Tolmount and Tom Buidhe, 23rd November 2014
As we enter the winter season, conversations between Steg and myself had turned to the Munros, and swapping our summer boots for winter ones. The days are getting shorter though, and our closest uncompleted Munros are at least two and a half hours' drive away, so we decided to go for a couple we hadn't done that didn't look like a 10 hour expedition.
In May we had attempted Carn an Tuirc and Cairn of Claise, with a view to climbing Tolmount and Tom Buidhe, but a navigational error led us to doing Glas Maol and Creag Leacach instead, which was worth it, but Tolmount and Tom Buidhe were still outstanding.
I was on driving duty this time, so after a disturbed sleep, I rose at 6am, got washed and fed and headed out the door to scrape the ice off the car before heading over to pick up Steg at 7am.
We headed for Glenshee and made decent time, noting the new speed cameras on the A9. As we approached Glenshee, the roads started to look a bit icier, but it wasn't too bad.
We arrived at the little car park beyond the ski centre and started our walk about 9am. We ascended Sron na Gaoithe and climbed into the sunlight, which provided us with stunning views and lovely long shadows.
On our journey up we started noticing quite a few mountain hares. There was no snow, so the hares were clearly visible in their fresh white winter coats.
We headed over the plateau towards the col between Glas Maol and Cairn of Claise. It was cold and frosty and the wind was very fresh.
Before long we were in hats and gloves. We headed for the summit of Cairn of Claise, and got there at 11:30am
From there, we headed for Tolmount, which, along with Tom Buidhe look absolutely tiny, and as a result it was hard to pick them out without the map, even in the perfect visibility.
We made the summit of Tolmount at 12:25pm, here I am:
We stopped for pictures, and a quick sandwich before dropping down a bit, then ascending Tom Buidhe. Here is Steg heading for the summit:
We made the summit at 1:10pm, and it was time for our traditional hill dram:
The dram this time was an Auchentoshan Three Wood, given to me by my girlfriend Isa for our seven year anniversary, and a fine drop it was too. Tops of munros are definitely the best place to enjoy a wee whisky.
We headed back to Cairn of Claise and made it to the col about 2:15pm.
From there, it was a short wander back down the way we came to the car park, where we arrived just after 3:30pm, just as the sun was starting to drop.
We stopped off at the now traditional Bridge of Cally for a drink and made it home for about 7, a full 12 hours after we left.
Total distance: 19.1km
Total time: 5hrs 39 min
In May we had attempted Carn an Tuirc and Cairn of Claise, with a view to climbing Tolmount and Tom Buidhe, but a navigational error led us to doing Glas Maol and Creag Leacach instead, which was worth it, but Tolmount and Tom Buidhe were still outstanding.
I was on driving duty this time, so after a disturbed sleep, I rose at 6am, got washed and fed and headed out the door to scrape the ice off the car before heading over to pick up Steg at 7am.
We headed for Glenshee and made decent time, noting the new speed cameras on the A9. As we approached Glenshee, the roads started to look a bit icier, but it wasn't too bad.
We arrived at the little car park beyond the ski centre and started our walk about 9am. We ascended Sron na Gaoithe and climbed into the sunlight, which provided us with stunning views and lovely long shadows.
 |
| Sun coming up over the hills |
We headed over the plateau towards the col between Glas Maol and Cairn of Claise. It was cold and frosty and the wind was very fresh.
 |
| Morning shadows and frost |
 |
| Steg, on Cairn of Claise |
We made the summit of Tolmount at 12:25pm, here I am:
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| Me! On the summit of Tolmount |
 |
| Heading for Tom Buidhe |
The dram this time was an Auchentoshan Three Wood, given to me by my girlfriend Isa for our seven year anniversary, and a fine drop it was too. Tops of munros are definitely the best place to enjoy a wee whisky.
We headed back to Cairn of Claise and made it to the col about 2:15pm.
From there, it was a short wander back down the way we came to the car park, where we arrived just after 3:30pm, just as the sun was starting to drop.
 |
| Sun setting over The Cairnwell |
Total distance: 19.1km
Total time: 5hrs 39 min
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