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The broad cairn and the trig pillar on the grassy summit of Glas Maol under a wide, cloudy sky.
Glenshee, Lochnagar and Glen Clova

Glas Maol

A Munro of 1,068 metres, number 69 of the 282.

On the hill todayI was up today
The hill

Glas Maol stands in Angus, east of the A93 at the Glenshee ski centre, whose ski area reaches its western slopes.

The park authority says the name should be An Glas-Mheall, the green hill. Behind the summit, in the ski centre's words, a plateau runs out towards Lochnagar.

Starts from
The A93: the Glenshee Ski Centre car park, or the car park south of the Devil's Elbow, which the park authority says walkers use for this hill.
The ground
The ski area reaches the hill's western slopes. In the ski season the centre asks walkers to stay outside its snow fences and off the tow tracks, and allows no dogs on its runs.
Under snow
The ski centre bans skiing and boarding in the Glas Maol bowl because of the risk of avalanches.
In the ski season
In the ski season the centre has a Glas Maol Route for walkers and ski tourers east of the A93. Its routes may change when snow is lean or conditions poor: ask its hill staff or ski patrol on the day.
Summit
Grid reference NO 166 765
Car park
Glenshee Snowsports Centre's, on the A93, sat nav postcode AB35 5XU. In 2026 it was free for the first 50 minutes (the first hour, by the centre's summer page) or with a chairlift ticket, then £4 for the day, paid by the QR code on its signs or at the café. The centre also names free parking at the Devil's Elbow car park, a mile to the south.
The road
The councils work snow gates on the A93 at the Spittal of Glenshee and at Braemar. After heavy snow the centre warns of delays at them while the road is cleared.
Toilets and food
The centre's toilets are open at all hours. Its café, Tea@TheShee, is at the car park; outside the ski season the centre's pages disagree on whether it opens every day or only Wednesday to Sunday.
On the hill today
−1° to 4°Drizzle on the summit, 1,068 m. Feels like −5° in the wind.

North-west wind to 15 mph, gusting 33
Dry, or nearly
Light from 7.47am to 6.10pm, ten hours

Sat 17Drizzle−2° to 3° on top · 13 mph, gusts 27
Sun 18Clear−3° to 3° on top · 11 mph, gusts 21
Mon 19Drizzle−5° to 5° on top · 9 mph, gusts 18

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, Glas Maol, 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.

The view from Glas Maol's grass plateau to a green ridge falling away in crags, rain showers over the far hills.

Photographs by Lewis Nicoll, via Google

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 from its car parks
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 166 765
  • 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: Creag Leacach, Cairn of Claise, The Cairnwell, Carn an Tuirc. Checked on 9 October 2026. The facts on this page are Glenshee Snowsports Centre's and the Cairngorms National Park Authority's; 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.