On the search for wild pussycats.....Hill of the Wangie

Hill: Hill of the Wangie (Wangie is apparently an ancient name for wildcats but as expected no sightings on my ramble today)

Type: Sub2k

Height: 319m

My 2nd hill of the day was another wee Sub2k to help test whether my poor leg was recovering as hoped.

The hill lies NE of Dallas but not the famed American oil Capital but a lesser known Moray hamlet called Dallas, no drilling rigs spotted but plenty of wind turbines.

Hill of the Wangie is a Forestry Commission pine plantation with a typical undergrowth of heather, bilberry, ferns and mosses. There is a good network of logging tracks many of which are used by mountain bikers.

Parked up and as I exited the car the mooing from over the adjacent hedge was so loud it made me jump and I wondered if a coo was about to crash through it. A gentle peak over a nearby gate where about half a dozen large cows stood very close, looking my way along with unconcerned calves lying chewing the cud. For this time of the year I was surprised at how many fields had new born calves. Need to ask farmer John the next time I see him. I knew from the route description that I had to walk through a field and now I was wondering what might be in that field.

Open gate = no beasties

Sauntered up through the trees until I could see an open gate ahead, at least there would be no animals in the field. From the droppings there had been sheep here recently.

Back into the forest I was on a good trail when I came across the barrier of trees blown over by the recent storm. Some inelegant crawling to get past them. They wouldn't be the last.

Take the high road

Nice and peaceful. Further on I came to a junction, the right one appeared to be descending so go left young man.

Vibrant green fields of Dallas

Easier to negotiate this lot

Stopped every so often to listen and spot the birds. Some good ones today including my rarely seen Great Spotted Woodpecker and actually got a snap of a Treecreeper.

I spotted a couple of possible tracks to break off and head uphill but opted to go a little further. The one I chose did not look too enticing and had probably been a forestry machine as too wide for a quad. Not the best walking underfoot as the track was hidden and full of debris. I kept going until almost at the top where I stumbled across the MTB track. A lot better than what I had used.

Sadly this track only lasted for a minute before I reached the open deforested area. The usual scene of landscape devastation. But where was the trig? Moved on a bit then spotted it over to my left.

Careful walking trying not to trip and do some damage. At the trig not much to see as mostly surrounded by trees. There was an open area looking south which I think is the Hill of Mulundy but as always it was the wind turbines that caught my eye.

Much better track

Headed back to find the MTB track and followed this all the way back to the main track. No obvious bike tread markings so I doubt that this is much used if at all these days.

A pair of Jays screeched and flew across the path disappearing into the deep of the plantation, neither to be seen or heard again this trip.

Ben Rinnes is under a bit of cloud

It was a pleasant stroll back to the car but I was aware of my injury so time to call it a day and hopefully live to ramble again tomorrow.

Ascent: 126m

Distance: 5.6km

Time: 1.36

Wildlife: Coal Tit; Blackbirds; Redwing; Goldcrest; Long Tailed Tit; Great Spotted Woodpecker; Treecreeper; Jay;