Walk on the wild side: Carn an Tuirc – a modest hill for an eventful day out

Published on Wednesday 3 December 2008 13:52

THE hills on either side of the A93, in the Glenshee ski area, are commonly referred to as the Glenshee hills.

With their proximity to the road and with their high starting point they are very easy hills and seldom tackled individually. Carn an Tuirc is the most northerly of the line of four Munros on the east side.

In the interests of accuracy, however, Carn an Tuirc is not in Glenshee and has a lower starting height advantage than the other hills. The area by the ski ground is the watershed, with Glenshee running south to Spittal of Glenshee and the Shee Water, whereas running north is Glen Clunie, thus making Carn an Tuirc a Clunie hill. The watershed is at a height of 665m whereas further north, on descent to the usual starting point by the 18th-century military bridge over the infant Clunie Water, the starting height is only 500m. Nevertheless, at 1,019m/3,343ft, Carn an Tuirc, hill of the boar, is not massive and that climb of some 500m over one-and-a-half miles takes much less than a full day.

Yet here was I on a good day at the end of November heading for this modest hill and, having been there, albeit with other hills, some 18 months ago, was wondering what on earth there would be to write about. I need not have worried.

On the drive north on the A93 between Blairgowrie and Bridge of Cally, I was pleased to be, for the first time, on the new loop of road that bypasses the Bailey Bridge of old, that "temporary" structure installed decades ago following a landslide. It was later on the drive past the old Devil's Elbow to the 665m high point that things started to go wrong … the clutch was suddenly packing in. I managed to continue slowly over the top and down to the parking space on the east side of the A93, at map ref 147800, and parked the car.

I decided that, come what may, I was going to climb Carn an Tuirc and worry about the car on my return. It was surprisingly cold and windy so I did not hang about.

You will need Ordnance Survey map 43, Braemar and Blair Atholl. Carn an Tuirc has steep western slopes overlooking the A93; slopes interspersed with gentle scree that, when viewed from the road, give the hill a greyish appearance above the green banks of the Allt a' Gharbh-choire. It is a short descent to the Cairnwell Burn and the old military bridge. Still serviceable for walkers after all these years, its antiquity is enhanced by the new metal arched bridge slightly upstream that gives a dry start to the Monega Road that links Glen Clunie and Glen Isla.

Follow the path on the north side of the Allt a' Gharbh-choire, rather than some higher vehicle tracks, passing remains of shielings on the way to a confluence of streams at map ref 160803, a pleasant secluded spot. The most direct route is to strike up due east, but a slight variation either north or south reduces the steepness. Carn an Tuirc has a small stony plateau, a good viewpoint looking towards Braemar and the distant Cairngorms.

Dave Hewitt, compiler of Munro minutiae, has a list of 39 Munros which have not featured, as far as he knows, as final hills to complete a round of Munros. Not surprisingly, Carn an Tuirc is on that list. If, however, someone has completed there, please let me know.

Mindful of saving time, I romped down the hillside, an outing of less than two hours. After changing into dry clothes, I started the car. No problem. I tried putting it in gear. Nothing doing. Knowing that the nearest point to obtain a mobile phone signal was back at the watershed, I managed to get a lift from a most considerate couple. Thankfully the RAC receptionist was from Glasgow and knew exactly where I was, as of course did the call-out man from Perth. After phoning the new Mrs Howie, I walked back down the road, past the alas closed ski cafe, and waited. The RAC man was most helpful and managed to get both car and hillwalker going again.

The day turned out to be longer than expected and, following the car's time in the garage, a rather more expensive one.

Factfile

Map Ordnance Survey map 43, Braemar & Blair Atholl

Distance 3 miles

Height 500m

Terrain Good path, then stony slopes to summit

Start point Parking space on east side of the A93, map ref 147800

Time 2 to 3 hours

Nearest village Braemar

Nearest refreshment spot

Spittal of Glenshee Hotel