Carn an Tuirc, Tom Buidhe and Cairn of Claise

[neilfowlie]

As we arrived at the car park I couldn't help but think what a difference to the weather. I had been here exactly 7 days ago to do this walk but as I was parking up the reverse gear suddenly went from my car. Not knowing how severely damaged the car was and the fact that the rain was coming down horizontally I decided it best to make sure I could get home first before the walk. This time around Andrea had join me and the weather was perfect, high cloud clover with a slight breeze. We parked the car at the long, gravel lay-by next to the Sean Spittal Bridge and started to head up the path that runs parallel with Allt a' Gharbh-choire.

And so it begins...

First view of Carn a' Tuirc

Looking over towards the Cairnwell Three

Andrea and Carn Dubh behind

There were a few fellow walkers making the same climb but about 2kms into the walk at the foot of Carn an Tuirc the path seemed to fade into several fainter paths. We took the more direct route where others seemed to be either side of us. The scree towards the top wasn't bad to negotiate over with a couple of stops to admire the views behind (and to catch our breath). After a cople of hours walking we had reached our first Munro of the day.

The carins at Carn a' Tuirc, 1019mtrs

Cairn of Claise from Carn a' Tuirc

Our next target was Tom Buidhe. The scree and boulders soon faded out to an almost pathless grass like plateau as we started to head to Tom Buidhe. The idea was to walk around the side of Cairn of Claise and then walk due east to our second Munro of the day. We picked up a path that almost follows the old bouldary fence heading towards Tom Buidhe. It really didn't feel like we had conquered a Munro once we had reached the small cairn at the top.

Grass like plateau with Tolmount to the left

Tom Buidhe ahead

The path to Tom Buidhe

Fellow walkers on Tolmount

Tom Buidhe, 957mtrs

After lunch at the cairn it was time to head to Cairn of Claise. Following the same path back down off Tom Buidhe, we headed west. The 150mtr ascent to Cairn of Claise from Ca Whims didn't seem to take long at all and with the bigger than normal cairn in sight this was our last Munro of the day to complete.

Looking back towards Cairn of Claise from Tom Buidhe

Almost there

Cairn of Claise, 1064mtrs

Looking over towards the Glenshee Ski Centre

We stopped at Cairn of Claise for about 15 minutes just taking in the sights. Glas Maol could be seen about 3kms south-west from where we were and temping as it was it was time to head back to the car. Heading in the direction of Glas Maol we set off for the final time. We walked round Garbh-choire and headed towards Sron na Gaoithe. Although starting to tire it was a quick hike up to the cairn at Sron na Gaoithe.
"The car looks so small from up here" I remember saying to Andrea.

Glas Maol in the distance

Looking back...

Allt a' Gharbh-choire

Carn a' Tuirc to the right

The path to Sron na Gaoithe

So close to the car but yet so far.....

The old bridge crossing Cairnwell Burn

The hike down wasn't the easiest though as there was no real path to follow but with some careful steps and a couple of near slips we made it back to the car.

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[rockhopper]

Yup - tend to agree with you...apart from the initial climb up Carn an Tuirc, you hardly feel you're climbing at all then you fund yourself at the top. Nearly made the mistake of asking why you left off Tolmount until I saw that you'd climbed it previously by a somewhat harder route

[pollyh33]

Well detailed report Neil. Is it really as easy as it looks???? No big sweaty faces to be seen in your photos

[neilfowlie]

Nearly made the mistake of asking why you left off Tolmount until I saw that you'd climbed it previously by a somewhat harder route

Yeah, climbed Tolmount a few weeks earlier from Glen Doll. It was a fair trek but really wanted to walk up Jock's Road and it seemed fitting to get a Munro in. Was going to do Tom Buidhe that day as well but my mate was struggling a wee bit. Did you see the hut on the side of Carn an Tuirc?? Tried looking out for it but must of passed it by...

Well detailed report Neil. Is it really as easy as it looks???? No big sweaty faces to be seen in your photos

Thanks Polly. It was a good day out. I'd say it was fairly easy with what rockhopper says "apart from the initial climb up Carn an Tuirc". I must add there were a couple of sweaty faces after the climb up Carn an Tuirc