Time on Feet

Route details

There is a good sized car park at the Bridge of Tilt where this route starts. A brilliant run, though not suitable for the novice. It is a long, tough climb and a remote hill so a high level of fitness is required for this to be a run. A large estate track aids navigation significantly but these hills can be extremely exposed so experience is advised before attempting this route. If too long, it would make a good bike and run, chopping the running distance in half if that’s your thing.

Follow the river Tilt for around 5 miles. This is a gradual climb but a very pleasant few miles with old pines and rocky linns to admire. The track is also a great surface for running on and makes for a relatively quick ascent as far as running munros goes.

After 5 miles, take the steep grassy nose to save yourself a mile or two, or follow the landrover track for a more gradual climb, and begin heading up the hill proper. The track steepens but is runnable pretty much the entire way. There are some sections where the rock is looser but the going is mostly good. For much of the climb the summit is visible however, this is a relentless 3 mile climb so make sure to pace yourself.

The summit offers expansive views into the cairngorms national park and some truly lonely parts of the country, probably well explored by gravel or mountain bike. Beinn a’ Ghlo rises to the south east on the other side of the glen and the Cairngorms proper are visible on a clear day.

After a moment to enjoy the views and refuel, the return is straightforward. Retrace the outward route and if you have the confidence fly down in the half the time. It is a quick descent back to the glen, and a pleasant gradual drop, if arduously long after the days events, back to the car park. Should the temperature torture you on the climb, I imagine the river would be a refreshing end to the day out.