Not quite the planned ramble.....Meikle Balloch Hill

 Hill: Meikle Balloch Hill (Big or great hill of Balloch)

Type: Sub2k

Height: 366m

It was only about a 20 minute drive to get from Knock Hill to the start of this ramble.

Walkhighlands describes Meikle Balloch as lying to the east of Keith, on the boundary between Moray and Aberdeenshire. Its bare moorland summit rises clear above the forestry plantations.

I was surprised to see even one car in the parking area when I arrived on a wet day like this but dogs must be walked and hills must be climbed and as for the car occupants I never saw them.

That was intended to be return track

Standing in the heavy rain, no shelter, as I donned my waterproofs my attention was focused on the bright yellow warning signs regarding ongoing forestry operations. From the description some routes were not passable on a weekday. It gave the names of the tracks affected but no map so I did not know if I would get to the top or not. 

I was here anyway and fully weather clad so off I went following the blue signs which should be a straight up to the top track.

This would have been an interesting scene just after the storm

Immediately it was obvious how much storm damage there had been as the 1^st section to the next track was through major tree cutting which had been required to just keep this track open.

Upon reaching the upper track I expected to go straight across and then up a straight line to the top. But where was the other track, it was not obvious? A wee wander to my right nope, walked back and there it was but not easy to spot amongst the undergrowth.

As it turned out it was almost a straight line walk on a good gradient and track until I hit the big trees.

It was a wow moment, the darkness from the density of trees took me by surprise. The snaps make it look like there was light coming through but in the early stages definitely not like this.

Now steeper than earlier I was puffing a bit. It was a winding ascent and it took only a few minutes until I was on the moor back into the smir. The at times very wet path was the obvious way to the summit and as the rain eased and I was beginning to get some views of the surrounding countryside.

Trig in sight

The open moor stretch was slightly longer than expected, dodging back and forth to avoid the wet sections but no difficulties.

Almost looks a nice day, Knock Hill on the right

When I reached the trig I could see a couple of hills in the distance but to be honest I was not sure what they were, need to look at the map later.

Intended descent track with Hill of Towie the distance

My intention had been to make it a circular but the warning sign said that was not happening. I had not seen or heard anything of the forestry operations but there was no point in taking a chance and having to retrack.

Even on a dull day the deer grass in autumn colours is vibrant

Nice to be back in colour

So I simply returned the same way. Very pleasant descent until with 5 minutes to go the heavens opened once again, those showers certainly had me in their sights. At the parking area the other car had gone, a smart move.

Despite the weather and not getting the circular route it was still an enjoyable short ramble.

Ascent: 166m

Distance: 3.5km

Time: 0.56

Wildlife: Golden Plover; Blue Tit;