Mount Shade

About Mount Shade

Mount Shade acts as the polite opening act for the theatrical granite tor of Clachnaben. While often treated as a mere hurdle on the way to its more famous neighbor, this 507m heathery bump offers excellent, crowd-free views across the rolling Mounth and Glen Dye.

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Did You Know?

• •It marks the eastern fringe of the Grampian Mountains, standing as a sentinel over the historic Cairn o' Mount road that has connected the lowlands to Deeside for centuries.
• •The hill is part of the Glendye Estate, which was famously acquired by the family of Victorian Prime Minister William Gladstone in the mid-19th century.
• •Despite its modest height, the initial climb from the Water of Dye is notoriously sharp, serving as a brutal fitness test for hikers who haven't quite finished digesting their breakfast.
• •Geologically, it sits on the edge of the massive Kincardineshire granite pluton, though unlike its neighbor Clachnaben, it keeps its rocky bits modestly tucked under a thick duvet of heather.
• •Most walkers only visit Mount Shade because it’s 'there' on the way to the tor, giving the summit a slightly tragic 'always the bridesmaid, never the bride' energy among Aberdeenshire hills.