Alternative Mount Keen
Posted: Sun Apr 17, 2011 5:59 pmMount Keen is my local Munro. I'm beginning to lose count of the number of times I've visited this hill, munro bagging, charity walks, dragging my daughters up there, and just dandering up there for pleasure. I normally do the trade route from Invermark in Glenesk, but I've done the Glen Tanar route, and a westerly route over Craig of Doune over the rolling landscape and up the west face. This walk involves a bit more mileage, a bit of descent and ascent, and takes in another couple of hills to the east of Mount Keen. Good if you don't like meeting folk on the way up! I never seen a sole until I arrived at the top of Mount Keen.
I arrived at the carpark about 0830. It was very quiet.
Molly was certainly up for it.
We headed up the normal route, passing the route sign.
The locals were also heading towards Mount Keen.
We headed along the track, turning up the Landrover track at around NO 433814. A good track leading into Glas Coire. The views as we gained some height were excellent. And, it was getting warm.
We continued along the track, which faded out a bit further on than the 1:50k map suggests. In fact, it went almost all the way to Clash Rodden (shown on the 1:25K). It did become very boggy though and it made me wonder at the ground that the keepers can get Land Rovers into. There were fresh tracks almost all the way to the track end.
We kept to the burnt patches of heather and gradually started making our way up the east side of Braid Cairn. It was hard work heather beating in that heat!
The odd big patch of snow on the ascent of Braid Cairn.
After we reached the plateau, it was a fine wander to the summit. Although rounder, Braid Cairn has some nice features. Here, looking over to the east face of Mount Keen.
Looking at a very distant Driesh and Mayar.
The summit cairn of Braid Cairn. Could see a big bonfire in Aberdeenshire and Bennachie.
A distant Clachnaben from the cairn.
From here, it was heather bashing down to the 765m bealach, and up to Mount Keen. Amazingly, there was a reasonably good path from here to the summit.
Finally after much grunting, we were at the top of Mount Keen.
Stunning conditions and views.
Looking over at Braid Cairn from where we'd come.
It was a busy hill today, we passed dozens as we headed back down towards Glenmark.
Glenmark Cottage.
The Queens Well.
The Water of Mark.
A great walk in the Angus Glens. My GPS went bammy, so I've attached a GPX of the route I planned.
I arrived at the carpark about 0830. It was very quiet.
Molly was certainly up for it.
We headed up the normal route, passing the route sign.
The locals were also heading towards Mount Keen.
We headed along the track, turning up the Landrover track at around NO 433814. A good track leading into Glas Coire. The views as we gained some height were excellent. And, it was getting warm.
We continued along the track, which faded out a bit further on than the 1:50k map suggests. In fact, it went almost all the way to Clash Rodden (shown on the 1:25K). It did become very boggy though and it made me wonder at the ground that the keepers can get Land Rovers into. There were fresh tracks almost all the way to the track end.
We kept to the burnt patches of heather and gradually started making our way up the east side of Braid Cairn. It was hard work heather beating in that heat!
The odd big patch of snow on the ascent of Braid Cairn.
After we reached the plateau, it was a fine wander to the summit. Although rounder, Braid Cairn has some nice features. Here, looking over to the east face of Mount Keen.
Looking at a very distant Driesh and Mayar.
The summit cairn of Braid Cairn. Could see a big bonfire in Aberdeenshire and Bennachie.
A distant Clachnaben from the cairn.
From here, it was heather bashing down to the 765m bealach, and up to Mount Keen. Amazingly, there was a reasonably good path from here to the summit.
Finally after much grunting, we were at the top of Mount Keen.
Stunning conditions and views.
Looking over at Braid Cairn from where we'd come.
It was a busy hill today, we passed dozens as we headed back down towards Glenmark.
Glenmark Cottage.
The Queens Well.
The Water of Mark.
A great walk in the Angus Glens. My GPS went bammy, so I've attached a GPX of the route I planned.
)
