Walk 6

Saturday 4th October

Carn a' Gheoidh - An Socach

Very Strenuous

Distance: 18km/ 11miles. Ascent 1100m.
Start: Bus leaves Royal Hotel, Blairgowrie at 08:30.
Finish: Ski Centre at 16:30, bus for refreshments at Spittal of Glenshee.  Bus leaves for Blairgowrie at 17:30.
Limit: 20
Notes: Very Strenuous (See fitness note). Hillwalking gear mandatory.  Packed lunch (and snacks) required.

Maps: Landranger 43, Explorer 387

About the walk:

Starting at the relatively elevated position of the Cairnwell car park (644m) it doesn’t take too long to get up onto the high mountain plateau.  The first Munro of the day, Carn a’ Gheoidh (hill of the goose)-975m, is only a pleasant hour’s walk from here. Watch out for mountain hares up here. There are often groups of twenty or more sitting on the hillside. This hill feels remote but as the route turns north for your second Munro, An Socach (the projecting place)- 944m, the sense of remoteness intensifies. It stands on the edge of the great Atholl Forest, a huge expanse of mountain, moor and glen stretching 45km (28ml) to the west; and the Cairngorms a similar distance to the north. Return is by the side of Loch Vrotachan.