Walk: Traversing Glen Shee’s “Earb” garden

📌 Spittal of Glenshee, Perth & Kinross
★★★

Haven’t heard of Ben Earb? That’s perhaps not surprising – this grassy, pleasing peak overlooking Spittal of Glenshee has insufficient prominence to appear on any of the most popular hill-baggers’ lists. It does have a trig pillar though, and is the most characterful spot on this enjoyable, broad ridge also incorporating higher Meall a’ Choire Bhuidhe. There are superb views north to The Cairnwell group of Munros, plus the grand bulks of Glas Tulaichean (much further along the same ridge) and Beinn a’ Ghlo. On particularly clear days there is also a more surprising sightline, across the Appin of Dull and Loch Tay to Ben More and Stob Binnein, 50 miles away in the southwest quadrant. Most of this route benefits from faint paths, but there is a more awkward section on descent, along with a potentially difficult river crossing – beware.

📷 Chronological photo guide

🌍 Location

📌 Start / finish on minor road to Dalmunzie Hotel, 400m west of estate entrance at Spittal of Glenshee

🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NO 105701

🛰️ GPS coordinates: 56.813961,-3.466935

🚌 Extremely infrequent bus to Spittal of Glenshee

🚗 Car park

📝 Key info

▶ 15 km / 9 mi | ▲ 750 m | ⌛ 5.5-6.5 hr

Features: △ Ben Earb (802 m); △ Meall a’ Choire Bhuidhe (868 m)

⬤ Tough | Good hill path to reach the ridge at An Lairig, then faint paths / ATV tracks along the ridge with some pathless sections. Descent to Glen Lochsie is boggy in places with only traces of a path, then a shortish but pathless traverse of steep hillside to Glenlochsie Lodge. Then track for return, with fording of Glen Lochsie Burn required – may be impassable in spate (bridge 500m downstream of the ford looked unsafe in November 2023).

➡️ Clockwise circuit: start – Spittal of Glenshee – An Lairig via Cateran Way – Ben Earb – Meall a’ Choire Bhuidhe – 736m bealach beyond – descend east bank of burn beyond into Glen Lochsie – join track on south bank of river near Glenlochsie Lodge – Dalmunzie Hotel via track – start

Download file for GPS

🥾 On our last visit

Wildlife: Several birds of prey (too far away to identify), herons, numerous red grouse, pheasants, sheep. A distant stag roaring. 3 mice spotted, as well as a lot of mouse holes / tracks all along the ridge!

Weather: Mostly sunny with thin cloud sheets, some fog banks mostly on hills to north. Fairly light northerly wind, generally at or just below freezing. Ground mostly frozen, a dusting of snow in places.

November 2023