A pleasant low level ridge walk.....Pressendye

Hill: Pressendye (Copse of the fire)

Type: Graham

Height: 619m

Just as well I got some walking done last week as the forecast was correct and the weather had changed for the worst with torrential rain predicted for a few days. Plus, the good lady has made an appearance for a couple of days so any walking would have to be a hill with tracks. This area is full of shooting estates so there was a chance of finding one we hadn't done before. A search pulled another rabbit out of the hat, the Graham Pressendye. 

Luckily the weather had relented yesterday and we had a stunning walk right into the heart of Glen Ey, simply majestic, but her hip was sore so hopefully this gentle hill will be fine.

As it turned out when morning broke she was still in pain so some shopping was her therapy. I was given a mornings freedom. Weather forecast was for rain by 1pm so hopefully I would be up and down by then and join her for coffee and cake in Ballater.

A scenic drive to the start point at Tarland, a small place which also hosts a number of MTB trails. The village square was deserted, it felt weird but a very nice village.

Leave the road and cross grass heading for gap

Pleasant green area with blue marker so on the right track

Within a minute takes you back to the road you left, weird!

I followed the Walkhighlands route. Bizarrely it directs you across a grassy area behind some houses, very pleasant, but shortly brings you out on the road you left!!

Chimney Sweeper moth

After that a 40 minute road walk which was pleasant as very little traffic. The verge was full of active birds and butterflies and the views were good so no hardship. I thought I was seeing a common blue butterfly but realised it was a moth, snapped anyway. Delighted to find that it was a Chimney Sweeper, a first for me.

Off the road but don't go to Boultonstone

The walk is a marked trail, there are many here and mine was the blue one. Road section ends after West Davoch farm where I followed the small track signposted 'Boultonstone', it was humid and the flies were circling my face. 

Easy to miss the cut off marker into the field

Into a field which thankfully only contained sheep before going into a wood. The trees were well spaced so not gloomy and now climbing.

Exited the trees and onto the moor still climbing this time through a new plantation which will cause problems at some future stage.

After that it is a long ridge walk firstly reaching Broom Hill. The views are good of a typical east coast hillscape, mostly rolling patchwork hills with the odd biggie sticking out. 

Todays close biggie was the Corbett Morven, memories of a good walk last year.

On the ridge at Broom Hill, Pressendye ahead

A surprising 100m descent before the long climb to Pressendye but all on good tracks through the heather. A large deer fence alongside which I hope not to have to climb.

Big cairn, normal trig, Pressendye summit

Summit reached in 2 hours, where there sits a very large cairn on one side of the small fence and a trig on the other. It is a stand alone hill and although there could be extensive views the haze reduces it today for the southern biggies eg no Lochnagar. 

Looking back to Broom Hill with Morvern behind

I did recognise both The Buck and Cooks Cairn to the north and to the west Morvern along with another conquest from last year Mona Gowan.

The rain clouds were gathering in the distance so time to descend. Firstly straightforward heading for the woods containing the top of Pittendreich (red marker) then still flanking the edge of the woods keep looking out for blue signs, they are not always obvious.

Finally out of the pine woods

Alongside some mature tress a hut is reached and the main track turns left going uphill. That didn't seem right so I kept going onto a bare grassy track. The track was really just a dog walkers section now and I had my doubts but a small blue strip was tacked to a tree so on I went.

Light at the end of the stunning tree tunnel but where are the coos?

I reached another tree lined section, quite picturesque and dramatic. About half way along very fresh coo pats followed by more. Odd as it was big crop fields on either side, waist high barley or whatever, where had the coos come from. More pats and I reached a small wooden bridge with a dirt crossroads. No more coo pats so I can only assume a lone wanderer had escaped from a nearby field.

Ringlet, first of the year

Exited the track onto another minor road which led me back to sleepy Tarland, still not many folk around.

Not a walk that will stick long in the memory except for realising I had dropped my sunglasses somewhere on the descent. Some lucky beggar will get an expensive pair of Bolle's!! Still a pleasant enough outing and good timing as the rain was threatening when I changed at the car. 

Ascent: 603m

Distance: 15.1km

Time: 3.19

Wildlife: Wood pigeons numerous; Meadow Pipit; Tree Sparrow; Buzzard; Wheatear; Red Kite; Red Stag 20+; Ringlet butterfly; Meadow Brown;