Really beautiful walk in misty conditions

[ineilson]

This was a really lovely walk with great views and few people. To be thoroughly recommended despite the midges that were out in force at the start of the walk by the river. We really pitied the poor campers who'd set up tent under the trees.
The start of the walk up Glen Isla was quite misty.

It cleared a little as we walked by the Tulchan Lodge and up the west bank of the river Isla.

but descended again as we turned onto the rough grassy track up Monega Hill only to clear as we approached the top of the ridge revealing great views over to the crags of Druim More and into Caenlochan Glen.

The views from the edge of the cliffs were truly beautiful as the mist swirled around.

Unfortunately the mist then descended again so the walk over Little Glas Moel, Glas Moel and Creag Leachach, while enjoyable, did not realise the great views into the Cairngorms that we have seen on previous walks in the area. A few walkers were passed descending from Creag Leachach but other than that we were on our own. Suddenly though, as we were near Carn Ait, the mist cleared again revealing a truly brilliant blue sky.

The blue skies lasted long enough for us to enjoy the sunshine while sitting on the grass looking down into Glenshee. The mist continued to come and go, tantalisingly revealing a warm sun when it lifted.

Reluctantly stirring after a very pleasant laze in the sun, we headed over to Mallrenheskein and down to Easter Glacanbuidhe marvelling at the wonderful feeling of isolation that the route had especially as the mist descended again and route finding was slightly more difficult! The climb up Black Hill across the peat hags was straightforward. We followed the line of the fence and , while not pleasant walking, it wasn't too bad but then it had been relatively dry weather.

The final scent of Monamenach was however a killer! Legs were weary but the lovely colour of the heather and the views that continued to surround us were more than compensation as we looked over the start of our walk from above.

This really is a lovely walk. Great day on the hills. So glad to live in Scotland!

[litljortindan]

A good advert for the WH route. I've been to Monega Hill via Glas Maol and I was on Learmour Craig in July, both amongst the most dramatic points in their glens and, I suppose both surprisingly and unsurprisingly, very quiet away from the tracks and paths linking the Munros.