Another case of find the trig.....Fourman Hill

Hill: Fourman Hill (The joining point of 4 landowners)

Type: Sub2k

Height: 344m

Bagging Sub2k’s don’t really get more straightforward than this.

I originally intended to bag a different hill today but with heavy rain forecast I chose an easier and quicker option. If I had more time I would have started at Bogniebrae where there is parking across from the Bognie Arms hotel.

Instead I drove up the single track to its end at the abandoned cottage just after Wellbog. Who doesn’t like a white walled cottage with a red roof? The word bog seems to be a common feature around here.

The map shows the route going through a wood but in reality it was an open deforested section and then flanked the new plantings.

This was an interesting sign at the beginning, had there been an accident or was it a local dispute?

After the first section there was a choice of grass tracks and after sum humming and hawing including having a look at one section that looked like a deforested fire break, not attractive. I chose the right hand one which proved to be the correct option.

Climbing up the track there were good views down to the river Deveron, I wonder how many salmon have been caught in there this year? Definitely none today as no fishing on a Sunday.

Beside the track I noticed a deer fence had been erected to surround the newly planted stuff but what was more interesting was just how many trees had grown on the other side of the fence, natural woodland regeneration! Save the government subsidies and savings for us tax payers if more natural regeneration was encouraged.

The vehicle track came to an abrupt stop at a fence but to my right I spotted a narrow trail in the heather. Following it I spotted the trig, outside of the fence but slowly being hidden by the growing trees. In a few years it will be a case of find the trig but at least it was not inside the deer fence. There was meant to be a small cairn around marking the historical boundary between the parishes of Huntly and Rothiemay but I couldn’t find it.

I also liked the following description:

A pretty eminent hill so called from the fact that it is the property of four Proprietors all of which, it is said, could dine on one table on the top of the hill and each proprietor seated on his own land.

This switched on the lightbulb and got me wondering if that was where it got it's name from in which case it would have been called something else at the time of the Roman Fort located nearby. Another case of an OS changing the name of our landscape.

Knock Hill on right

The views were described as one of the best views NE of Huntly. On a grey day like this they were extensive but lacked detail with another and different perspective of Knock Hill for me today.

The descent was a better viewing experience particularly over the green countryside patchworked with fields of cut straw. I don’t think I have ever seen so many bales of hay spread over a countryside. With the droughts down south these farmers will be making a fortune for this winter feed.

Another short ramble and another bag. Only disappointment was the minimal wildlife.

Raindrops are now being felt on my head so good timing.

Ascent: 123m

Distance: 2.6km

Time: .45

Wildlife: Meadow Pipit; Robin