Middlefield Law A dead easy Sub 2000 hill

Middlefield Law cairn in sight

I was up early originally thinking about an Arrochar hill but the MWIS forecast was for very low cloud so likely to be no views and for me not worth the travel, it was similar for the Galloway hills. I wanted to be home for the big Scotland decider so opted for the polar opposite of Munro bagging, a first time dead easy sub 2000.
Middlefield Law was on my winter list but would do for today. It has to be one of the easiest Sub 2000/Marilin category as my car sat nav had us exactly at 1000 feet at the parking spot.

Start here fence on left

A pleasant drive to Drumclog, then a cross country shortcut before heading south, passing my old fishing haunt of Glengavel reservoir, towards Muirkirk on the B743. Take the first right turn, which is a B road, only visible sign was for the ‘cattery’; When you come to same either park beside it or go round corner and park at the field entrance, obviously not blocking any access.
The cairn summit can be seen from here.

View from parking area

I went through the gate on my left and followed the ATV track for a little bit, roughly to the small wind turbines (I don’t mind them this size) where I lost the trail in the deep wet boggy terrain. The field I crossed had a small group of tups but thankfully these were not testosterone loaded, the ran away but some of them had amazing horns.

Some horns

The next section was as awkward a terrain that I have walked for a while. It reminded me of Cairnsmore of Dee but on a much wetter scale. Very deep tussocky grass, plenty of deep wet moss, I was glad I had my poles to keep prodding away. There are a few gullies, up and down the bankings, where small burns are noisy, heard but not seen, so keep prodding for holes.

Getting there

Just head for the higher ground as quickly as you can where the walking eases up. All the sheep are big fearties up here, running every which way as I neared them.

Tinto in distance

The walk only took 35 minutes to get to the cairn which it turns out was hiding the trig. Although it was a grey day there were some good views through to Tinto. 

Nutberry Hill

Nearer I can see Nutberry Hill. My winter plan was to do these as a double, I could have squeezed it in today but I will leave it. To my front the top of Cairn Table was constantly in and out of cloud but still decent views down to Kames and the open moorland industrial landscape.

Cairn & trig looking to Cairn Table

 To the south west it was mainly low grey clouds. Sadly to the north too many wind turbines, although there are quite a few in other directions as well, so sad.
Still a dead easy hill where, as always, on a clear day the views would be extensive.
Now for that footie match!!

Time: 1 hour 18min
Distance: 2.07 miles  (3.33km)
Ascent: 501ft (153m)

Carn Glas-choire

The good lady decided that she would rather have a day at the shops than walking so I was free to do another local hill. Weather forecast indicated rain by lunchtime so I decided on a Graham close to Carrbridge and only a short drive from Aviemore. Carn Glas-Choire (Hill of the green corrie) is a Graham category at 659m.

Farmhouse with hill behind

On the B9007 I realised I had missed the turn off track and had to do a 6 point turn on the narrow road, trying to avoid a kamikaze vole which kept running about under the car, go into the grass for gods sake I was shouting, it survived.
Driving slowly back I spotted a dilapidated sign ‘Auchterteang‘, very easy to miss this, and take care on the deeply rutted car to park my car at the first fence, enough room here for a couple of cars.

Stocky angry tup

The hill and its ridge line are clearly in sight from here. A short walk towards the farm and kennels and I encountered these 3 tups. The testosterone was clearly building as the big brute at the front started to snort and paw the ground as it stared me out. Must be trying to impress the ladies in the field behind me.
Onwards past the kennels, plenty of dogs in these cages if the level of barking an indicator.
I followed the clear track on, gaining height and then briefly spoke to a couple of guys descending who had camped out overnight, they said it was cold. I also now came across a sign for the Cawdor estate. Vast deer fences stretch everywhere, there is certainly money in manufacturing these, home income or abroad?

Bothy in sight

The green hut/bothy is soon in sight, a meeting point for the estate shooters I presume. I had intended to follow the route in the SMC book but with the weather forecast I opted to follow the guidance from Walkhighlands reviewer (tummelv) and stick with the track. The high level route was a possibility to come back via if weather holds up.

Grouse tracks

The terrain is a typical patchwork of burnt and new heather, a high level grouse moor with many peat bogs. The sound of silence is quite idyllic and guaranteed to de-stress anyone, this is what I am here for the peace and quiet in a remote area. No noise apart from the red grouse bursting out at my feet calling loudly to warn their pals. This was easily the largest number I have seen on any hill this year so clearly a productive estate.

Onwards it goes

The track twists and turns its way up the hill so the views are constantly changing, albeit it is still the moor and hills but up above 4 ravens are circling and playing, parents and young? Looking back to the west and south plenty of rain evident but none hitting me yet. The light and cloud vista over the Cairngorm range, constantly changing shades of grey, still stunning.

Rain in distance

I catch site of a golden eagle and through the binos spot its partner as they cover the hills across to the east; grouse, hares and lambs beware!!
When the estate track changes into a newer laid section time to peel off to the left, an ATV track is fairly clear and this is where the terrain changes. I was glad to have the walking poles as this was boggy heather terrain, with lots of hidden holes to damage ankles or worse. 

ATV track

Although the ATV track looked an option, as tummelv stated, the ground was incredibly soft and slippery. Your feet sink in and immediately the surface gives and slips, really weird and awkward walking. I keep trying to find a stone to stand on. Doesn’t seem to bother the mountain hares as they were numerous on this top.

Hare in the white moss

Thankfully  the slipping and sliding does not last for long and the trig is reached. The reason for the ATV track is now obvious as a new fence is Although there is still a lot of cloud around the views are excellent and far reaching, particularly to the north and east. The Moray Firth is clear with the coastline beyond, there is one very big mountain far to the north I wonder what it is?

Ben Rinnes

Closer to hand, eastwards the distinctive Ben Rinnes is in and out of the sunshine. I can also see my walk from earlier in the week, the Graham, Carn na h-Easgainn. On a clearer day this would be a good place to spend some time.

Light from the summit

However the weather is closing in, a much colder wind and combined with the slippy terrain it has put me off the ridge so I just head back down the same way. A small hawk comes by fast and low, a Merlin possibly. 

Caterpillar

Spotted quite a few of these caterpillars but did not see any adults in flight so not sure what they are? Back to the green hut for my lunchtime chicken roll just as the rain appears but only for the time it takes me to eat my roll.
I must have been quieter as the dogs did not start up until I was walking past the kennels. The tup still gave me the eye as I went past then that was it back to the car.
I enjoyed this walk, an unheralded hill in many ways but plenty good enough for me.
Time: 3.31
Distance: 7.98 miles (12.84km)
Ascent: 1323 ft (403m)

Speyside Way Aviemore - Kincraig

It had rained heavily during the night but it was a lovely blue sky morning and we went for an unadventurous but highly enjoyable section of the Speyside Way, walking from Aviemore to Kincraig.

Tree cutter

We decided to start the walk from the house which added about a mile to the route before joining it formally at La Taverna. As we walked through the woods a jet fighter appeared very low heading north up the Spey. It was triangular in shape and very, very loud. The other highlight was watching a guy high up cutting down a tree, a large section dropping and just missing a lodge. Luck or design?

Dying autumn colours

The short road section led to the road crossing before heading down under the railway and onto the route proper.
You cannot get lost, just follow this very well made walking and biking trail. You are walking alongside the railway but only 3 trains passed us on route.

More autumn colours

The pathway is lined with trees and ferns most of which are turning to their autumn colours, lovely. Excellent views of the Cairngorms along with the prominent memorial to the Duke of Gordon sticking up from a hill.

Duke of gordon monument

We come across some deep deer prints on the track. I know the track build is softish but I reckon this was a large Red deer landing hard after a leap or fast run, speculate why?

Deer prints

A lovely up and down section zig-zagging then over a burn and an excellently constructed wooden bridge, want to redo my fence?

Railway bridge

Into another woodland section now along with the option of a detour, if required, to Dalraddy campsite/caravan park for refreshments. Their log cabins seem to go on for ages it must be a big site.

Woodland track

Pass some new houses and reach a new wooden bench with excellent views over the Spey to the mountains (lunch break in the warm sunshine). 

Spey valley

The river Spey has been conspicuous by its absence until now which considering the name of the way is slightly disappointing.

New bench good spot for lunch

Follow the Badenoch trail section which is a narrow track meandering through the ferns with high views of the river below, a bit more interesting than the other track. 

Typical Badenoch section

A buzzard cried over head but better still when I put the binos on it I could see a pair of golden eagles circling high in the sky until they disappeared.
We enter the outskirts of Kincraig and pass many old cracking looking granite houses, I want one of them. I love the 'get in there, fist pumping' lion on this gate in the village.

Fist pumping lion

The walk for us ends at the war memorial next to the bus stop. Walkhighlands route description says that there is a village shop but if so we could not find it. Disappointed as I was looking forward to a bar of chocolate and a can of Irn Bru, healthy or what.

Kincraig war memorial

Instead we just sat on the bench and enjoyed the sun shining on our faces for the 30 minutes until the bus back to Aviemore. A good walk, a good day.

Distance 7.9 miles (12.71km)
Time: 3.01 hours
Ascent: 460 ft (140m)

Beinn Mhor Grantown

The good lady had a bit of a sore hip following yesterday's efforts but was still game to try another small hill. A review of Walkhighlands came up with the perfect solution, Beinn Mhor just outside Grantown on Spey. It is a Marilyn/Sub 2000 category at 471m.

Parking area

We drove from Aviemore to the turn off at Glenbeg and immediately it was decision time, turn left or right, no signs. We picked to the right which was wrong, private house, so about turned. Immediately there is another option and again we turned immediately right. Thankfully the correct decision this time followed by a drive of about a mile (seemed longer) up a single track road to the parking area which is just before the wooden bridge. Just as we parked up a tractor and sheep trailer came down from the farm, glad we did not meet it on the single road, guess who would have been reversing!!
A pair of buzzards are screeching above us as we walk up the pleasant tree lined route. Suddenly a number of pheasants burst from the undergrowth right beside us. This was to be a feature for the next mile or so, they are heavily reared here. Daft birds they are but brought smiles as they run all over the road in front of us.

Farm Beinn Mhor behind

At the farm and Glenbeg bothy you have the first view of the hill, not the one to the left with the masts on it.
Walk straight through the farm but take care as it is a working farm. Soon you arrive at the trees and there is a track off to the left. I reckon you could take this and cut off the loop, but only if you are in a hurry, this is not a long walk.

Plenty of these

Soon another decision has to be made, about 1.3 miles from start of walk. The obvious track continues bending down a hill but there is a definite 90 degree left turn option. We elect to turn left and walk up the track passing the pheasant feeding areas where more birds go mental.

Breaking out

Further up this track we come to a T-junction. I reckon the left is where the first mentioned track joins up so we went right and before long we break the tree line onto open moorland.

Turn right here

The track now curves round anti clockwise and when we reach this high point I am looking for a trig, none to be seen anywhere. A check of the map and the hill to our right is our target, small crags up  top but still no trig.
The main route appears to head towards the masts (Laggan Hill) so we cut right and followed a muddy track through the heather, an estate vehicle has been here. There is an obvious flatter area ahead so we decide to follow it heading towards the crags that we could see.

The trig is behind and between scar & crag

Some of the going was quite deep heather, particularly for the good lady, but if care taken it was not too difficult. From the high point of the crags the trig could now be seen, not too far away, and thankfully for the good lady the plateau was easier walking. All the way Autumn colours are dominant, ferns already golden orange and many leaves not far off.

Autumn moorland Grantown in distance

Despite the cloudy day the views were still very interesting with reasonable 360 degree visibility. For all the mountains around there are plenty of flatlands as well. Huge deer fences but we spotted none.

Looking NW

At the trig there is a very small fenced tree plantation, maybe this is the new way forward rather than the huge plantations that we are used to.

Trig

The shafts of sunlight made the landscape very interesting. A wander around the top is pleasant enough today. Grantown on Spey can be clearly seen looking good in the sun.
We followed some sheep trails downwards which made for an easier descent in the first section before meeting up with the original track. I am always fascinated how in these remote uplands one tree always survived apparently growing through the rocks

Always a survivor

An excellent day in beautiful tranquil countryside and a walk that fully met the objectives, not too steep and not too long but good views. A bit windy but thankfully no rain and isolation as no other walkers here today.

Time: 2.31 hours
Distance: 4.33 miles (6.97km)
Ascent 857 ft (261m)

Not so slippery Carn na h-Easgainn

Woke up in Aviemore to fast moving clouds and some blue sky. The forecast said no rain. With the good lady in tow it had to be a fairly straight forward one and right out of the box was Carn na h-Easgainn (Hill of the eel!! Eels up here?) which is a Graham top (618m) but it has to be one of the easiest to walk. The hill overlooks Strathdearn and is on the opposite side of the A9 from another Graham, Carn na Tri-triggerman. This is easy as it has a track all the way to the summit.

The start

Our trip was a short 10 mile drive from Aviemore before turning south off the A9 onto a road signposted to Lynebeg. The short tarmac stretch ends opposite the houses where there is a parking area, just before the cattle grid. The SMC book says that it might be possible to drive to Lynemore and possibly a little further but for all the distance that is involved don‘t bother, unless you are in a real hurry, this is a short enough walk as it is. Once on the track the twisting route can be clearly seen on your left.

Follow that track

The route follows an obvious estate/stalkers track all the way to the trig point. According to the SMC book the high point is then some 50m to the south east.
The clouds were gathering ahead, surely no rain today. You cannot get lost on this track even in bad weather. After 15 minutes walking we could see shapes on the path far ahead, coos? On we went but after cresting a rise we spotted them and they were sheep, nice Herdwick’s I think.

Herdwick sheep

Bit further on we came to a deer fence where saw our only other people on our walk, a couple of estate workers. The surrounding terrain is open moorland, peat bogs etc and the view is what you make of it. To some it might be boring but for me there is rarely a bad walk. This is a shooting estate and there were plenty of red grouse being sprung by us as we walk past but no shooting today.

Trig in sight

After only an hour we were at the trig, even at the good lady’s pace, where the wind was up quite a few notches and the clouds remained stormy and threatening.

She made it

We had a short wander around the boggy top taking in the views where thankfully the 40 wind turbines of the Farr wind farm on the other side were in and out of the cloud. 

Red moss

Some nice reddish moss on the ground to add some colour. Looking around we can just make out Loch Ness also Inverness is obvious in the distance. 

Plateau looking to Carn Moraig

There are estate tracks on either side if you want to extend your walk but with Mrs it was back down the way we came. The plateau is fairly flat. The SMC book has a circular route via Carn Moraig which I would have taken if on my own.

Turbines in the cloud

On day of better visibility I am sure the views would be more than worth the short effort.

Looking back down to Loch Moy

But, no doubt the best views today are on the descent looking over Strathdearn with Loch Moy prominent and sadly more wind turbines only half hidden behind.
 

Red Admiral

Little wildlife, a few meadow pipits and lots of black caterpillars, not sure if they turn into this Red Admiral. I have seen more of these in the last few weeks than I have for years, hopefully they are doing well.
A short but enjoyable walk, not burned enough calories for cake today, maybe tomorrow!!
Time: 2 hours 05.
Distance: 3.99 miles (6.42k)
Ascent: 987 ft (301m)