Glas Maol

Glas Maol, at 1,068 metres — "grey/green bare hill" — is the highest point of a fine circuit of four Munros south of the Cairngorms, its broad, dome-like summit offering exceptional views on a clear day despite its rather featureless character underfoot.

The route starts from a roadside layby on the A93, around 2 kilometres north of Glenshee Ski Centre, climbing first to Càrn an Tuirc, then swinging north to Cairn of Claise before heading south to Glas Maol itself — a small cairn marks the summit, with the Cairngorm plateau visible to the north, Lochnagar to the north-east, and the rolling brown hills of eastern Perthshire stretching south. Glas Maol can also be reached directly from the Glenshee Ski Centre car park, following ski-tow access tracks up onto the plateau — a considerably shorter and more direct approach for those wanting only this summit.

From Glas Maol, a fine ridge continues south-east to Creag Leacach, the fourth Munro of the day, with the terrain noticeably changing character here — the smooth plateau grass gives way to rockier ground and the ridge narrows pleasingly, giving the walk a more defined, mountainous feel after the broad terrain covered so far.

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 a full day of seven to nine hours; the descent from the bealach between Creag Leacach and Glas Maol uses the ski lift path back down to the road.

In winter, the plateau can hold deep snow and the wind chill at this elevation is significant — even in late spring, conditions on the exposed summit can turn cold and severe with little warning, and full navigation skills are essential given the broad, featureless terrain in poor visibility.

The A93 layby is free with space for several cars; the Glenshee Ski Centre 2 kilometres south has toilets and a café, and also offers a shorter direct approach to Glas Maol alone.