Mount Shade

About Mount Shade

Often overshadowed by its famous neighbour, Clachnaben, this rounded heathery top offers a quieter perspective on the Mearns landscape. Rising above Glen Dye near Aboyne, its slopes provide a steady ascent through managed moorland. Reaching the summit rewards you with a clear, close-up profile of Clachnaben’s distinctive granite tor across the glen.

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Did You Know?

• •The name likely derives from the Scots word 'shade' or 'shed', referring to a watershed. This is a common topographical marker in the Grampians, denoting the point where the land divides the drainage between two separate river systems.
• •The hill is most frequently climbed as part of a six-mile circular route starting from the Bridge of Dye. This loop links Mount Shade with Clachnaben, crossing a often-soggy col between the two summits that requires careful footwork.
• •From the summit cairn, the view to the west is dominated by the whaleback profile of Mount Keen, the most easterly of the Munros, while the northern horizon is formed by the high granite plateaus of the Cairngorms.
• •Though it stands at a modest 507 metres, it is officially classified as both a Hump and a Tump, designations that highlight its topographical prominence and the significant drop on all sides of the peak.
• •While the granite tor of Clachnaben attracts the bulk of the weekend crowds, Mount Shade remains the preferred sanctuary for walkers who enjoy the same views but with considerably more personal space.