Photographs, route descriptions and maps of Glenshee and surrounding Munros in the Eastern Highlands of Scotland

Location: Glenshee
Map: OS Landranger 43 ( GR139757 )
Distance: 7 miles( 11.5km )
Time: 4.5 hours
Terrain: tracks and paths

Glas Maol and its neighbour Creag Leacach can be climbed from the Glenshee ski centre which at 665m / 2182ft is the high point of the A93 Braemar road. While this certainly cuts down the amount of ascent it's not the most enjoyable route due to the proximity of the ski centre. By far the better way of climbing this pair of Munros is the ﬁne circuit which starts lower down, a mile or so to the south, from a parking area on the east side of the road, partway up the hill.
Descend a rough path to the burn which is normally easy to cross, apart from when it is in spate condition, and then follow a rough hill track up the slope on the other side. Stay with this as it swings northwards away from a path leading into the glen above a tributary burn, which is the return route, on to the fine spur of Leacann Dubh. This leads pleasantly upwards on to a better track which passes a hut before swinging eastwards and ascending along the fringes of the ski centre on to Meall Odhar ( 922m / 3025ft ). A short descent is followed by a steeper ascent on a path which climbs the great dome-shaped summit slopes of Gias Maol where a flat walk gains the top ( 1068m / 3504ft ).
Now head south-west and descend on to the grassy spur which links with Creag Leacach where an old wall provides a useful feature for the lovely walk, then up on to the rocky top of Creag Leacach ( 987m / 3238ft ). Drop down beside this wall than swing westwards on to the South-west top ( 943m /3094ft ). Break away from the wall here and pick your way carefully westwards, downhill through a boulder ﬁeld. to gain a rough path which leads north-westwards down grassy slopes to the col in front of Meall Gorm. Most people descend from here. However. the short
ascent on to Meall Germ ( 759m/2490ft ) is recommended before descending north-east on to the usual descent, crossing the burns in the glen just before they join. A short climb on the other side gains a path which traverses the hillside then descends to the burn just below the car park.

l.ocatlion: Glen Clunie / Glen Shee
Map: OS Landranger 43 ( GR185789 )
Distance: 12.5miles ( 20km )
Time: 6 hours 30 minutes
Terrain: hill paths

On the east side of upper Glen Clunie, Cairn of Claise and three of its neighbouring Munros - Carn an Tuire, Tolmount and Tom Buidhe - form a logical round. The issue is deciding which direction to approach them from. Glen Clove and Glen Doll to the south-east and Glen Callater to the north offer possibly easier ascents in poor visibility but add more than two and a half hours to the route and start from a lower altitude.
The third approach from the head of Glen Clunie is probably the most popular. It doesn't offer a particularly attractive looking route but it is direct and a lot quicker. However, care is needed as Tom Buidhe and Tolmount aren't much more than bumps in the moorland and hard to distinguish when viewed from the higher summits of Cairn of Claise and Carn an Tuirc.
There are assorted car parks on the east and west side of the glen about two kilometres beyond and below the Glenshee Ski Centre. A track leads from the higher of these to an old bridge over the Cairnwetl Burn from where a path ascends beside the Allt a‘ Gharhh-choire towards Carn an Tuirc. The start can also be accessed from the lower car park via part of the old military road on the east side of the Cairnwell Burn.
Cross a tributary after about one kilometre and start to ascend the grass and heather slopes of Carn an Tuirc on initially ill-deﬁned paths aiming for its northern shoulder from where the summit can be gained. The western slopes of the hill are scree covered and while assorted paths weave their way through this terrain, the going is rough.
From the top head south-east over bouldery ground to a col and track which ascends the northern slopes of Cairn of Claise. Follow this to about 1000m then contour east and south to grassy peat-strewn slopes which are followed down to the gentle shoulder leading to the summit of Tolmount. Now descend south following an old fence line to a peaty col, cross a burn and ascend to a grassy track which leads up the western crest of Cairn of Claise to the summit of Tom Buidhe.
Retrace your steps on the track and follow it on west past Ca Whims to regain the old fence line. The track sticks close to this as it ascends towards the boulder ﬁeld surrounding the summit of Cairn of Claise. Gain the summit, then return to the track and follow it southwest towards Glas Maol, leaving near its lowest point for a path along the grassy spur of Sron na Gaoithe.
Drop off right before the rocky end of the spur from where intermittent paths lead down to the riverside and a modern footbridge over the Cairnwell Burn and the car parks.

Location: Spittal of Glenshee
Map: OS Landranger 43 ( GR 028773 )
Distance: 16miles ( 26km)
Time: 8 hours 30 minutes
Terrain: tracks and paths

Carn an Righ and its southerly neighbour Glas Tulaichean offer a long round trip typical of many of the big hills in The Mounth, the high ground south of Strathdee.
The route can be started from Spittal of Glenshee but this adds another ﬁve kilometres of road walking in an already long day. The alternative is to drive up the private road to Dalmunzie hotcl where you can park for £2.
Follow the truck from the hotel towards Glenlochsie farm where a path on the left signposted Glas Tulaachean skirts the buildings then rejoins the track. An old narrow gauge railway offers a pleasant start to the day. However, you need to connect with it first. If you ﬁnd yourself on the track at the ford on the river then you've missed the railway, which lies hidden, a few metres up the bank behind you.
The old railway leads up the glen to the ruins of Glenlochsie Lodge to join the continuation of the track left at the start. Follow the track from the lodge ruins up the broad southern ridge of Glas Tulaichean to the summit.
Continue north from the summit making a steady descent down the grassy north ridge until it is possible to drop down more steeply to the path running along the glen below. This is followed west to tho base of Carn an Righ from where an ascent through areas of quartz scree gains the summit and a large if tumble down, cairn. Return to the glen path by the same route, keeping left avoids much of the scree and follow it back to below Glas Tulaichean. Gain the higher path when the chance presents itself and follow this east below Mam nan Carn, then round to the outﬂow at the southern end of Loch nan Eun beyond. From here a steep path follows the Allt Easgaidh into Gleann Taitneach, where the going improves. After about two kilometres a grassy track is reached and followed for another four kilometres. Towards the end as you see Dalmunzie Hotel in trees ahead, keep an eye out for the footbridge over the Allt Ghlinn Thaitneach. Cross this and a grassy track leads below Glenlochsie farm to the hotel track and a well-earned drink in the bar.