No smooth botanical gin today instead a rough walk.....Hill of Persie

Hill: Hill of Persie

Type: Sub2k

Height: 447m

Persie has been on my to-do list for too long. Many a time I have driven past on my way to Braemar. I have been intrigued with this hills name ‘Persie’. I know it is a historical Parish but I have been unable to confirm where the name comes from although some suggestions are that it is derived from a Pict word. I did find a reference to hills in the Glenshee area namely that only 4 hills in Glenshee contain Scots words and Persie is one of them, but what does it mean? Feel free to comment.

As for the hill itself it is a typical Sub2k, rough ground and mainly pathless. There are quite a few options for the ascent but looking at recent maps forestry operations and storm damage ruled out the good track through the forest to Loch Mharaich and ensuing access to the ridge. Another starting from the main road just looked very rough going and I wasn’t sure about access issues from the Persie Distillery.

So, I opted to start from the farm at Tomlea. Due to my attention being focused on the combine harvester taking up all the road in front of me I missed my turn off so my Satnav took me the long way back round to the start but as it was a short ramble and I was in no rush.

Take left fork

About 100m up the farm road there was a small grassy area on the right, ideal for one car. Not sure if it belonged to the nearby cottages but there were no warning signs.

It was already a hot day as I wandered up to the farm proper. About half a dozen dogs in kennels went mental as I approached. There was nobody in sight, I knocked the farmhouse to ask for the best way to access the hill without disturbing livestock. Nobody came to the door but a dog inside was going nuts so I wasn’t hanging around.

My planned route was to go up the track behind the farm and ascend on the left of the trees. But the fields were rammed with cattle and sheep so instead I headed along a farm lane where I could see a couple of fields without livestock.

That was a good choice as I was able to use the fields to get a bit up further up the hill on good walking.

Once upon a time the folk lived here now hard going overgrown ground

A few gates and fences to get over before I hit the rough ground and boy did it look rough. I could see the dyke that I originally planned to follow but getting to it over deep heather, thistles and bracken looked unappealing.

View north

Instead I followed a vague track that was going uphill at a good gradient and in the general direction I wanted. It turned out to be an inspired choice as the track continued through the deep heather. Only 6-12 inches wide, it came and went but so much easier.

Faint track continues back down to the Persie Gin distillery but I am going over

I followed it to the ridge to meet up with the dyke. I think it must have been a shooters track as I doubt that many walkers come here from the farm. The only downside was that I missed out visiting the trig on Knock of Balmyle. But that was not the highpoint for the day so staying on a good narrow track or heather bashing, track was much preferred.

Hill of Persie summit the high point middle of photo

Easy clamber over another fence which was beside the dyke and from here I had a view over to Hill of Persie and of the terrain options.

I thought about going directly at a the diagonal it looked like it was heading into boggy ground. Not ideal so I followed the dyke for a bit but looking ahead after the dyke took a 90 deg turn it looked impassable with heavy growth on one side and deforested ground on the other.

Decision time. I took a more direct line which by now I was far enough over to not go through the middle section. It still looked as if it could be boggy but I was on a higher line and under these dry conditions it was fine with another bonus that there were even more on/off tracks to follow.

Summit end corner of dyke

Almost at the top where it finished with a short rough ascent through the deep heather and grass to the dyke and the corner junction that marks the high point.

Looking down my original ascent route, heavy growth one side, deforestation on the other

From here I looked down to my original route choice via the loch. There was indeed a good track up to the loch but the ground thereafter looked ankle breaking arduous stuff so I made the right choice. The summit is not that high but it had reasonable views north to the Glenshee Munros and west to the Atholl biggies.

The clegs were starting to get interested in me flying around my body ready to ambush me from behind. I did not hang about and thankfully they were not biting.

Heading back, the white trig on Knock of Balmyle standing out

I enjoyed the ramble back mostly via the same tracks but they were not as easy to spot whilst descending.

Quite rare Small Copper

Tomlea Farm ahead

When I reached the farm the dogs went mental again but still no people, where do the farm workers go?

An ideal short ramble on a hot day and now closing in on my 200 Sub2k’s. It was the ideal hill for a break from the car and a wee leg stretcher for my daily exercise.

Ascent: 285m

Distance: 6.5km

Time: 2.05

Wildlife: Buzzard; Brown Hare; Raven; Carrion Crow; Meadow Pipit; Red Admiral; Small Copper; Swallow;