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The old drystone wall running across the stony plateau of Cairn of Claise under a wide sky.
Glenshee, Lochnagar and Glen Clova

Cairn of Claise

A Munro of 1,063 metres, number 71 of the 282.

On the hill todayI was up today
The hill

Cairn of Claise stands on the border of Aberdeenshire and Angus, on the high plateau east of the A93 at the Glenshee ski centre.

The centre counts it among its "East Glenshee 6", along with Carn an Tuirc, Glas Maol, Creag Leacach, Tolmount and Tom Buidhe.

The summit is a cairn on a rocky knoll. Carn an Tuirc is the nearest Munro, about two kilometres to the north-west, and Glas Maol is three to the south-west.

Jock's Road, the old right of way from Glen Callater to Glen Doll, crosses the same plateau to the east.

Starts from
Glenshee Snowsports Centre lists Cairn of Claise in its "East Glenshee 6" and has the car park on the A93. Auchallater and Glen Doll are the car parks on the other sides.
The ground
In the ski season the centre asks walkers to stay outside its snow fences and managed areas and off every tow line, and allows no dogs on its runs. Check for stalking before you go and follow any signs.
The plateau
ScotWays describes Jock's Road, the old road east of here, as crossing a high, exposed and featureless plateau that in winter is frequently swept by storms.
Summit
Grid reference NO 185 788
The A93
Glenshee Snowsports Centre's car park is on the A93, at AB35 5XU. In 2026 it was free for the first 50 minutes (the first hour, by its summer page) or with a chairlift ticket or pass, then £4 for the day, paid by the QR code on its notices or at its café. Its toilets are open at all hours. The centre also names free parking at the Sean Spittal Bridge, a mile to the north, and the Devil's Elbow car park, a mile to the south.
Auchallater and Glen Doll
In 2026 Invercauld Estate's pay-and-display car park at Auchallater, for Glen Callater, charged £3.50 a vehicle for up to a full day, with coins only at the machines. Forestry and Land Scotland's Glen Doll car park, nearest postcode DD8 4RD, charged £3 for the day, and you may leave a car there overnight for the hills. Part of it is closed from 24 August 2026 for up to three months.
Two notices
In October 2026 two bodies gave Glen Doll differently. Forestry and Land Scotland had the Dounalt road closed for six months for forestry work, with a diversion for Jock's Road that includes a steep crossfall on a narrow, uneven surface. The Cairngorms National Park Authority, in an undated alert, had the car park open, and the Dounalt road, on the south side of the upper White Water, open as the alternative to Jock's Road, which it said remained closed. Read both before you go: each is linked below.
On the hill today

A weather model's forecast for the height of the summit, not a report from the hill. Read the mountain forecast the evening before: Southeastern Highlands forecast, Cairngorms National Park and Monadhliath forecast, Cairn of Claise, Southern Cairngorms avalanche forecast.

October2026

MTWTFSS

Going another day?

Choose the day you mean to climb.Near or far: the light you will have, and what the summit is likely to be doing.

Please have a backup means of navigation with you at all time and ensure you are well prepared in technical apparel and map reading skills.Glenshee Snowsports Centre, of the Munros it names east of the A93
Before you go

Carry

  • A paper map and a compass, and the skill to use them
  • Waterproofs, warm layers, hat and gloves
  • Food and drink
  • A head torch, a whistle and a first aid kit
  • A survival bag
  • Boots with a good grip

Under snow and ice this is a different day, with short light and the risk of avalanche. It needs an ice axe, crampons, winter boots and the skill to use them.

If something goes wrong

  • Dial 999, ask for the police, then mountain rescue
  • Give a six-figure grid reference: the summit is NO 185 788
  • Say how many are hurt, how many are with you, and your number
  • Register to text 999 before the day: text the word register to 999

The summit is optional. Turning back is the right decision whenever the cloud, the wind or the light say so.

How to call for help in the hills · Safety and skills for the hills · ThinkWINTER

From our readers

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From the magazine
Read more elsewhere

For the route itself, take the map and read these.

Sleep and eat at its foot

Next along: Carn an Tuirc, Tolmount, Tom Buidhe, Glas Maol. Checked on 10 October 2026. The facts on this page are Glenshee Snowsports Centre's, Invercauld Estate's, Forestry and Land Scotland's, the Cairngorms National Park Authority's and ScotWays'; the forecasts are the Mountain Weather Information Service's, the Met Office's and the Scottish Avalanche Information Service's. Height and position from The Database of British and Irish Hills, v18.3, adapted, CC BY 4.0. This page is not a route description and does not replace a map.