Hill: Knock Hill
Type: Sub2k
Height: 430m
Another plan B day. I had hoped to be biking but the rain was chucking it down and was forecast to continue with varying intensity for the rest of the day.
I don’t like cycling in the rain but walking not a problem. So gathered the appropriate waterproofs and had made a plan for 3 short rambles.
The 1st of those was Knock Hill.
Walkhighlands describes Knock Hill as a prominent, dome-shaped hill which is visible from miles around and is itself an excellent viewpoint. None of which I can confirm.
Loads of surface water as I drove towards Keith with warnings of the road blocked after Keith which was disconcerting, was this my road? Thankfully the sat-nav took me on a detour route which worked out fine.
To get to the start there is a half a mile track from the hamlet of Swilebog (interesting name). I don’t think I have ever driven such a bad track, it was so bad that I was worried about ripping my tires. So it was a very slow drive and as I went up the track I was wondering if I was in the right place.
Rain was still pouring down when I exited the car, looked around and found the slightly hidden start of the ramble so it was the right track after all.
A pleasant walk through a woodland in its autumn colours before it opened out on to the hill proper. This would be very nice in dry conditions.
Once out of the woods the wind battered me sideways and combined with the sheets of rain it was not the most pleasant start. From what I could see it could well be a dome shaped hill but I was not looking up very often.
Head down, step by muddy step, I made my way up the hill. I knew that it was a steep climb but there was no chance of going wrong. There is apparently an annual hill race up here but from the state of the track I don’t think it is ran over by many feet, could be wrong of course.
It was slippy peaty mud, along with wet tree roots and some stone patches. I knew that the descent would be riskier than the uphill. Perversely I was actually enjoying this little battle with the elements, probably as I knew it would quickly be over.
A red grouse burst out of the heather calling away presumably annoyed at me disturbing it from its comfortable lair. My beating heart suggested the feeling was mutual.
Not long after a small flock of around a dozen Golden Plovers did likewise but far more genteel than the grouse.
Finally the broken fence and gate was spotted coming out of the gloom so I knew the trig and the runners cairns were just ahead.
The two cairns are reputed to be boulders carried up by runners. One has a plaque honouring the hill race founder. Getting soaked and wind blown so no point in hanging about in these conditions so back down the same way.
About a third of the way down the rain eased considerably, the gloom lifted and I got some short distance views. Very pleasant they were and cheered me up. Geese had been calling non stop above me but they were still in the grey stuff so I could not see them. Maybe they could not see the ground either and that was causing all the anxiety.
Arrived back at the car just as the rain stopped but the waterproofs had worked, despite the pounding I was dry inside.
As expected it was a short hours ramble and my leg felt fine. At least the descent gave me some views and I was glad I was experiencing this and not stuck indoors looking outdoors.
So I reset the Sat-nav and off to my next short ramble, Meikle Balloch.
Ascent: 245m
Distance: 2.3km
Time: 0.55
Wildlife: Golden Plover; Red Grouse; Meadow Pipit
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