The big one turned out to be a wee one after all....Meall Mor Angus

Hill: Meall Mor Angus
Category: Sub2k
Height: 561m
We headed north to Pitlochry for the Banff outdoor film festival, awesome stuff as always.
So the next day, the good lady’s treat, on a lovely day was a short hill walk to get up this remote Marilyn. Nice and easy was the orderof the day and this was just that
I parked at the entrance to a forestry track, enough room for a few cars without blocking the main route.

Easy gradient through the woods

The track is a nice steady walk through the trees with the birds singing at the top of the pines. A large buzzard slowly took off just in front of us gliding through the pines. This stretch is obviously a wind tunnel from the amount of fallen trees but only on one side!
Before long it reaches a gate to the moorland. There is a temptation to take the track inside the fence but avoid that unless you want to climb the deer fence later.

Heading for the hump up there

Slightly further on there is a faint path/atv track going through the heather. Iced up at times so care required but even with this minimal heat and weak sun insects were coming off the heather as we disturbed the growth. Surprising times.

A gentle ascent

There is a short hill ahead, ‘a mountain’ came the grumbles from behind. A zig zag through the heather taking care as there was a lot of ice hidden below the heather.

Ice coat

 The plants were coated as well.
Soon a wall is reached at the top which required a little effort climbing over. The rocks were icy and you know who mumbled away but over we got and on we went.
The little heat had gone it was a bitter wind but the open countryside was full of interest.

Wrong side of the wall

Continued along the wall letting it break the windchill, almost stood on a grouse, heart attack time as shot out of the heather. 
The cairn was soon reached but to get to it the wall had to be climbed again and it was a lot bigger here. The good lady refused until I told her a few steps more and the views were much better. The things we have to do as a walk leader!
Once again a small hill standing isolated really delivers far more views than could be expected.

Mount Blair behind the cairn

Right in front was Mount Blair, last time I came up it from the other side but got no views from the top. 

Eastern Munros light snow

Today we can see through to the Glenshee Munros which had a covering of snow but not a lot really for this time of year. Meyer & Dreish even less white stuff but still looking good.
Schiehallion to our left looked a lot whiter as did the Lawer range further on. 

Nice lochan below, it was iced over

Along with all the local stuff nearby even the good lady was glad to be here. 
Even happier when we made the descent and headed off Braemar for coffee and cake.
The day had an even more spectacular finish. As we drove back darkness fell but the sky was spectacularly red. From here it looked as if the Aussie forest fires had arrived behind the Vrackie hills. 

Red sky appearing

Just stunning and another great day with a short hill walk that very few people will do but that is there miss. Long live the wee hills.

Wildlife: Blue Tit; Buzzard; Red Grouse; Pheasant.
Time: 1.51
Ascent: 630ft 
Distance: 2.06m