Hill:
Hill of Wirren (The hill of the springs)
Type:
Fiona
Height:
678m
For a few weeks I
had lost my mojo for hillwalking thus enjoyed a month or so doing other
things including a couple of away trips with the good lady. “Strange
holidays” she commented at the end of the last one, “no hills
involved”. Still we had enjoyable low level rambles, pubs and quite
a few unexpectedly good meals. So overweight and having had enough of
each other I decided to have a short break and get a couple of small
hills ticked off.
The
weather in our so called summer is still poor but the forecast
suggested east was best, normally it is but as it turned out not this time.
I
got within 4 miles of my walk start point when I was inconvenienced by a succession of minor
roads with closed ahead signs. I followed detour signs for a while until they
disappeared when I was going well away from where I wanted to be. The
sat nav had taken the huff and given up just telling me to go back. A rat run of minor country roads ensued. No idea where I was most
of the time but after around 10 miles of self guided detour my sat
nav decided to become friendly again and took me to the start of the
walk. Close by I passed a sign saying road closed ahead. If I had
continued on my original route I would have ended here without the
detour, a few sweary words followed.
 |
| Abandoned school surprised it has not been turned into a private home. |
 |
| Typical Angus moorland grouse hill with landscape scarred of course |
I
parked up at the old school in Bridgend of Lethnot, an atv was
passing and knowing this was a grouse moor I asked the driver if any
shooting was on today. Thankfully the reply was negative, not
exactly a friendly type, maybe thought I was a hunt saboteur on a
recce or just did not like walkers.
The
walk started with a steep road leading up to a couple of houses where at the
first house dogs were going mental when they heard me, glad they were
in cages.
The
track splits into three and it is a case of take your pick as any of
these as all go up to the Hill of Wirren but in the case of the right
hand turn quite an extra distance.
I
wanted no hassle so the middle route looked the most straightforward
on the map.
 |
| Manmade reservoir and Hill of Wirren ahead on left |
Just
me and the sheep until a small hydro reservoir was reached, pretty, in a nice
setting, circles breaking the water, small fish or just a hatch?
In
the distance the hills were gaining a cloud shroud but down here it
was muggy and I was perspiring.
 |
| Y junction ahead left for me |
Not
a lot to say about 2/3rds of the walk, simply followed the
uncomfortable for walking stony estate track until nearer the top it
becomes more peaty and there is a left or right option. Plenty of
grouse were flushed as I ascended, maybe their death sentence is
still to come.
 |
| Butts disappearing in the cloud |
I
went left, the more direct route to the top. The cloud had descended
and short term visibility was fine but it was cold.
Climbed
over a gate onto the moor. There is a track of sorts which brought me
to aircraft wreckage strewn over a small area. This was the remains
of an American Liberator bomber where amazingly 2 of the 9 crew
survived the impact. I wonder if the soft peat ground was a factor in their
survival?
 |
| Go left here |
After
that an animal track headed for a large peat hag after which which I then
went cross country and aimed for the gate higher up in the distance. I knew
that the trig was on the other side so easier to climb over the
double fence at this point, a peat hag channel makes it more messy
further up.
A
short moorland crossing and the trig was reached, in the light cloud
and nae views. Even on a good day this would be a wet place as its name suggests. I should have had good views of Mount Keen amongst
others but not to be. I was in between two glens but no sign of Glen Esk from here.
Had
it been a clearer viewing day I would have made it a circular ramble
via East Wirren but the rain had started and I could not be bothered
so took the easy option to retrace steps. It would have been interesting as I read that there is also a trig on East Wirren, very unusual to have two trigs on the same hill.
 |
| View of descent with reservoir top centre |
The
descent was sorer on the feet than the ascent, glad I had heavier
soled boots on. Plus I had a light rain in my face all the way to the
car, so much for the better weather forecast. I was surprised to hear the spot a pair of ravens. These Angus estates have a very bad reputation for killing anything that might interfere with grouse numbers.
 |
| Perfect for honey ale! |
Back at
the reservoir I was taking a snap of theses geese when below me a flock of
over 30 Peewits took off. Great to see as these are now becoming
endangered
and I cannot remember seeing so many at once for a few years.
On reflection a straightforward ramble that would have been a better ramble as a circular and
of course I missed the good lady but survived on my own!
Ascent:
552m
Distance:
12.8km
Time:
3.16
Wildlife:
Roe deer (hind); Wheatear; Buzzard; Raven; Red Grouse; Peewit; Greylag Geese
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