© Copyright Dominic Rhodes 2014-2017

The Cairnwell from Carn Aosda

 

The Cairnwell

 

Meaning - Hill of Bags

Summit Location - NO13486, 77350

Height - 933m

Munro Number - 245

 

Carn a’ Gheoidh

 

Meaning - Hill of the Goose

Summit Location - NO10701, 76683

Height - 975m

Munro Number - 180

 

Carn Aosda

 

Meaning - Aged Hill

Summit Location - NO13388, 79137

Height - 917m

Munro Number - 277

 

Distance - 10.6km

Total Ascent - 614m

Estimated Time - 3.5hrs

Difficulty - 2/5 (1/5 if you omit the extension to Carn a’ Gheoidh)

OS Explorer Map - OL52

 

Climbed - 2006

Weather - Overcast but clouds above the summit. Dry.

 

The Cairnwell, along with it's neighbour, Carn Aosda, are the two easiest Munros to climb, thanks to
their relatively low elevation and the high car park at Glenshee ski centre. Because of this, and the fact that
it is easy to combine both these Munros with a third, Carn a’ Gheoidh make them ideal hills for first time
Munro baggers to gain some experience without straying too far into the wilderness. These are still proper mountains though and you will still need stout boots and all the appropriate kit. The weather ccan be much more serious on the ridge than in the relative shelter of the pass.
 

The peak of the Cairnwell is a busy place, with an array of communications masts, a weather station and a run down emergency hut, without a doubt the ugliest Munro summit I've ever visited. Carn Aosda is a little better, but there's no escaping the ski equipment and paraphernalia here. If visiting in winter you’ll need to take care to stay off the pistes.

 

Carn a’ Gheoidh is a little more remote than its two neighbours being a short distance to the west, though the going is fairly easy as it follows a high ridge. On a clear day you should have an excellent panorama of the high Cairngorms to the north.

 

I visited on a quiet mid-week day and followed the route described below to ascent all these three peaks.

 

Route

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 - Start at the Glenshee ski centre car park. In summer you should have no problems following short but steep route beside the chairlift up onto the ridge. In the winter you may need to find another route that avoids open ski pistes.

 

2 - Once at the top of the chairlift, the summit of The Cairnwell is around 200m further south. You should pick up a well worn path.

 

3 - Once you’ve summited, you should retrace your steps along this path, continuing further north along the ridge, past the top of the chairlift and ski tows. Shortly after passing the top of the ski tow the ridge widens. You should bear left to descend to a small col at 808m (NO12736, 78126).

 

4 - Continue south-south-west along a broad ridge. You’ll pass a number of small lakes where you should pick up a small track, which lead you to the summit of Carn a’ Gheoidh a further 1.5km to the west.

 

5 - After admiring the panorama of the Cairngorms to your north, retrace your steps to the col at 808m. At this point you’ll need to head east-north-east for around 250m until you reach the path between The Cairnwell and Carn Aosda.

 

6 - Continue north along the path. The summit of Carn Aosda is about 1.5km away. On the peak, stop for a moment to admire the peaks you’ve climbed today.

 

7 - To return to the ski centre car park take the main ski track which descends steeply from the summit in  southerly direction. The car park is around 1km away.

 

Glenshee West Munros

The Cairnwell, Carn a’ Gheoidh, Carn Aosda

 

 

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