Tolmount & Tom Buidhe
Date Walked: 10th October 2011
Distance: 12 miles (18.5km)
Actual Ascent: 3264 ft (995m)
Time Taken: 6 hours
I was stunned to find that it has been 4 months since I last walked a Munro ( and I needed that extra work out that only a Munro will give you) my last outing was 4 at Glenshee on May 31st so it made sense to go back there and catch these two.
At the time of doing the 4 I couldn't have done all 6 together if I had wanted to, so I saved these for another day, today was it. MWIS promise cloud free summits and I've got the time to drive round to Glenshee.
Arriving in the car park around 10:15am the skies did not look too promising but it was only just catching the summit of Carn an Turic away in the distance and looked like it could go either way
I suited and booted and got under way after a quick cuppa, as I crossed the bridge by the car park to begin my walk a short shower reminded me of the 50/50 chance on the weather
the first 2k or so was a real bogfest and even as I closed in on Carn an Turic I was thankful of the walking poles for additional stability
I saw a small group up ahead of me taking the direct route straight up the Western face, I remember that from 4 months ago.....I decide to go around the Northern path and have a look at 'Carn an Turic Hut' before cutting back South-East over a lower section to pick up the path.....the 'Hut' was a disappointment, in fact it was a large pile of kindling
as I cut around the mountain I come across a huge number of hares all sheltering out of the wind at this side of the hill
to the North-East the 'White Mounth Munros' were hanging on to the cloud a little longer
it is a nice steady wander along to the wall end on the Cairn of Claise before turning East along the less obvious path where I see another group of mountain hares sheltering from the cool wind
one of them already has a good winter coat change but is keeping his head brown as a fashion statement, he was so pleased with it he stayed around to let me get a good photo
looking ahead down the boggy pathway both Tolmount and Tom Buidhe are well clear of the cloud, I see the group in front of me heading in the direction of Tolmount so opt for Tom Buidhe first
slip sliding my way through the various bogs I finally reach the first target of the day and begin my ascent
I met a young lady on her way down as I ascended and we had a little chat about the bogfest, I think she said she was doing 4 Munros today; we were both soon on our separate ways again and the summit of Tom Buidhe was soon achieved
there is no cover up here and no trig to use as a tripod but I still had a cuppa and a wee seat on a rock before setting out for Tolmount
as I descended and crossed the bog from hell between the two hills I had a quick word with one of the guys in the group of 4 I had followed up here, they were doing the full 6 I felt ashamed to to say I was only doing 2 but what the heck, the sky had changed to blue for a while and a little sunshine was threatening to appear
as I ascended Tolmount I got a great view South-East toward Cairn Broadlands
the wind had got up on the ascent and it was quite chilly now requiring that the hat make an appearance, as I arrive at the summit there is another lone wanderer up there and we exchange the usual greetings as he passes me to descend the hill
some nice views from up here
as the clouds broke open to reveal a little sunshine I settled down to a nice cuppa and snack before wandering around the top for a while
looking down Glen Callater shows a nice waterfall (on the left, not so impressive on the pic!) and the loch away in the distance
can't stand around too long taking photos as it gets cold up here pretty quickly when you aren't walking, but it is a beautiful spot
there are tremendous panoramas all around and it is difficult to put the camera away and start walking again
the journey back to the car was a long drag back over previously climbed Munros and through the various bogs. I was glad I was only doing these 2.