Day 12
Site ENE Geal Charn to Spittal of Glenshee
Daily Distance 27.8k, Time Naismith 9.54, Daily Ascent 1859m, Daily Average Altitude 788m
The map shows our actual route in Blue, and the intended route where it was different in red. The blue numbers on our route are highlighted in the text. The red squares are Munros.
In the morning it was bright and sunny we set off to the next summit unnamed at 920m 1. There we left our rucksacks went to the Munro Carn Bhac then returned to our rucksacks. Next we descended and began the climb of Beinn Lutharn Mhor. We first climbed to a corrie 2 then up the left wall avoiding scree to the ridge and walked round to the Munro. We descended south to a bealach then contoured along Mam nan Carn 3 to the pass 4 south of the Munro Carn an Righ. It was raining again, windy and the clouds came down. Nonetheless we left one of our rucksacks and took the smaller up Carn an Righ.
During this climb we saw and met 9 walkers in 4 parties. It was very cold at the top and I did not envy the shorts on some. I was putting on 3 pairs of gloves! We descended back to our rucksack and found somewhere out of the wind for lunch. 5 Most paths are made by day walks and Munro baggers, we had to keep finding our own pathless way between the well used paths. We followed a stream steeply down south East crossed a valley 6, climbed Glas Tulaichean, and followed a track down a long descending ridge towards Spittal of Glenshee. With nearly all our food eaten this was very easy walking.
At the end of the ridge 7 we sat in the sun, eat our last snack and looked at our last high view before our descent to lowland. We then descended steeply into Gleann Taitneach at a footbridge. On the way down we saw the largest herd of deer I have seen. 8 I counted 90 and I am sure I missed some. From the footbridge we just had to follow the track to Spittal of Glenshee where we were booked in at Gulabin Lodge with a food parcel and spare gas canister waiting. Clothes washing, showers and off for a meal at the multi cultural fake-Scottish Spittal of Glenshee Restaurant.
I don't think I have seen waiters from Equador, China and Pakistan all wearing tartan with a Scottish Piper playing in the background. Still they were friendly and the portions were large. We returned to Gulabin Lodge where we organized to leave before the usual breakfast time by making our own from copious supplies left out for us.
I was still concerned about completing from Spittal to Montrose in 3 days.
