Carn Aosda – By the Col above Loch Vrotachan

The walk

The way up Carn Aosda on its own that the ski centre's walking leaflet gives starts at the Glenshee ski centre on the A93. It climbs the ski area's tracks to the col above Loch Vrotachan, then a track north-east onto the hill's crest and a short path over stones to the cairn. By our map it is about 5.3 km (3¼ miles) there and back, with about 270 metres of climb. Allow about 2 to 3 hours, more with stops, in poor weather or under snow. The summit is 915 metres up, and the walk starts about 650 metres up. The whole way is on tracks and paths through a ski area, among lift pylons, tows and snow fences. No public body publishes a distance or a time for it. A steeper, rougher track climbs more directly beside the Carn Aosda T-bar, and some guides go up or down that way: this walk keeps to the gentler tracks. The Cairnwell, about 2 km to the south, and Carn a' Gheoidh, about 3.5 km to the south-west, are Munros too. Many walkers climb all three in one round from the same car park: this walk keeps to Carn Aosda.

Glenshee Snowsports Centre's car park is on the A93 at the Cairnwell Pass, between the Spittal of Glenshee and Braemar. Its sat nav postcode is AB35 5XU. The centre's page says parking is free for the first 50 minutes or with a chairlift ticket, then £4 for the day. Pay by the QR code on its parking notices, or at its café, Tea@TheShee. The centre has toilets and washrooms by its buildings. By our map Ember's E11 bus between Dundee and Aberdeen, by Braemar, stops at the ski centre: check Ember's timetable before you rely on it. The councils work snow gates on the A93 at the Spittal of Glenshee and at Braemar.

Before you set off, check the mountain forecast, and under snow the avalanche forecast too. The Mountain Weather Information Service's Southeastern Highlands and Cairngorms forecasts both cover the hill. Wear sturdy footwear and carry waterproof and warm layers, water and food, as the ski centre's leaflet advises. Carry a map and compass and know how to use them: the centre asks walkers to have a backup means of navigation with them at all times. Walking can be dangerous, the centre says, and all walkers must take responsibility for their own safety.

From the car park, cross the A93 with care to the back of the ski centre's buildings, by the café and the ticket office. Take the bulldozed track that climbs west behind them. It crosses a burn on a small bridge and climbs past the tows and the hexagonal Cairnwell Café, open only in the ski season, the centre's leaflet says. By our map the track crosses the lines of two ski tows, with snow fences close beside it. About 900 metres out, about 745 metres up by our map, the track forks. Keep left, along the side of the hill, for the col between Carn Aosda and The Cairnwell. The right fork is the steep, direct track to Carn Aosda: one guide calls it quite steep for newcomers, and this walk keeps to the gentler way.

The track climbs on to the col above Loch Vrotachan, about 1.6 km out and about 800 metres up by our map. The loch lies just below, and a moorland information sign stands by the track. Here the track ahead goes on to The Cairnwell. Turn sharp right, back north-east, onto the track that climbs towards Carn Aosda. In mist, this is the junction to find again on the way down.

The track climbs the hillside past the top of Butchart's T-bar, as the leaflet names it. By our map it goes through a gate in a fence where it crosses the line of another tow, about 2.35 km out. Then it rises gently above the tows, beside the snow fences, onto the crest of Carn Aosda. It reaches the crest about 2.5 km out and about 890 metres up by our map, where the steep, direct track comes in from the right. Note this junction, so as not to take the steep track down by mistake.

From the crest, the leaflet says, leave the path at the end of the left-hand ski fence and climb to the cairn. By our map a path runs about 100 metres east over stones and scree to the summit, 915 metres up. A small cairn of pale boulders marks the top. The ski centre lies below to the south-east, with The Cairnwell and its masts to the south.

By our map the tracks, fences and lift lines of the ski area run every way, and in mist the ground between the tops can seem featureless. One guide was caught out by it more than once. The hill stands beside the road, but neither it nor The Cairnwell should be underestimated in bad conditions, another guide warns. Braemar Mountain Rescue Team has been called out to walkers missing on Carn Aosda, that guide says. Mist, fog and rain can sweep in quickly. If the cloud comes down, the wind rises or anyone is tiring, turn back by the way you came.

In the ski season the hill is a working ski area. The centre asks walkers and ski tourers to keep outside its snow fences and managed areas. It asks them never to walk up a ski tow line, running or not, and to follow its routes for walkers, which may change in poor conditions. Ask the hill staff or ski patrol if unsure, the centre says. In winter it works its runs at any hour, with steel winching cables on many of them while it grooms the snow: watch for its warning signs and for vehicles on the slopes. No dogs but search and rescue dogs are allowed on the managed areas, and dogs must be kept close and under control. Avalanche and weather forecasts are posted at the ski patrol and outside the ticket office.

Rhiedorrach Estate, which the Heading for the Scottish Hills tables name for this hill, says it steps up its deer management from 1 September to 15 February. There is no stalking on Sundays. Follow the estate's signs at the main access points, and find out before you go, as the national park authority advises.

Under snow Carn Aosda is a winter mountain. Climb it then only with winter gear and experience: an ice axe and crampons, and the skill to use them, one guide advises. The Scottish Avalanche Information Service names the Cairnwell and Glas Maol ranges in its Southern Cairngorms area. Read that forecast before you go.

The way down is the way you came. From the cairn go back down the path to the crest, and keep on the track west along it: the steep track that drops to the left, south, is the direct way, not this one. Follow the track back down through the gate to the information sign at the col. There turn sharp left, back east, for the ski centre: the track straight on climbs to The Cairnwell. In an emergency call 999 or 112 and ask for Police and Mountain Rescue, Mountaineering Scotland says. Give a six-figure grid reference and a named feature if you can. To be able to text 999 where a call will not connect, register first by texting the word register to 999.