A Friday off but I had to be back by 6 O'clock to commence the weekend round of Dad's Taxi so needed to find a shortish route not too far from home. So not having yet done the Cairnwell munros this looked like a good choice for the day. After 2 weeks of great temperatures and glorious sunshine here in the North East I was hoping that the weather would hold out for 1 more day. I was not disappointed. Glorious sunshine was on hand for a good day on the hills.
Arriving at the Cafe of the Glenshee ski school at 0830 it was on with the gaiters and an easy decision to leave crampons in the car as there was hardly a spot of snow to be seen. A bacon butty to fortify the body and a coffee for the soul and Charlie and I were off up Carn Aosda.

Horribly scarred by the ski runs I felt a little sorry for this hill but it was an easy start to the day and Charlies 4th Munro. Still great views all around in clear skies and good weather although the wind was rather brisk at this height.

From Carn Aosda a simple case of following the path past Loch Vrotachan to Carn nan Sac and on to Carn a Gheoidh with mountain hares sadly standing out clearly in their white overcasts against the free hills. Apart from the hares the only wildlife seen was a pair of still white ptarmigan.

On route to Carn nan Sac a quick glance back revealed a rather worrying billowing of smoke from the crags between Car nan Sac and The Cairnwell.

Wondering if this might be a problem in getting back to the car I decided to carry on for now and on the return journey the fire was fortunately extinguished. A warning that the vegetation is very dry after a warm winter.

A quick photo stop for Charlie at Carn nan Sac then on to Carn a Gheoidh. My original plan was to go only as far as Carn a Gheoidh but once I got there I noticed Carn Bhinnein, it looked interesting and I still had plenty of time in hand so on I went.


I was please to have carried on because the views from here were excellent. Particularly to the North towards Ben MacDui. From here it was back to Carn a Gheoidh for a spot of lunch - of which Charlie ate half before a little snooze before going on to finish the walk on The Cairnwell where I had a chat with a couple of blokes painting the microwave transmitter - not a thing that's common on a munro. From here shortest route back to the car park and home in time to start the weekend's driving duties