An early morning Braemar Corbett

Hill: Creag nan Gabhar
Category: Corbett
Height: 834
A double outing today so an early start saw only 2 more cars in the car park (£3 charge). The walk start is a historic right of way, Jock’s Road, worth investigation and a poignant read as as its most recent incarnation is the Land Reform Act which allows us to walk with freedom in Scotland. 

The start of Jock's road

The rough track follows the Callater Burn, fast running brown and white water as it cascades through the rocks, still high after the recent rain.

The ridge ahead with Corbett the highest point

After half a mile or so there is a turn to head up a very rough estate track zig zagging to reach Sron Dubh.

Pearl-bordered Fritillary?

 Although it is not bright the butterflies are flying and caught this little cracker amongst the heather and thistles.
A couple are spotted ahead of me so I wonder if I will catch them up. Turns out not it doesn’t take too long.

On the ridge just follow estate track to the summit

Once on the ridge it is an excellent walk, albeit along the basic track created for the grouse shooting not us walkers. The bigger Munros are still just covered in cloud but my target is in the clear.
Red grouse almost wait until they are trodden on before bursting out of the heather, my ticker gets a fright. Must have seen a couple of dozen or so today.
Luckily I also saw a few mountain hares today, they must have escaped the culls.

There is an alternative start from those woods, shorter but much steeper

There a few minor ups and downs but the route is clear as it takes a slow right hander too reach the top of the Corbett. Good going 1 hour 20 to the top. 

View from far away cairn I can hear the motor bikes below

Good views to enjoy. It is worth taking the short walk on to the far away cairn, superb views up to the Cairnwell, albeit its top stayed in cloud.

Aosda in foreground, The Cairnwell behind

After spending some time enjoying the views, the top very windy but balmy warm, I took the slow descent back the same way. There is a circular route but I preferred the high level descent taking in the great views back to Braemar, Ben Avon, Morrone etc.

Descent looking back to Braemar

The clouds are disappearing as the heat kicks in, glad I was up in the hills early. There are some high tops here that are not classified but look tough wee beggars.

Callatar burn and Morrone behind

On the ground walk back to the car the tourists have arrived. The aforementioned two the only people I saw until about a dozen in 200 metres.
An excellent short walk with top drawer views.
Now there are 18 holes on the highest golf course in Scotland to look forward to.

Wildlife: Meadow pipit; Wheatear; Red Grouse; Grey Wagtail; Golden plover; Mountain hare, Small tortoiseshell; Fritillary ( probably pearl bordered)

Time: 3.11
Ascent: 1647ft (550m)
Distance: 7.85m 12.8(km)

Outstanding panoramic views from Creag Bhalg in the Cairngorms

Hill/Walk: Creag Bhalg
Category: Graham
Height: 668m
I am amazed yet again at how a so called ‘modest hill’ can produce such outstanding views as Creag Bhalg did today and for such little effort.

Victoria bridge

An early morning cycle, in very windy conditions, dictated a slightly lower route for the good lady. She was a bit feart of the ski chair lift in these winds.
We started the walk by crossing the Victoria Bridge, where an estate worker informed us that it was getting a full refurbishment in the near future. Then taking the track to Mar Lodge Estate.

Mar Lodge

Passed the Mar Lodge buildings and across the tarmac road (Linn of Quoich road) to an obvious track. 

Track starts here

A bit boggy at the beginning, well wet, but a very well maintained route that has a very gradual incline. As you climb there are excellent views below of the River Dee and the lower grounds and the tracks heading into Glen Ey as well as the hills beyond. Plenty of colourful insect life, a few butterflies and some mini sized frogs, wonder if they are full grown?

Cairngorm giants appear

After half a mile or so you join in with the hills alternative tracks from Linn of Dee and Linn of Quoich. Just go straight ahead to the obvious track that continues your line.
More trees than bracken and the Cairngorm biggies started to come into view. I love these natural Caledonian pine trees, what a great landscape.

Turn right soon

After another half a mile or so there is a singular old post on your left and soon after an obvious track cuts into the right, heading for the dead tree. 

Clear way marker

Stop frequently and take in the views of Ben Macdui and all its mighty Cairngorm neighbours. The track continues up to the top passing a solar panel structure, feeding what?

Cairn

The cairn comes into view, obvious on your right, flat top walking, slightly boggy but who cares, all you are doing is looking around at the stupendous views. 

Beinn a Bhuird massif

What a spot, what a 360 degree panorama for an hours effort, breathtaking. 
So glad to be fit enough to see this all for real, no snaps will do it justice. The mass of Beinn a Bhuird, what a bulk and the tors of Ben Avon. Looking around apart from the previous mentioned hills there is Lochnagar, Morrone and many others.

Track back to treeline

A great place to spend some time taking it all in before heading back down the same way we ascended.

River Dee below

I really enjoyed that little outing, no doubt coffee and cake now on the agenda.

River Dee from bridge

Finishing line

Wildlife: Meadow pipit, Dunnock; Grey Wagtail; House Martin; Minature frogs, Small bordered fritillary.
Time: 2.30
Ascent: 1062ft (360m)
Distance: 3.92m (7.3km)

Great views in Ballater and the clegs are back!!

Hill: Craigendarroch
Category: Sub2k
Height: 402m
The weather gods altered our plans for a high level walk so I had to break the good news message to the good lady. I decided that we would return to Ballater and go up the short, but steep, wood and craggy Craigendarroch. Even for her.
The cunning part of my plan was that I got to cycle the 17 miles to Ballater a cracking ride through stunning countryside. Plus a return home, made.

No trains here

Our walk started at the stunningly refurbished Ballater railway station.
We had left our walk book but how could you get lost, the hill is in front of us? Not through the housing estate surely. Well the crags were not the obvious route so after asking an old guy, wrong move, we followed the field edge alongside the games park heading out of Ballater. There were yellow markers which did not seem right. Thankfully a woman appeared and we were not on the official route but could get there through the woods.

The bin marks the entry spot

There was a path but no signs so on we went. Paths began to criss cross so I just picked the one heading up that looked as the feet of humans, not deer, might have ventured this way.
We did gain height and after a few naughty words, the good lady hanging well back, we stumbled upon a red marked post, more like it.

Path at first but is it the right one

The good path climbs and winds its way up the hill through the magnificent ancient woods, initially oak trees the Scots pine and birch. It is very humid and sticky. The crags are steep and shiny, glacial wear from way back. As you look down this feels a lot higher than the actual height.

Shiny steep crags

The track is hemmed in with blueberry/bilberry plants, the purple/blue fruits perfect for eating, sweet and tasty. There are regular fresh blue/black scat marks all the way up the trail, I presume they were deposited by a pine martin marking its territory from eating all this fruit.

Memorial cairn looking down on Ballater

Finally we break out onto a flattish rocky area where the trig stands and just further away a huge memorial cairn and a marker board. The welcome wind very strong and gusty, storm on its way.

Seat marks highest point

The granite has been noticeably scarred by the ice formations millions of years ago. Good timing as we just watched the documentary last week on how Scotland was formed.

The views are excellent but sadly the aforementioned storm has covered the tops of Lochnagar but the local views don't disappoint particularly of Ballater itself.
A straightforward walk back down the same route and heading to where we should have been in the first place.
Just as we finished the walk, a painful stab in my leg just above my socks. Blood drawn, my first clegg bite of the year.
An excellent short little walk, warm down here in town so time for a Shorty’s ice cream.

Wildlife: Blue tit; Chaffinch, Song thrush; Wood pigeon; Ringlet.
Time: 1.49
Ascent: ft (m) 264m
Distance: m (km) 5.01k

Tap o' Noth a Pictish hill fort and what a view

Hill: Tap o’ Noth
Category: Sub2k
Height: 563m
When the good lady rose from her slumbers I told her that it was her lucky day, we were going to visit the remains of the second highest hill fort in Scotland. Not sure she quite processed the lucky bit so I left her to digest the information and went for a cracking bike ride to Linn’ O Dee, stunning scenery.

Beautiful early morning Strathdee

The reflection time was positive. After brekkie we set off for a gloriously scenic drive, which perked her up, apart from the two squished red squirrels on the road, one of her favourite species. Still, we arrived at the less than daunting hill, the Tap o’ Noth car park almost full, a tourist trap? To be fair it only holds about 8 cars and the motor home did for most of that.

New track at start

A nice new looking sandy track took us uphill to the deer fence where it became a grassy track that wound its way to the next fence.

Pleasant grassy section

 This grassy section a riot of colour and butterflies and moths aplenty. A new plant to me yellow monkey flower (according to said good lady) a highlight.
Unless you want a cross country circuit turn right here and head to the gate at the deer fence.

People on top of Tap

he top does not look far away, we can even see people moving about, not sure someone else agrees!!

Clearer view of the TAp

Now out onto the moorland where the track is more rocky but is still in great condition and thankfully for the good lady it continued to meander round the hill. 

Getting there

Views were excellent, the scarred track of Ben Rinnes prominent.
As we got towards the top both Lochnagar and Mount Keen came into view. 
There is an excellent information map to spend some time at before heading over the top into the bowl of the fort and then onto the trig. 

Trig with Ben Rinnes behind

Certainly not the biggest hill but in terms of location it is the biggest around. With a fantastic 360 degree perspective, no wonder it was the location for a fort.
It is fantastic to stand here and let the mind roam. Built by the Picts, the huge walls vitrified (burnt), probably deliberately by them to make the fort even stronger. Mind-boggling when you read the notice board at the car park, this is our history. 

Inside the fort looking to Aberdeen

Spotted a large very orange butterfly which on examining the snaps later turned out to be a ‘small’ tortoiseshell. If that’s small the extinct large version would be mighty impressive.
From the top the Cromarty coast and Sutherland are clear. The stand out peak on Sutherland, surely Ben Hope. If so there cannot be many places where you can see the most northerly and the most easterly Munros. Another reason why the good lady should be so lucky. She always enjoys it when she gets to the tops and soaks in the views.

Superb shot bringing the fort boundaries to life

The rain threatened and skirted us but thankfully we stayed dry.
A gentle descent back the same way to the car park with the promise of coffee and cake in Ballater.
A cracking MTB ride and a good wee walk with fabulous views, a good day to be alive.
I wonder how lucky she will be tomorrow?

Wildlife: Kestrel; Buzzard; Linnet; Meadow pipit; Meadow brown; Six spot Burnet moth; Small tortoiseshell; Ringlet.
Time: 1.47h
Ascent: 295m
Distance: 5.01k

A trek up Ben Ledi

Hill: Ben Ledi (Hill of the gentle slope OR God's Hill)
Category: Corbett
Height: 878m
Out with the Ayr OIR high level walking group today for the walk around the lovely Ben Ledi circuit. Nice to get a clear drive through Glasgow both up and down fair shortened the travelling time.

Good steps

A warm balmy start to the day as we set off up the hill on a clockwise circuit. It did not take long before the banter subsided as we take the almost single file trek through the bracken and then the open mountain.

Gaps appearing

 Steep at times, the brow was dripping and the breathing slightly more laboured. The National Trust have done an excellent job in refurbishing this track.
Still opportunities to look around and back and enjoy the superb landscape.
Not alone on the hill today as 3 pairs can be seen ahead at various intervals.

Final zig zag

One downside was the fresh toilet litter left alongside the track, not nice.
As we turned around and headed higher the tops were now shrouded in cloud. Very atmospheric but we want the views we were enjoying on the ascent to still be there at the top. A good pace kept up to take away the chill from the breeze and the low cloud, definitely not balmy now.

Memorial Cross

Before long the memorial cross was in view and the trig beyond. Dedicated to a mountain rescue guy who died but not on this hill.

Borrowed from Ian French group shot

After the posing the milling around

he groups ahead of us were resting including a nice French couple who took the group picture at the trig. One guy with his young lad the highest he has been, first of many?

Is that really the way down?

Sadly the clouds stayed low, nae views here, so on we plodded to find a sheltered spot for lunch where we did enjoy the scenery.

Scenic descent

It was a quick stony scree descent into the bowl of the glen, I love this part, surrounded by the hills. We rejoin the good path to head back through the trees, some deforested, back to the car park. 

Sods Law the top is now clear

Just as well a track is here as the bracken is rather high and alongside the heather would be awkward walking.

Life hangs on

I admired this little tree, almost bonsai like, where its seed has planted itself into a crack in this huge boulder. Butterflies were abundant and the machair like wild plants alongside provide plenty of colour to lift the scenery even higher.

Marsh orchid I think?

Clouds threatened but we made it back to the cars without rainfall. Lower down it was sticky hot once again.
A super walk, in excellent company, on a good day, no complaints.

Wildlife: Meadow Pipit, Wheatear, Raven, Ringlet, March brown, Peacock, 
Time: 4.03
Ascent: ft (m) 2526 (766)
Distance: m (km) 6.55m (10.4)

A delightful Moorfoot Hills tramp

Hills: Blackhope Scar (651m), Bowbeat Hill (626m, Dundreich Hill (623m)
Type: Graham/Donald

View from near carpark, flanks of Dundreich on the right

In the east for a few days so I decided to head for pastures new and opted for the Moorfoot hills. I had thought about this round of hills last year but poor weather intervened, today the forecast was dry until mid afternoon.
Good to have a short drive for a change and I was ready to go from Gladhouse reservoir for 9.30, no other cars around. A clockwise circuit starting with Blackhope Scar.

The long mile, Bowbeat turbines ahead

The farm doesn't let you too close so a pleasant mile walk before I started my ascent just after the cottage. A horrible scarred track on the left, doubt permission was asked for that one. 

Route up Blackhope, ruined castle in middle

The grassy track up the flanks of Hirendean hill leads you past the ruined Hirendean castle. ( ‘Stravaiging around Scotland‘: Hirendean Castle is a ruined 16th century peel tower probably built by the Kerr family. Situated on the flattened top of a raised mound beside the Hirenden Burn, it is further protected by the River South Esk running to the west of it, and occupies a good defensive position when approached from the south, although it is overlooked by the Moorfoot Hills to the north).
The estate has signs asking you to keep to the tracks but this one leads you to a barbed wire fence leading to an awkward scramble over without tearing clothing. On the descent, which is the other side, i could see that if I had continued on the lower track for a couple of hundred metres there was a gate and the fence could be followed to rejoin this track. A curlew flies nearby calling trying to lead me away from its nest.

Typical rolling borders hills, turbines on Bowbeat

A short steep climb before it levels out The Kipps. Excellent views of the circuit. At first it seems it is going to descend but circles the hill.
Good views of Blackhope Scar straight ahead but it is a circuitous route to get there. Follow the estate atv tracks to the fence then follow this up to the trig, the highest point. The route is very boggy and wet in places. Skylarks and meadow pipits aplenty.

View from Blackhope, Pentlands on left, Arthurs Seat in middle, Fife beyond

From the trig the views are superb looking over all of Edinburgh, across to Fife and east to the Bass rock.
Cross over the fence junction once again following the faint path on this side of the fence. Much more boggy than before. Both mountain hares and grouse sprung just as I almost stepped on them. 

The track on flanks of Bowbeat

The second hill can't be missed, it is that wind turbine farm ahead.
A short descent then up on the construction track unless you really want to clamber through the heather on at the sides. Feel free but I walked the track to the highest turbine then wandered about the heather, the highest point and Donald number two, Bowbeat Hill. 

Looking back to Bowbeat hill from Dundreich track

Reminds me of Windy Standard without the trig. The sound of turbine blades cutting through the air surprisingly loud at times, might unnerve some.
Back across the moor to head for the furthest away turbine which sits beside the small building. After that back onto proper moor but there is an atv track. The non descript top from this angle can be seen. The track disappears so a rough heather moor plod takes me to the top where there is both a trig and a fair. 

Dundreich cairn and trig

Arguably the best views from the third Donald of the day, Dundreich. you can see why it might have been a hill fort.

Beautiful countryside views on the descent

The descent has the advantage of the full Pentlands ridge in view on your left. Once more follow the track and fence until the the reservoir can be seen, lots of boats on the water and a few vehicles beside my car. Turns out it was an outward bound company. Then head down to the farm cottage to take the mile walk back to the car.
A super day for the wildlife and apart from some workers at the wind farm nobody else met on the walk. Proper peace and quiet.

Wildlife: Pied wagtail, Blackbird, Stonechat, Mistle thrush, Rabbit, Peewit, Oystercatcher, Curlew, Woodpigeon, House Martin, Pheasant.
Mountain hare, Buzzard, Skylark, Meadow pipit, Small white butterfly, Speckled wood butterfly, Small Heath, Raven, Red grouse

Time: 4.10
Ascent: 1887m 635m
Distance: 11.16m 18.2km