A wonderful, wintery weekend began with the drive north from Newcastle to Glen Prosen hostel, located in the Angus glens, with a customary stop at Dalkeith for a takeaway as well as stocking up on supplies for the weekend.

Saturday morning dawned and we awoke to a faint sprinkling of snow in the glen. After packing our kit and saying good morning to the horses we set off for Glen Isla. Parking at the end of the road we then continued up the glen and up onto Monega hill.

Below – Walking up Glen Isla

Above – view down Glen Isla from the ascent of Monega hill

Below – Monega hill summit

After enjoying the views of the cliffs on Druim Mor we continued on to Little Glas Maol where the snow cover became more consistent. From here some of the group descended back over Shanovan hill and returned to the vans whilst the rest of us continued up onto Glas Maol (1068m) the first munro of the day. Here we met some memebers of the Cairngorms club and had a brief stop for Jacob to eat his tuna and potato. Descending back out of the cloud we found some ice swords which we liberated from the old fence posts and continued on towards Creag Leacach.

Above – Descending Glas Maol towards Creag Leacach

As we continued along the ridge great views were given looking north onto Cairnwell and the Glenshee ski centre. After summiting Creag Leachach (987m) the second munro of the day we continued along the ridge further to descend via the south western flank.

Above – Creag Leacach summit

Below – Coffee break for Big Dom

Above – Lovely photo courtesy of Simon looking over Carn Ait

Descending from the ridge we found a nice patch of snow where we practiced some ice axe arrests. Then we descended over Carn Ait, Mallrenheskein and Black hill before reaching the summit of Monamenach (807m) a corbett in the dusk. We then descended to the vans in the dark rounding off a beautiful walk. (21.6km, 1170m ascent).

On returning to the bunkhouse we were treated to Jacobs delicious ‘not spicy’ daal before a relaxed evening chatting around the fire.

Sunday began with a thorough clean of the bunkhouse before we set off for Glen Clova, famed for its beauty. We split into two groups one walk summiting Driesh (947m) and the other taking a longer route. Starting out through the forestry plantation we arrived into the stunning Corrie of Fee.

Above – Corrie of Fee

We then climbed up the end of the corrie finding some snow and ice. Kicking some steps in before stopping for lunch once we gained the plateau. After lunch we gained the summit of Mayar (928m) before crossing the plateau to Driesh (947m) where the cloud engulfed us.

Above – Driesh summit

After the summit we returned to the bealach and took the ridge of the Shank of Drumfollow down where we found some nice snow to slide on and make some snowballs with. We then descended into the woods and back to the vans before returning to Newcastle after a lovely weekend in the snow of the Angus glens.

Above – Sid the Sloth in the woods.

Thanks to all who came for making it such an enjoyable weekend. -Josh