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