Tolmount, Tom Buidhe & Mayar.

[Hillwalker and Her]

We drove up from Yorkshire on Friday morning, having booked into the cheap and comfortable Travelodge at Broxden roundabout on the outskirts of Perth. The plan was Driesh and Mayar on Saturday, then Ben Chonzie on Sunday before heading back home. But having my Ralph Storer Munro guide book with me, ideas started formulating the further north we drove. Maybe we could have a 'major' day Saturday then have Sunday off? A few pints in Perth that night and our minds were made up. An early start for the drive up to Glen Clova and then deeper into the valley to park at Glendoll Forest park. We dutifully filled in our route card and had a chat with the Ranger, telling him that we didn't expect to be back before he left for home at 5pm. We told him we were planning to tackle Tolmount, Tom Buidhe, Mayar & Driesh. The weather was set fair, he advised us about the snow and waved us on our way. Up through Glendoll forest we went. Soon hitting the snow line which appeared intermittently throughout the length of the forest. It was a relief to finally leave the trees behind and get our first sight of 'Jocks Road' snow covered and in brilliant contrast to the blue sky above. Snow spikes were donned before climbing higher up the valley to reach the storm shelter set amongst the rocky area known as 'The lunkard'.

Shelter on Jocks road

. From the shelter we found most of the onward path had been obliterated by the snow but earlier footprints were a good guide higher up the valley.

On Jocks Road

Tolmount soon loomed large away on our left and up we trudged through the difficult snow slope to finally reach our first Munro of the day.

Tolmount Summit

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Tolmount

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Distant Alison on the snow slope

Tom Buidhe was clearly visible across the snowy moor and half an hour later we were there on it's somewhat insignificant summit. Not a summit to linger on so off we trudged once more over the snow fields. On and on for what seemed like and eternity. It was incredibly difficult terrain and the endless whiteness played tricks with our vision although Mayar could clearly be seen in the far distance. Corrie Fee and the forest down below offered brief respite from the whiteness in front of us as tiredness was now taking over. When we finally reached Mayar, it was with some relief and after a quick bite to eat we dropped down off the summit to follow the fence towards the Kilbo path and the Bealach below Driesh.

Mayar Summit

Mayar from the Kilbo path

. From here, now exhausted we made the frustrating but sensible decision to call it a day. Although Driesh tried it's best to pull me back as we descended all the way down into the forest. We got back to the car in the gathering gloom, filled in our return card ( Yes,the Ranger went home an hour ago!) and decided that Driesh would wait for us another time.

Looking up towards Jocks road above the forest from the Kilbo path

[gymman47]

Lovely report and looks like it was a really long trek in the snow ! Better safe than sorry, think you done enough for one day and covered a fair distance too. Thanks for the nice pictures too.

[Hillwalker and Her]

Lovely report and looks like it was a really long trek in the snow ! Better safe than sorry, think you done enough for one day and covered a fair distance too. Thanks for the nice pictures too.

Thanks for your kind comments. Yes, had it not been for the snow we would've managed to bag Driesh, but not to worry, we can do it as a short hill day, some time soon