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The day before storm Ashley was a pleasant autumn day in the Cairngorms and I decided to tackle the four Munros around Cairn of Claise, starting up the Monega Pass as a gentler way up onto the plateau than the fairly brutal-looking west side of Carn an Tuirc.
- The bike stash near the Monega Pass layby
- Looking across the Clunie Water towards Carn an Tuirc
- View down the A93 towards Braemar, still very wet underfoot from the recent rains
- From higher up the Monega Pass, clouds just about clearing the tops
- Unfortunately the clouds came in as I neared the top of the pass and I decided to miss out Glas Maol and instead headed NE to the Cairn of Claise
- Cairn of Claise summit cairn in the clag
- The cloud stayed just above the plateau for the crossing over to Tom Buidhe
- Plenty of nice people around today to take the summit pics, though no view from Tom Buidhe today
- Some atmospheric scenes on the crossing to Tolmount, with hints that the sun might reappear
- And the cloud did finally lift on Tolmount
- With big views up the glen to Loch Callater
- The lunch stop, looking back towards Tolmount and the southern Lochnagar Munros
- The final rise up towards Carn an Tuirc
- Fabulous vistas and fine weather for the final summit of the day, Carn an Tuirc
- Starting the descent towards Glenshee
- Spectacular views towards Glas Maol - a later start would have been a good idea today.
- Carn an Tuirc looking a lot more summery that at the start,
After that, I ran for cover down in Braemar, though even there it was a fairly wild night.
