has seen better days. We crossed the sturdier one into the field on the other side of the fence.
- Gate and ex-gate
It was a bit squelchy underfoot here, due to the recent rain. The path disappears in places, but we keep the plantation of conifers at the bottom of the field in view, and continue downhill.
- Met this beetle patrolling the sphagnum moss. An oil beetle? We didn't poke it to find out.
- View of Cray at the foot of the hill
- Approaching the wood, with the head of Glen Shee still visible over the top
We followed the eastern edge of the wood down hill. We briefly caught sight of a tiny frog hopping into the undergrowth.
- Fallen trees revealed in the dappled light of the wood
Part way down the side of the wood, we came across a fallen tree, having a good go at destroying the fence. At this point we heard the mewling call of a bird of prey, and soon spotted two circling high above the wood. My guess is common buzzard or red kite, but I'm no expert, and they were too high up to see much detail.
- The fallen tree. Sadly, no decent picture of the birds.
Coming to an area where the trees had been felled, the lay-by came into view. A couple of camper vans had now joined us.
- The lay-by by the border border-crossing
Jumping over a stream and climbing over a gate we found ourselves back on the road, with a short walk back to the car.
It was well worth taking the alternative route down, with a bit more to see on that part of the hill. A drive down Glen Isla, through Alyth and back to Blairgowrie completed the days excursion.