A walk up a location of our industrial heritage.....Hill of Foundland

Hill: Hill of Foudland

Type: Sub2k

Height: 467m

My original plan was to tackle this hill from the north side. But last night I had read reports that mentioned crossing a field with possible cattle. Surprisingly, to me, for this time of the year the fields that are not full of hay bales (huge profits ahead selling to drought ridden England), are full of cattle. And they all have very young calves so being the fearty I am I was not going to put myself in that position. If it arrived and no detour I would turn back.

However my preparation the night before with the OS map showed a maintenance track coming up the other side of the hill with no fields to cross.

So this morning I set my Sat Nav for Lenchie instead of Jericho.

A bright morning driving east meant I had the full blinding sunlight effect. Full concentration was required.

The hill from car park

Drove up the rough track and found a parking area for 2/3 cars before the fence to the slate quarry. Another day another slate quarry. 

According to Aberdeenshire council Foudland quarries supplied slate for buildings within a 50 mile radius, which was the limit for a horse and cart. Balmoral Castle being one of the most famous. The turn of the 20th century saw a slump in the building industry and the Foudland slate quarries closed 100 years ago.

Through the gate where I took the wrong track but thankfully it bent back and joined up with the one I should have been on. A lot of machinery in situ so despite the above I presume the quarry is still operational as and when it is needed.

At this stage the main landscape I walked through was fairly newly planted trees which in future years will reduce the views considerably. Maybe the machinery at the start was for this.

But for now as per the map the track was a hard packed construction for the joint use of the tree planters and the maintenance of the two aerials on the top of the hill.

Skylark

The main birds rising were Meadow Pipits and Skylarks which were aplenty. Nice to see and hear as it has been a while since a Skylark spotted.

Another deer fence reached but not locked. As I ascended a burst of noise and action as 8 Red Grouse protested at my presence burst out and giving me a scare. Over the years I have wondered why grouse sit so close to a track. They have large areas of heather cover where they could stay undisturbed but only fly to this when disturbed, strange.

The hill high point is marked by a trig and is reached before the transmitter masts which are a short distance further on. It is located on a large flat heather moor, presumably once a farming grazing area. 

View East

View North

There are excellent 360 degree views and the early morning light gave it a special glow.

View West

Old bings becoming covered with vegetation. Tap o' Noth behind the dark green plantation

The map shows the vast area of the quarries and the slate waste mounds are overgrown but still identifiable, it would have been tough working up here.

Pink Footed Geese

I descended the same way and was delighted to first of all hear then sight my 1^st skein of pink footed geese this autumn. The change of season is moving forward despite this late burst of warmth, well this Scotland and everything is relative, we will take any warmth.

Loved the small fields with proper mixed trees as surrounds not a sight seen often

Another nice example wonder what the thinking was when trees were planted

And don't forget the fields of hay

So a short straightforward early morning ramble. The views are excellent so if in the locality fill your boots for minimal effort. Plus the bonus of spending a bit of time researching the hill and understanding the history of what I was walking on.

Back at the car another car was parked up behind me but where was the owner? Maybe gone off piste as I never saw them, its a vast landscape to escape in.

More interesting facts about the slate quarries from e-architct:

Although everyone believes they know the colour of “slate”, its full spectrum speaks of subtly different origins: Ballachulish slate is a deep blue-black; Snowdonian is dark purple; Westmorland slate is a shade of sea green; Easdale is gunmetal grey; Birnam slate is almost violet in colour… and Foudland slate is midnight blue with a crystalline sheen.

The Foudland quarries were opened up in 1754– local knowledge having unearthed a belt of slate running along the west border of Aberdeenshire from Auchterless towards the Tap o’ Noth near Gartly. At their peak a century later, the quarries produced almost one million hand-split slates per year– which is an amazing total given the harsh conditions on the hill.

Ascent: 173m

Distance: 4.6km

Time: 1.21

Wildlife: Wood Pigeon; Red Grouse; Skylark; Meadow Pipit; Pink Footed Geese; Chaffinch; Dunnock; Crow; Wood Pigeon;