Cairn of Claise, Carn an Tuirc, Tolmount and Tom Buidhe Route Information

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Cairn of Claise, Carn an Tuirc, Tolmount & Tom Buidhe

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

1020 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

5.5 hrs

The horizontal distance of the route.

Route Distance

19.02 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
44	Ballater, Glen Clova & surrounding area

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 moderate length route on easy terrain, after the initial steep ascent. Note that navigation on the high moorland plateau can be difficult, particularly in poor visibility.

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 12km to bridge over Cairnwell Burn.

Route Waypoint Map

The total ascent is 1,020 metres. Allow 5.5 hours to complete this 19.02 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 by bridge where A93 crosses Clunie Water
		NO14528068	Distance	Altitude 480 m

1	Follow path SSE to branch in stream
		NO14947999	Distance 0.83 km	Altitude 522 m

2	Continue ascending ENE
		NO16258058	Distance 1.52 km	Altitude 633 m

3	Leave path and ascend ESE to Carn an Tuirc
		NO17438046	Distance 1.79 km	Altitude 1019 m

4	Bear ESE (100deg) for 900m to reach broad col between two deep corries
		NO18298031	Distance 0.92 km	Altitude 950 m

5	Ascend SSE on gentle incline to summit of Cairn of Claise
		NO18557889	Distance 1.44 km	Altitude 1064 m

6	Bear E on gentle slopes to minor top, Ca Whims (905m)
		NO20577879	Distance 2.04 km	Altitude 905 m

7	Continue E to summit of Tom Buidhe
		NO21397877	Distance 0.82 km	Altitude 957 m

8	Descend NW to cross a stream then ascend NNE to summit of Tolmount
		NO21058006	Distance 1.64 km	Altitude 958 m

9	Head SW for 750m to reach slight ridge
		NO20577946	Distance 0.75 km	Altitude 880 m

10	Turn WNW and return to 950m col
		NO18298031	Distance 2.50 km	Altitude 950 m

11	Head NW to regain ascent path and descend to carpark
		NO14528068	Distance 4.77 km	Altitude 480 m

A selection of weather forecasts local to this route.

Weather

Cairngorms * Monadhliath
by MWIS (PDF format)

East Highlands
by Met Office

Cairn Bannoch
by Metcheck

Images of Cairn of Claise, Carn an Tuirc, Tolmount & Tom Buidhe

Tom Buidhe viewed from the summit of Tolmount with Mayar and Dreish in the background.

Image by Adrian Ogier

Carn an Tuirc - Glenshee

Image by Michael Forbes

Looking East from Cairn of Claise towards Driesh & Mayar in April 2007.

Image by Gareth Pratt

Carn an Tuirc from the northern slopes of The Cairnwell

Image by Bill Wales

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 11 votes

Click Stars to Vote
Your Rating

Written by Adam Rixon on 12 Oct 2008:

If descending via the Sron na Gaoithe ridge, note that you pass fairly close to the summit of Cairn of Claise in gaining the top of the ridge. It therefore makes sense to save Cairn of Claise til last: walk from Carn an Tuirc direct to Tolmount, then Tom Buidhe and take in Cairn of Claise on the return. In general, this is a pretty easy route on good walking ground - the 4 Munros combined are easier than many singletons! Only problems are navigation over the plateau in mist and losing the main path up Carn an Tuirc, which half the groups out on the day we climbed, including us, managed to do!

Written by Graham Scott on 03 Sep 2007:

Instead of starting & finishing at the bridge over the A93 (NO14528068), park further south (NO14747999) and cross the river via the old grass covered bridge. It will save around 0.5k each way.

Written by John Gilchrist on 11 Aug 2007:

These four hardly rise above the mediocre and, as summits, have few redeeeming features. A far better option is to enjoy the approach up Jock's Road from Glen Doll; go as far as Crow Craigies then decide whether the extra 100 metres plus ascent will add much to the enjoyment of your day. Frankly, unless your after the tick, don't bother. Nip back down to the Glen Clova hotel and have an extra pint instead. After all, who'd know?

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 Steve Macluskie on 04 Apr 2007:

If your up for a really big day and a lot of bagging then with good visibility and 10 hours to spare you can try this route that I walked on the 3rd April 07. Start off from the Glen Doll Car Park and ascend up Jocks Road to Tolmount. Head West to Carn an Tuirc the South East to Cairn of Claise. Back East to Tom Buidhe then a long slog South East to Mayar. Pop up to Driesh (it'd be rude not to and it's only 30 mins from the col then descend down the Kilbo Path to the car.We had beautiful weather, sunny but cold and excellent visibility.

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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