There's good and bad in everything, The Glen Shee 7.

[martin.h]

The plan for today, if the weather behaved itself, was to do the Glas Maol Munro's and then,when we reached the last one, see if we had the time and the energy to add the 3 Cairnwell Munro's to the walk as well. Having looked at other reports I was able to decide where best to park the car if we did extend the walk with the least amount of distance to get back to it. The Glen Shee ski centre was the place so this is how we got on.
From the ski centre the initial climb up Meall Odhar is a steady one, it follows the ski stuff and just before the final slopes of Glas Maol are reached you bear right towards Bathach Beag and the cairn marked on the map. From here the wall starts and the way onwards is obvious all the way to Creag Leacach.

Creag Leacach

The weather was decent, clouds just brushing the summits but by the time we reached Creag Leacach they were just above the tops and we managed to have some good views from the top.

Creag Leacach summit

Across the road to The Cairnwell

From here it's backtracking to the cairn then onwards to Glas Maol and we were on the summit 2 hrs 20 mins after setting off from the ski centre. The light was not giving much for any decent photo's it was a bit dark over Lochnagar and further north into the Cairngorms but it was dry and warm.

On Glas Maol

Views from Glas Maol

From Glas Maol to Cairn of Claise is a steady walk on good paths, having good visibility we cut the corner off and took a direct route off the summit and made a beeline for the highly visible path lower down, in mist I can imagine this would not be so easy but we could see the next objective so the cheat was on. The walk over to Cairn of Claise was just pleasant grassy hillwalking on excellent paths and we could relax and enjoy the views. When we got to the summit we decided to have lunch in one of the shelters, I had toyed with including Tom Bhundie and Tolmount from here but decided it would be too much if we did decide on the Cairnwell 3 as well.

Cairn of Claise

View back to Glas Maol

After lunch we set off for Carn an Tuirc and found we covered the distance between the two very quickly and when on the summit we looked over to Carn Aosda and decided to go for it and do the 3 as well.

Carn an Tuirc

So off we plodded down towards the A93, I kept looking at the way up Carn Aosda and willing it to magically flatten out because it looked a right old slog up the slopes. We arrived at the old bridge, had a quick snack and then committed ourselves to the slope.

Looking back to Carn an Tuirc

The bridge

Towards the Cairnwell

The old Military road

Although it looked daunting it was'nt that bad, we took a zig zagging direct route up and once we got into a rhythm we found it steady but were thankful when we arrived at the top.

Carn Aosda

The Cairnwell from Carn Aosda

Carn a Gheoidh from Carn Aosda, it looks a long way.

I was suprised how much the affects of the ski-ing has had on the surrounding hills, I guess all the tracks, signposts, paths and fences take on a different aspect when the snow is covering the slopes, but, wow, in the summer it looks a bit indstrial and untidy. We could see Carn a Gheoidh in the distance, it looked a long way away but off we plodded towards no 6. The way off Carn Aosda is simple to see but walking on the loose stones on the track was tiring and we were thankful when we got onto the path above Loch Vrotachan where the ground became softer. The walk over to Carn a Gheoidh is good, it takes about half hour with a little steep bit onto the summit, good views of the route walked from here and looking back, The Cairnwell was centre stage egging us forward.

The summit of Carn a Gheoidh

The Cairnwell, luring.

When you get closer to The Cairnwell there is an obvious path making a rising traverse across the initial slopes up towards some small crags and then heads towards a ski tow you can just see and then onto The Cairnwell. The final short steep bit onto the summit is loose but over with soon enough. The summit is a bit untidy with the huts and masts, it looks like a military base. We had arrived on the seventh summit of the day and to be honest I was knackered but the sence of achievment in us both outweighed that.

The Cairnwell, last of the day

Carn a Gheoidh

Militaryish, a bit untidy

The way down we chose is on the service vehicle tracks all the way to the ski centre which were easy to follow but loose, a bit like walking on marbles. The cafe was closed so no coffee, drat!.
This was an enjoyable walk with several possible start points. I found the ski centre was a convenient start, there is a bit of backtracking on the route but the advantage of having the car more central is welcome at the end of the day. All in all, a good day out and lots of fun.

[Beaner001]

Well done Martin & Denise, looks like a successful trip

[The Rodmiester]

Aye the Blue Balloons are mounting up after that trip, nice one!

[martin.h]

Thanks Matthew, the day after we went to do the Lochnagar Munro's but the weather was pants so decided on Schiehallion.

Hi Rod, We're having a good go at those blue balloons, still trying for 50 this year.

[Backpacker]

Well done on doing 7 of them, it was about this time last year I did all 9, feet felt like they were in pieces afterwards

[martin.h]

Hi Backpacker, thankyou. It was your report that planted the seed, you did well doing 9, I had thought about it, but 7 were enough for my legs. Could'nt pinpoint Tom Buidhe or Tolmount in the landscape so I wasn't sure what the extra distance looked like. Will do them on fresher legs.