Fifty Up on Blairdenon Hill

Hill: Blairdenon Hill 
Category: Donald
Height: 631m
Well once again the salmon failed to show in my mid river beat, annoyingly the lower river beats did very well yesterday, curses.
So on the road back I decided to visit this isolated Ochil hill, classed as a Donald. Because of its location it is tended to be climbed on its own. I debated whether to start at Sheriffmuir or Menstrie before opting for Menstrie.
This route is in the SMC book but I could not find any reports starting from here so should I be worried?
A cracking autumn morning so eager to get walking. Since the SMC book was written there has been new housing built around the start, easy to confuse me but I did find the track I wanted.

Good track, Dumyat ahead

Ochil walkers know that these hills go up steeply from the start and this one  was no different but the advantage of this route is that the start gate leads onto a farm track that zig zags up the hill to the 230m contour, handy. Easy peasy, not quite but a lot better than some starts. I followed the track which is a good gradient for about 1.6 miles. Dumyat looks good in the crisp blue sky to my left hand side as I ascend.

You can see the grassy path going uphill to the left

The end of the track for me is just here so go through a deer fence gate, thankfully no climbing and then the track crosses over the First Incha Burn. 

The reason all these scarred tracks are here

Almost immediately veer right onto the obvious grassy track heading through the new tree plantations. Wet and boggy but follow this, crossing another estate track, and basically keep climbing to Colsnaur Hill (558m) the bulk of the climbing now done. Great view looking back and to the north.

View from Colsnaur to Blairdenon

Blairdenon is now topped with cloud hopefully blowing away soon.
Straightforward walk with no navigation issues as there is a track on the left of the dyke and fence which becomes just a fence across Menstrie Moss. 

Boggy Menstrie moor

The downside is the walk from Colsnaur to the Old Wharry Burn is extremely wet and boggy. No point trying to bypass the bog, just wade on through and guess who had forgotten to pack his gaiters, wet trousers the result.

The very small cairn Blairdenon

Leave the fence for the final ascent and pick the best path through the terrain and when you meet up with the fence that’s the top. Hop over the fence to the small pile of stones, the summit. Two hours to the top.
The bowl of Glen Turret with Ben Chonzie on one side and Auchnafree Hill on the other looks magnificent. 

Enjoy the views Lossburn reservoir

As always on these hills you are never alone and I had a couple of blethers with other walkers.

Descending the grassy track

Views excellent and despite my initial concerns this was as straightforward a route as I have walked recently.

Scarred track back to Alva

Back the same way, that’s now 50 Donalds completed, deserves a beer I reckon. 

Wildlife: Magpie; Red Legged Partridge; Red Grouse; Raven; Red Kite; Meadow Pipit, Wood Pigeon; Dunnock.
Time: 3.52
Ascent: 791m
Distance: 14.5km

Up to see the hame of Macbeth on route to Kings Seat

Hill: Dunsinane and King's Seat, Collace
Category: Sub2k
Height: 377m

On my way to another fishing trip I had a look at nearby hills and this caught my attention. I wanted to climb Kings Seat but it had the added bonus of initially climbing the hill fort reputed to be Macbeth's. Was this really the hill fort where he was brought down by Malcolm? Legend says yes but nobody can say for certain other than there was a fort here, indeed two the original probably another very early Pictish one. 

Dunsinane Hill to the right

Dunsinane is famed as the location of Macbeth's castle in Shakespeare's play, where it was predicted that he would never vanquished be, until Great Birnam Wood to high Dunsinane shall come against him. 
If the prophecy of the Three Witches was correct legend implied Malcolms men cut down trees from Birnam to disguise themselves. Maybe but Birnam is quite a few miles away surely there would be closer woods!!

Start

Still enough of that time for a walk. The initial wee hill climb up Dunsinane Hill to the fort had my calves complaining and a sweat dripping not a good sign, MacBeths doing. 

Kings Seat small point in distance

Short sections of jaggy gorse to get through, painful.
Still soon there and there are good views, if you ignore the quarry, but much better from Kings Seat, why was that not a fort?

The way ahead from Dunsinane cairn

Leaving the hill you have to descend 70 metres to the bottom to climb up Black Hill. A faint track winds its way up but the coos use this too and from the pats they are nearby, on alert.
Good views looking back to Dunsinane Hill.

Small mast no more estate track after this

There is a small sub station up here as well as plenty of dead heather. Another walk across a grouse moor without seeing or hearing one.
After this the terrain deteriorates big stile, faint tracks but mostly overgrown heather and boggy moor, hard walking but I can see my target at least a mile away.
I also spot the coos, a much larger head and with calves. Thankfully they were on the moor to my side so I did not have to walk through them.
This really was tough walking until I met a track after Little Dunsinane. This grassy track leads you along the high ground passing very dilapidated grouse butts below on the left. It runs parallel to the trig where you now have to take a line and clamber through more heather and moor upwards to the trig. This is clearly not a frequently visited hill.

Looking back to Dunsinane from Kings Seat

As promised the views are extensive and on a clearer day would show beyond the Angus hills and more. Although the masts on Craiglow are clearly seen. The predicted heavy rain had missed me but it was passing close by on both flanks so no time to linger.
The coos had now moved in to ambush me on the return track so I decided to head for the Broch on the map and contour round the hills.

Follow Coo track around the hill

What appeared to be a track looking down from Kings Seat turned out to be the route the main body of cattle used, it was a muddy boggy route, as you can imagine deep muddy holes, the joys.

Follow dyke ground was rough walking

I headed across the pathless moor, swamp grass my height at times, to reach an old dyke which I then followed, not without difficulty back round the hills. Of course once you see your destination the last half mile or so was probably the most awkward terrain.

Saw these that had been pecked not sure which bird laid these

Still back on the cattle track I met up with the ascent trail and back to the car just as the rains arrived. Just two miles away on my drive back the roads were mini rivers I was very lucky to be dry.
That's number 90 in this category, should get to the ton by the end of the year.
A short sharp walk with a bit of interesting history thrown in. I just hope the salmon are in good form tomorrow.

Wildlife: Snipe, meadow pipit, skylark, red admiral
Time: 1.59
Ascent: 954ft 
Distance: 4.17m 

Speyside Way Buckie to Fochabers

Walk: Speyside Way Buckie - Fochabers
Long distance trail
Height: n/a
An interesting day which definitely comes into the category of a walk of two halves, the first being by far the most scenic and interesting.
I had never visited Buckie before so another tick in my places of Scotland. We had scenic drive through the Moray Whisky countryside before arriving at a very blustery Buckie.
A great traditional bakers near the square armed us with freshly made rolls and local fudge and off we went.

Walk goes right here at Yardie

From the sea front you immediately realise this is a unique place with the old fishermen’s cottages, the area is called Yardie.

Drying areas

The drying greens between them and the water, some with clothes twisting and turning trying to get off those pegs, good drying weather at least.
There is a long section of housing on one side and the wild seas on the other. This area was the original fishing village of Buckpool. The houses are looking tired and the inland view is a bit run down. Most of the houses look unoccupied, holiday homes most likely.

Portgordon barometer

You continue through the area of Buckpool before reaching the small harbour of Portgordon built by the Duke of Gordon some small craft in the water. In 1859 a barometer was installed for the fishermen, this is a replica. Sadly a few days after our visit a man was rescued from the water but died.
The walk is still a mixture of grassy beachside and road walking.
We turned a corner and there was a travellers campsite on the path directly ahead, dogs barking and straining on their leashes, thankfully tied up but still we head onto the road.

Waves show how windy it was

We get good views of a dozen or so large grey seals hauled up on the shingle. We are spotted by some and stay our distance to not disturb them.

Old railway line

Finally, about 3 miles into the walk the housing has ended but the walk also leaves the shore heading inland on the old railway line. A straight line to the trees before it twists and turns and enters a wooded section for a few miles.
Glimpses of the golf course through the trees, it looks in good condition, need to play it sometime.

Spey bay estuary

Finally some country roads and we head to Spey bay for the impressive ice-house where the ice was stored for packing locally caught salmon years ago. This road also take us to the Dolphin centre at Spey Bay, none in sight but I do get my first sighting of the mighty river Spey which accompanies this trail. 

Not many salmon around now for the Osprey

Lunch round the back out of the wind before admiring the Osprey sculpture.
Now part two of which not a lot to be said as almost all of it is a woodland/forest tramp of about 5 miles with minimal views unless you like looking at trees.

Finally get a brief glimpse of the Spey

At times you can hear the Spey but to see it you need to clamber up the embankments.
Initially the farmer baling his grass was an interesting accompaniment, amazing machines and the birds were around singing like it was spring, the weather was good enough. But when I entered the trees proper it was silence. 

Sole angler

A walk is never bad but this tramp was becoming a touch dull until the Spey is met again albeit briefly, only one angler spotted. Had its company for around half mile or so before woodland again until this walk ended at Fochabers.
I was glad to get to the Baxters visitor centre for coffee and cake.
Glad I walked it but cannot see me repeating it.

Wildlife: Kestrel; Buzzard; Roe Deer; Goldfinch; Black backed gull; Herring Gull; Cormorant:; Stonechat; Curlew; Wren; Wood pigeon; Redshank; Grey Seal; Yellowhammer.

Time: 3.29
Ascent: 272ft 
Distance: 10.7m 

A Cromdale history lesson on Creagan a' Chaise

Hill: Creagan a' Chaise (Small crag of the cheese?)
Category: Graham
Height: 722m
I was looking for something different for my last walk from Aviemore and when I came across this it met my days objectives and more:

• Somewhere new
• Excellent views
• History included
• Potential new wildlife
• A visitors book!!

I parked at the Cromdale sports ground, public WC at the playing fields if required.

Road to the Castle

Walked up the road beside the (abandoned) Haughs hotel and headed straight up to the sign for Lethendry Castle. One of the cairns can be seen clearly as the clouds are lifting from the tops to create a splendid viewing day. 

Castle ruins

As you can see there little left of the Castle but for historic importance to have stood in this place and use your imagination at what happened at the castle and on the nearby moors. Apparently one of the first recorded use of grenades in warfare.
In 1690 the Jacobite guards at the castle were bypassed by the Government army who charged the Jacobite infantry which numbered somewhere between 800-1200 or so. The government forces including cavalry charged, killing over 400 and taking over 100 prisoner. The survivors fled up the hill, more of this later.
This is a grouse shooting estate as well as livestock so a good path takes you up and around the trees. I thought I had to pass a large bull but thankfully there was a small fence between us.

Looking down on the battlefield

The track bends round and then takes a right turn onto the moor proper just before the Piper’s Stone.
There is a slightly muddy path that is well used to service the nearby gun butts that line the hill. 

Coronation cairn

Just keep heading up the heather clad flanks until the cairn comes into sight. You see it a long way off as this is a biggie. It is the Coronation cairn built on the site of a huge bonfire in 1902 to mark the coronation of Edward & Alexandria. 

Looking across the moor to the summit

From this cairn the second cairn and true top can be seen just over a mile away.  Also I spot a golden eagle slowly rising on a thermal, got a snap to confirm, but clear from the large wings held forward.
Heading across the boggy moor top I was glad I had kept my gaiters on. Not the worst but lots of water and gloopy bits. The views ahead of the Cairngorms are stunning in this clear light and I am sure that is the white hotel in Aviemore far away.
I am also keeping my eyes open for sight of the reindeer herd that live on these hills. I saw tracks in the soft mud and clear trails across the grassy slopes but disappointingly no sighting today.

Jubilee Cairn

The second cairn and trig is reached, the summit of Creagan a’Chaise. This cairn is for Victoria’s Jubilee. 

Surprise Malt

On the south side I find the opening with the visitors book but surprised to also find a bottle of Glenlivet and a note telling you to have a swig after signing the book. A bit early in the day but I cannot refuse.
A honking makes me look up and huge skein of geese are flying high heading south, early arrivals.

High level walk to 2nd graham, Ben Rinnes on right

After soaking in the fantastic views it is a return back to the Coronation cairn. There is an option to continue this as a high level ridge walk to take in a second Graham but it looks too much for today to get back to my car within my time limits. Two ravens appear to do a bonding flight, thought that was a spring thing but it was impressive stuff.

Pipers Stone

On the way down I stop at the two trees standing in isolation with a large stone. This is the Pipers Stone where a wounded piper (Hugh or Hamish) fled the massacre and played on top of this boulder as a rallying call to the fleeing Jacobites, until he died from his wounds. A poignant and beautiful spot to reflect on our history.
I decided to circular back to the car and almost a mistake. As I cleared the trees I spotted the coos with their youngsters across the track at a feeding station. It was a long way back so I walked on, the youngsters scattered but a few females made a slight charge then stopped. Heart in mouth I kept going and boy was I glad to scale the fence. That night I read about a woman trampled to death by a herd of coos!!
A very warm walk, our Indian autumn, and as I passed a woodland a huge flock of chaffinch were coming through the trees, winter migrants along with the geese? 

Speckled Wood

Plus my first sighting of a speckled wood butterfly, actually a few around.
A red squirrel comes close and makes me smile as it leaps from tree to tree, having a look down to see if I was still watching, yip.
Back to the car and a huge roar above me and two fighters were doing similar acrobatics to the ravens. Slow speed twists and turns for a few minutes before formation flying north, back to Lossiemouth base I presume. 
What a sight and what an ending to an excellent and very different walk, just a pity those reindeer never showed.

Plaque at Kirk

Finished with a visit to Cromdale Kirk which was a lookout post. When the troops crossed the river the church bells rang an alarm but it was not heard, a plaque is situated here.

Wildlife: Buzzard; Golden Eagle; Red Squirrel; Raven; Wren; Meadow Pipit; Skylark; Chaffinch; Speckled Wood butterfly.
Time: 4.16
Ascent: 625m
Distance: 17.1km

A breezy jaunt up The Convals

Hill: Little & Meikle Conval

Category: Sub2K

Height:

Before the good lady arrived I took the opportunity of ticking off The Convals, which I have had my beady eye on since ascending their big brother, Ben Rinnes. Some believe the hills are linked with Rinnes as Conval can be broken down into ‘con, with or besides’ and ‘val, another way of Meall, hill’.

At least a track on side of road

It is a bit of a roadside walk from Dufftown, cannot go wrong just follow the Tomintoul road. If I was doing it again I would pop into Duffton golf club, plenty of parking and say to them that I would pop in on my way back for refreshments.

The track I missed Meikle in view

There are various signs pointing out The Convals walk so I expected one pointing the cut off track but wrong again. A bit further along the road I suspected I was too far, map out, yip backtrack.

Again from my memory of the description I thought there was a better track, nope. Up this one, hop into a field, just sheep, over another gate then a fence which thankfully had some light wrapping over the barbed wire. Whew now on a track.

Bleak moor and pylons

Follow this up and do not deviate unless you want a deer fence to cross. I wondered why I saw quite a few pheasants, feeding stations for the slaughter en route.

If you see the two pylons you are on track but this is a bleak moorland view today. However as both hills clearly in sight the junction cannot be far away.

Little Conval

A right turn and I followed the obvious track all the way up the steep hill to Little Conval with good views opening up to your right towards the Moray coast. A breezy day and the gusts were trying to knock me over.

From Little Conval both Meikle & Ben Rinnes

Still it did not take long until I reached the summit. Plenty of rocks strewn around, many of which would belong to the iron age fort, most of whose ruins are down the hillside in the direction of Dufftown.

Now simply a case of back down the same way I ascended looking directly at the twin Meikle Conval and also there is a spot of blue sky above Rinnes, weather improving.

Rocks indicate moor path to Meikle

Although Meikle is slightly the higher of the two the gradient is much kinder than Little Meikle. The track is good lower down but gets boggier as you ascend but no difficulty. The grouse are rising and confirming it is a shooting estate no raptor seen today.

Meikle top to Ben Rinnes

When you crest the top there is a small stone marker in the grass, surely not the top, I continued for a few minutes then a small cairn, now I am at the top of the hill.

Lovely countryside

Take in the all round views and also note the very dark skies over to the west, the wind is blowing it this way so down.

I took the faint grassy track heading east and as hoped it became a bit more of a conventional but narrow route. Pretty slippy so on the grass a lot.

Track to the road

Meet up with the shooting track and take in the excellent countryside views as you descend.

Mortlach Kirk

Again a tedious road walk back and past the turn in spot before taking the right minor road which is a tranquil walk back to Dufftown. I stop at the historic Mortlach Church, the original kirk originating from the 700’s, some of this one from the 12th century..

I was surprised how quick the walk was considering the apparent distance and terrain covered. A nice walk.

Wildlife: Stoat; Wren; House Martin; Meadow Pipit; Pheasant; Red Grouse.

Time: 3.01

Ascent: 812m

Distance: 13.1k

Bynack More a gentle Munro

Hill: Bynack More
Category: Munro
Height: 1090m

The weather improved enough for us to be optimistic that our high level walk could take place today after yesterdays disappointment. However, the Met office predicted potential 40 mph gusts and wind-chill factor of minus 5 on the summit, fun ahead. Ayr & Districts trip to Aviemore was the outing.
Grey skies and strong winds when we got underway from the Alt Mor car park.
A walk through the pines to meet up with the Glenmore Lodge track with the bonus of a good close sighting of a red squirrel.

Is that helicopter for us?

A sudden loud noise above as the rescue helicopter came flying up the track, not looking for us we hoped.

The colour was better viewed from other angles

The famous Green Lochan was reached and distinctly green coloured was the water but only from certain angles.

Start of Lairig an Laoigh track

The beauty of this rugged countryside starts to unfold as we turn right and head up the track following the route of the Lairig an Laoigh.

Bynack More just in sight from coffee stop

Food break taken and the sight of Bynack More on the left as we look up the track winding its way up the hill with our target peaking through, what a sight.
The climbing gradient is gentle for a Munro but the wind is blustery and letting us know what is potentially waiting for us.
Making good time we reach the plateau with very strong winds at times but grey skies ahead but blue sky back towards the north, which will win out?

Bynack More from plateau

When we take the right turn the majestic top of Bynack More is in our sight, just one steep section left.
As we ascend the narrow track the wind tries its best to knock us over, hands on at times we make our way upwards.

The steep final climb

We kept to the lee side to miss the worst of the winds and then hit the boulder top where avoiding the gusts trying to knock us off our feet was the first priority.

Summit looking north

Finally the cairn is reached and despite the greyness the views are extensive and superb. Cairngorm top itself, the tors of Ben Avon and the views over the Moray countryside.

Lunch looking over the marshy plains

With the strong wind the priority was to get off the top to find a sheltered spot for lunch allowing us to take in the panorama of the Cairngorm plateau, majestic. However after only a few minutes of gloves off my fingers were stinging, yip early September and it is freezing cold.

Good view of the shepherds hill on descent

The return was by the same route with the temperature rising as we descended, taps off!!
An excellent walk in super company another super walking day.

Wildlife: Red squirrel; Meadow pipit; Stonechat; a skein of geese (no idea which type).
Time: 6.37
Ascent: 2708ft (m)
Distance: 14.19m (km)