Glas Maol and Creag Leacach Route Information

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Glas Maol & Creag Leacach

Quick Facts

This is the summed total of all the climbing within a route and is a good indicator of the strenuousness of a route.

Total Ascent

562 m

An estimate of the time taken based on a derivation of Naismiths rules. Our calculation is based on the horizontal and ascent components of a climb, we do not make a reduction for descent.

Registered users can customise these walking times by specifying their own walking and ascending speeds. They can also add a fixed time period for stoppages.

Route Time

3.5 hrs

The horizontal distance of the route.

Route Distance

11.58 km

The UK is covered by 204 Ordnance Survey Landranger 1:50,000 scale maps. Maps numbered 1 to 86 cover Scotland but for the highest mountains (Munros) only 23 maps are required. The name given roughly describes the area covered by the map.

You can click on the map name to purchase the map for £6.29 including postage which is one of the cheapest prices we have found.

OS Landranger Maps Required

43	Braemar & Blair Atholl

Only £6.29 (£13.49 Laminated) from

A brief summary of this route.

Our summary will always contain one of easy, moderate or hard to indicate the severity of the route.

Notes

A short route on easy terrain There steep crags west of Glas Maol and Craig Leacach has steep stoney slopes.

Here we provide the nearest town to the start of the route where you will find basic services.

We then give directions from that location to the route start. Your approach route may differ.

Travel Information

Head to: Braemar

From Braemar (A93) travel S to Glen Shee Ski Centre car park in Cairnwell Pass.

Route Waypoint Map

The total ascent is 562 metres. Allow 3.5 hours to complete this 11.58 km route.

In winter months please check the local snow conditions at sais.gov.uk.

The hillphones service can inform you of stalking activities in the area.

Usually the shortest way to climb the mountain, making best use of tracks and paths to gain altitude. Route navigation requires map reading skills and an ability to navigate with a compass.

The information given here will enable you to annotate your map and plan your route. We do not give anecdotal descriptions on where to find the paths, worn by the feet of previous mountaineers.

Where the access routes are few or the ridge is narrow, paths are generally obvious. On open ground, following paths without using your compass may get you lost in poor visibility.

Route Information

Waypoint Detail

	Start at junction of A93 road and ski access road/track
		NO14137752	Distance	Altitude 670 m

1	Ascend on track E to summit of Meall Odhar
		NO15587737	Distance 1.79 km	Altitude 922 m

2	Follow ridge SE and ascend SE to summit of Glas Maol
		NO16707657	Distance 1.38 km	Altitude 1068 m

3	Bear SW to locate a narrow ridge. A dry stone wall runs along the crest of this ridge
		NO15977588	Distance 1.06 km	Altitude 950 m

4	Follow ridge S then SSW to summit of Creag Leacach
		NO15467454	Distance 1.56 km	Altitude 987 m

5	Return by same route, but follow 950m contour round Glas Maol to avoid a re-climb
		NO14137752	Distance 5.79 km	Altitude 670 m

A selection of weather forecasts local to this route.

Weather

Southeastern Highlands
by MWIS (PDF format)

East Highlands
by Met Office

Cairn Bannoch
by Metcheck

Images of Glas Maol & Creag Leacach

Creag Leacach seen from Glas Moal.

Image by Graham Young

Glas Maol from the summit cairn on Creag Leacach

Image by Andrew Crawford

Creag Leacach from the Corbett Ben Gulabin

Image by Alistair Craig

Glas Maol seen beyond the S ridge of the Cairnwell from Carn nan Sac

Image by Peter Burgess

Route Area Map

Legend

Munro

Corbett

Graham

English/Welsh Top

Accommodation

A selection of local accommodation options who advertise with Munromagic.com.

Where to Stay

We currently have no
sponsored accommodation listings for this area.

Rating & Reviews

Rating & Reviews

Rated:

from 9 votes

Click Stars to Vote
Your Rating

Written by Ian Munro on 16 May 2010:

Climbed with Glas Maol (first) from Glenisla, which certainly is a whole lot quieter than starting from the A93. We descended the landrover track in the glen immediately to the east of Creag Leacach and we were most amused - after 3 miles of following the track - to find a sign at the only gate in the deer fence telling us that the access was to Tulchan Lodge only. In fact, the track descends well to the side of the lodge and there is no need to go anywhere near the house. Not too walker-friendly, though!

Written by Adam Rixon on 13 Jan 2008:

Did this route on 12/01/2008 - stunning weather and lots of snow, the kind of day that would make any trip memorable (though judging from the forums, these hills had easier snow conditions than most others). After negotiating enormous queues for the ski centre on the A93, the ascent of Glas Maol took 2h15 with one steep pull near the top. Amazing views to the Cairngorms, Ben Lawers, Ben More etc.. A pleasant ridge walk to Creag Leacach was followed by an easy descent on snow over the S. Top to a small river valley and then back to the very snowy car park (it took 35 mins to extricate the car!)

Written by David Harbottle on 03 Jun 2007:

An easy three hour outing with some fantastic views from Creag Leacach summit. Save it for an 'off day' e.g. rained off until evening. I'd do it again...

Written by Keith Johnstone on 06 May 2007:

I did this route slightly differently. Parked at the ski centre and walked down the road to the bridge at the bottom of Cairn an Tuirc, followed by Tolmount, Tom Buidhe, Cairn of Claise and also tagged on Glas Maol and Creag Leacach returning to Meall Odhar and to the ski centre car park. Took about 7.5 hours for this 26km approx route.

Written by Scott Strathdee on 28 Apr 2007:

I took a route to creag leacach first. Following the 950 contour to the cairn. The climb up Glas Maol looked a bit steep and I picked Glas Maol summit on the way back, A much easier climb, and very easy route

Disclaimer. The details provided above are an aid to planning an expedition, but all distances, altitudes and bearings must be considered approximate. You must navigate with the appropriate map, a compass, your navigation skills and common sense, MunroMagic.com accept no responsibility for your interpretation of our route information.

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