Nae deer at all on this short outing.....The Buck (of Cabrach)

Hill: The Buck (Male Deer)

Type: Graham

Height: 721m

Not a lot to be said about this walk as it is as straightforward as they come for a Graham hill.

Weather was mainly blue skies but very windy and still unseasonably chilly.

The first trick was to find the minor road of the B9002 just beyond Lumsden if travelling north.

The second trick was which minor parking area (scrape at side of road) you should pull up at.

The top peeking out from the start

Climbed a broken fence and followed a faint grassy track to meet another fence which I assumed was the one to lead me to the summit.

At this fence, another broken down one, but with barbed wire to negotiate.

After that there is a faint track which at times was very boggy but keeping the fence on my right good progress was made.

Now no dramas, no navigation, no nothing except a steady plod heading for the summit of the Buck.

The going does get better underfoot on the upper slopes.

Hurrah top in sight. A mini tor (rocky outcrop) with a slightly awkward balancing moment to touch the top of the trig.

The views are very pleasant, good but not spectacular. Mile after mile of grouse moors or mile after mile of farmland. There are the odd local hills popping up like the Tap O’Noth which we did last year.

The slightly snow topped Cairngorm hills can just be seen but too far away to have any impact.

One reason to do this climb is from a historical viewpoint. I found the slab with the three interlocking carved fish in Pictish style. It is listed as an ancient monument but to my eye it looked too structured to be historical Pictish art but you never know.

From the top I descended the same way, met another walker and had a chat, a local, before back to the car.

A mornings escape from the good lady and an enjoyable short ramble.

Ascent: 331m

Distance: 3.6km

Time: 1.03

Wildlife: Skylark; Meadow Pipit