Friday 16 April 2010

Two "easy" Munros for starters

Corrie Fee

By definition the summit of Scotland's 283 Munros must be at least 3000ft (914.4m). Of course, some are much higher than this (think Ben MacDui at 4295ft and Ben Nevis at 4,409ft, to name a few biggies). Some Munros also require a significant expedition and others require guidance if you are not an experienced walker. But there are a number of Munros that are at the other end of the scale. Some that might even be classed as "quite easy" outings, so long as you're relatively fit.

As luck would have it two of the "easiest" Munros are located in the Angus Glens. These are Driesh (3106ft) and Mayar (3044ft), in Glen Clova. It's possible to summit these peaks on two separate occasions, or as a pair in one 5hr outing if you fancy a longer day. The circular outing is around 8 or 9 miles. The total ascent walking to the peaks of these two Munros is a manageable 2700ft. The reason for this lowly figure is that the start point (at the car park at the end of Glen Clova) for the walk is not at sea level - more like 850ft - so you do not need to climb the full 3000ft to the top of each peak.


Driesh

Another interesting point is that while to qualify as Munro there needs to be a drop and ascent of at least 500ft between mountain tops this can sometimes mean that it's possible to reach the summit of a number of Munros one after the other with only a 500ft descent and ascent in between.


Mayar

The other bonus of Mayar, in particular, is that the path to the top is a reasonably gentle incline. We're not talking easy-peasy here but it isn't hugely steep either.

But this "easier" Munro bagging outing in Angus doesn't mean that walkers need to sacrifice fine landscapes and views. The walk heads through some stunning scenery and takes in Corrie Fee, a national nature reserve where you find many wildlife treasures. On a clear day the views from the top of these Munros are gorgeous. You'll feast on vistas that take in the Lochnagar Hills to the north, Glenshee to the west and even out to the North Sea on the east. From Mayar there are views of the Southern Cairngorms. Awesome!

Glentrek can offer more information about this splendid walk, or we can guide you or a group. If you want to self-guide then why not let us find accommodation for you in the area?

Alternatively you can check out a range of websites that offer route information including Walking Highlands , Walk Scotland or record breaking Munro bagger Steve Fallon's site

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