Càrn an Tuirc

Càrn an Tuirc, at 1,019 metres — "cairn of the boar" — is the first Munro reached on a fine quieter circuit south of the Cairngorms, taking in three further summits across broad, rolling plateau terrain.

The route starts from a roadside layby on the A93, around 2 kilometres north of Glenshee Ski Centre. The ascent from here is relatively straightforward, climbing onto the plateau before reaching the summit cairn, with the day's remaining Munros — Cairn of Claise, Glas Maol, and Creag Leacach — visible ahead across the rolling high ground.

From the summit, the route continues north to Cairn of Claise, with a stone fence providing a useful navigational aid across much of the broad terrain. This quieter circuit is far less frequented than the popular Cairnwell group immediately to the west, despite similarly accessible starting points, offering proper high-altitude Cairngorm terrain: broad rolling plateaus, a sweeping ridge traverse, and expansive views.

The full four-Munro circuit — Càrn an Tuirc, Cairn of Claise, Glas Maol, and Creag Leacach — from the A93 layby is around 21 kilometres with roughly 1,000 metres of ascent, typically seven to nine hours for the complete round.

The plateau between these summits is broad and largely featureless, making navigation genuinely difficult in poor visibility — full map and compass skills (or reliable GPS) are essential, since it's easy to drift off course in cloud despite the otherwise gentle underfoot conditions.

The A93 layby is free with space for several cars; there are no facilities at the start, though the Glenshee Ski Centre 2 kilometres south has toilets and a café.