What difficulty is Tom Buidhe?

On the OutdoorSCOT scale, Tom Buidhe comes in at 4/5 — challenging. Expect roughly 17km and 843m of ascent on the usual route — 5-8 hours for most parties. Underfoot: The Tom Buidhe summit sits on a broad almost-flat plateau where the high point is barely distinguishable from the surrounding ground.

What is Tom Buidhe's prominence?

73m of prominence. That's the vertical drop from the summit to the col that links Tom Buidhe to the next higher ground.

Where do I park for Tom Buidhe?

Most walkers start from NO283762. Verify the grid reference on an OS map before you set off — space is tight on busy summer weekends.

When is the best time to climb Tom Buidhe?

May, June, July, August, September, October give the most reliable conditions on Tom Buidhe. Beyond that window the high ground turns wintry: carry full mountain kit, be confident navigating, and check the SAIS avalanche forecast for the area.

Is Tom Buidhe dog-friendly?

Yes, but dogs must be kept on a lead — there is livestock or ground-nesting bird interest on the route.

By Gary

Photo: Gwen and James Anderson / CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons

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Munro · Cairngorms

Tom Buidhe

Tom Buidhe (957m) — "yellow knoll" — is the immediate southern neighbour of Tolmount on the broad Mounth plateau, the two forming a quiet pair always climbed together via Jock's Road from Glen Doll. The hill is the most featureless of the Mounth Munros — barely a defined summit at all, just a slight rise on the broad mossy plateau marked by a small cairn. Confident navigation in mist is the principal challenge.

Gaelic: “hillock, yellow” · Pronunciation: towm boo-yeh

Quick facts

Height: 957.8m/ 3142ft
Prominence: 73 m
Distance: ~17 km
Ascent: ~843 m
Time: 5–8 hrs
Difficulty: 4 / 5Serious
Grid ref: NO213787
Parking: NO283762
Nearest city: Dundee· 52km
Dogs: Dogs on lead required near livestockDog-friendly guide ↗

Height and prominence cross-checked against the Database of British and Irish Hills (CC BY).

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Standard route

Glen path / Jock's Road 35% · Open moorland plateau 50% · Summit 15%

17km · 843m ascent · 4.8 hrs

See Tolmount for the standard Jock's Road approach from Glen Doll. Tom Buidhe is reached from Tolmount by walking south-east across the broad mossy plateau — about 1km of nearly flat ground with a tiny cairn marking the high point. Most parties continue the round south to take in Mayar and Driesh (the Glen Doll pair) for a four-Munro day. Total round 22km with 870m of ascent for Tolmount + Tom Buidhe.

Terrain

The Tom Buidhe summit sits on a broad almost-flat plateau where the high point is barely distinguishable from the surrounding ground. The 1km traverse from Tolmount crosses mossy turf and gravel — easy walking but devoid of features. Confident map work essential in mist; the summit cairn is small and easy to walk past.

In winter

A serious Mounth plateau winter day. The summit area is among the most featureless in the Cairngorms — whiteout navigation is the principal challenge. The plateau drifts heavily under easterly weather. Glen Doll access is reliable; the Jock's Road path may be obscured under deep snow. SAIS Southern Cairngorms applies. Confident map-and-compass technique essential.

This hill is in the Southern Cairngorms SAIS forecast area. Check SAIS forecasts in winter (December–April).

Best time of year

Best OK Avoid

Getting there

Glasgow3h 45m
Edinburgh2h 14m

Parking: NO283762

OS maps: OS Landranger 44

Mobile signal: Zero signal above 800m on the Mounth plateau. Glen Clova has intermittent signal. Line maps up before leaving Kirriemuir.

Current conditions

Daylight Today

14h 47mwalking daylight

Sunrise: 06:27
Sunset: 19:56
Civil dawn: 05:48
Civil dusk: 20:35

NOAA Solar Calculator · 7 September 2026

Pair with

Curated multi-hill combinations from Tom Buidhe.

Two-hill day
Tom Buidhe + Tolmount
Tom Buidhe and Tolmount are the Jock's Road pair — almost always done together from Glen Doll.
22km · 870m ascent · 6.5 hrs

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Around Tom Buidhe on the SCOT network

Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.

On TripSCOT

station

Getting there: Pitlochry station

Schiehallion, Ben Vrackie, Beinn a Ghlo, Edradour distillery

34km from the hill

tripscot.co.uk

On TripSCOT

town

Base yourself in Ballater

Eastern Cairngorms / Royal Deeside

23km from the hill

tripscot.co.uk

On TasteSCOT

distillery

After the hill: Royal Lochnagar

Balmoral — Queen Victoria's favourite; eastern Cairngorms setting

13km from the hill

tastescot.co.uk

Before you go

Hillwalking carries real risk and the responsibility for any day on the hill is yours. Conditions in Scotland change fast and can differ sharply from the forecast — check the weather and the ground before you commit, turn back when the day stops working, and carry map and compass with the ability to use them rather than relying on a phone.

The distance, ascent and time shown on this page are editorial estimates for the usual line, not measurements from a recorded track — that is what the ~ means. Treat them as a rough shape of the day. Your own pace, the conditions and the exact line you take will all move them.

Mountain forecasts: MWIS and the Met Office mountain forecast. Access rights and responsibilities are set out in the Scottish Outdoor Access Code.

We check what we publish, but we cannot check the route on the day you walk it. Nothing here is a substitute for your own judgement.

Tom Buidhe — common questions

What difficulty is Tom Buidhe?: On the OutdoorSCOT scale, Tom Buidhe comes in at 4/5 — challenging. Expect roughly 17km and 843m of ascent on the usual route — 5-8 hours for most parties. Underfoot: The Tom Buidhe summit sits on a broad almost-flat plateau where the high point is barely distinguishable from the surrounding ground.
What is Tom Buidhe's prominence?: 73m of prominence. That's the vertical drop from the summit to the col that links Tom Buidhe to the next higher ground.
Where do I park for Tom Buidhe?: Most walkers start from NO283762. Verify the grid reference on an OS map before you set off — space is tight on busy summer weekends.
When is the best time to climb Tom Buidhe?: May, June, July, August, September, October give the most reliable conditions on Tom Buidhe. Beyond that window the high ground turns wintry: carry full mountain kit, be confident navigating, and check the SAIS avalanche forecast for the area.
Is Tom Buidhe dog-friendly?: Yes, but dogs must be kept on a lead — there is livestock or ground-nesting bird interest on the route.
Is there mobile signal on Tom Buidhe?: Zero signal above 800m on the Mounth plateau. Glen Clova has intermittent signal. Line maps up before leaving Kirriemuir.
Is Tom Buidhe safe in winter?: A serious Mounth plateau winter day. The summit area is among the most featureless in the Cairngorms — whiteout navigation is the principal challenge. The plateau drifts heavily under easterly weather. Glen Doll access is reliable; the Jock's Road path may be obscured under deep snow. SAIS Southern Cairngorms applies. Confident map-and-compass technique essential.

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