A short walk to a Neolithic cairn.....Creigh Hill

Hill: Creigh Hill

Type: Sub2k

Height: 497m

On the way home from my short trip I wanted a quick up and down not too far off my journey. Additionally the forecast was for rain from lunchtime onwards. I decided on Creigh Hill from the lovely Backwater Reservoir. I had intended to do this a few years back when I did Hare Cairn on the other side of the reservoir but as I recall it had been a hot sweaty day and one hill had been enough.

Although it is only a minor hop and a skip hill it has the interesting attraction of being the site of a Neolithic cairn or two if you go to both tops.

I will never tire of driving around the Angus hills, it is a spectacular area and largely devoid of people. So, when I arrived at the parking area I was surprised to see half a dozen cars parked up and assumed it was a local walking group up on the same hills. But as I put my boots on I heard female voices laughing and screaming. Looked down to the reservoir to see a group wild swimming, good on them.

Good track to start with

There is an ATV track just beside the parking area, a climb over a fence and I was on my way. After a couple of minutes I came across a small sheep which did not run away but just watched me as I walked by. Later I reflected that this was the only sheep I had seen on the ramble, I wondered if it got missed at the round up and was now kinda lonely.

From that angle it looked as if the weather was going to break

Track no more

I followed the track, huffing and puffing until I reached a fence and a gate. Looking across to my summit there is a lot more heather than grass en route so I continued up a bit more before cutting across diagonally to reach a deer fence. I sprung a pair of grouse but thought I would have sprung more with the amount of heather around, maybe they have mostly been slaughtered. Awkward walking until near the top I stumbled across a narrow beaters track which took me to the fence.

I hoped that there would be a rough track of sorts beside the fence and that proved correct. Now it was a case of following the deer fence to the top. On my left were beautiful views of the patchwork hills in Glen Quharity & Glen Dye, no doubt a shooting estate. The rather large country pile I took to be Balintore Castle.

At a fence junction another clamber over and a short way up was the summit of Creigh Hill and the Neolithic burial chamber of Cairn Motherie. The cairn boulders have been rearranged over the years to create a walkers shelter. I understand that it has never been excavated but it is believed to be undamaged below ground and should contain deposits of whatever.

Excellent views of the Angus hills but some are covered in very low cloud and with the strong winds the clouds and rain look to be coming in this direction. Over the glen was Cat Law a Fiona I did way back.

Across the reservoir the trees heading for Hare Cairn have been deforested, I presume a track has been left through the debris.

There is a twin top about a kilometre away containing another burial chamber. If the weather had been better I would have tramped across the rough moor but not today, this north top is recognised as the true top and that was good enough for me.

This perspective makes the deer fence look like a wide track, it was not!

As I descended I could hear some stags briefly roaring across in the Glens but none to be seen.

I missed my beaters track so a rough heather plod got me back to the grassy section and the ATV track.

Sun broke out for about two  minutes turning the water blue. Car parked at the trees.

On the descent nice views over the reservoir and the large dam. It is a large bit of water which supplies Dundee and the surrounding areas with their supplies.

Overall another wee ramble that did as I hoped. The trees around the parking area were full of birds so a pleasant half hour listening and watching was a perfect end. Just that drive home!

Ascent: 203

Distance: 2.9k

Time: 1.22

Wildlife: Red Grouse; Buzzard; Coal Tit; Treecreeper; Robin; Meadow Pipit; Goldcrest; Dunnock; Chaffinch; Peewit 20+

Nae cairn on Hare Cairn, nor hares!!

Hill: Hare Cairn
Category: Sub2K
Height: 516m
Second Hill of the day so after a short drive I parked up at the car park at Backwater dam, I could claim another hill on the other side of the reservoir it time allowed. The place seemed busy but I assumed that this was normal with dog walkers but not at all. Turns out that a Great Grey Shrike, a very rare bird, was in the trees somewhere so all the twitchers were around. Only 3 in the UK at this moment in time.

Backwater reservoir I am heading to the end

A long walk along the side of the dam, 35 minutes or so of tarmac. But at times there were also side stretches of grass which took some of the pain out of it. Spoke to a few twitchers but only one had seen the Shrike.

The correct gate other one down to my left

Once onto the grass at the end of the loch I had a brief dilemma as there were two gates, one skirting the woods and the other right into them.

Good path mainly used as a circular walk of the reservoir

Studied the map and opted for the one right into the woods, right choice. A pleasant walk through the woods but not a sound of any birds.
I reached another gate which was now the end of the woods.

Finally ascending should have been a lot easier than reality

A left turn and it was time for the climb. I had considered the circuit including Creigh Hill but my legs said no particularly if I was going to do the walk with the Ayr group tomorrow.
I was not making the best progress up the hill, tiredness in the legs, not as fit as I used to be.
Even in my unfit state I was aware that this was a large deer fence that I was following, hoping and praying there was a gate, didn‘t fancy a climb. 

Gap in wire more helpful if had been at the bottom

I reached the fence junction and although there was no gate someone had cut a hole in the fence. Debated to leave the rucksac this side but too much stuff in it. Pushed it through then tried to get myself through, all good apart from the heel, need to get more flexibility, Pilates or Yoga?

Looking back typical terrain

The final walk to the trig made me indulge in my internal debate of was this last section worth the effort for another 20 metres of ascent to reach a trig and the high spot? Of course it was but the terrain was boggy moor and following the old fence plenty of old wire lying around to ensnare you.

Trig ahead on the cusp of another weather front

Roughly an hour 15 to the top. A cold wind and an ok view but not somewhere to linger. A trig was here but no sign of any cairn. I had also been looking but no sign of any hares if that indeed was what it was named after.

Angus hills on the descent

I simply retraced back the way I came, initially with a nice view down the hill to the lochan hidden away, wonder if it is a fishing water?

Burning grouse moors

Looking around and taking in the scenery the heather was burning on the moors, taking advantage of the lack of snow.

Nice reservoir Creigh hill on the distant left

But the track was taking its toll, these boots are not made for this terrain. Sore feet and calves.
Back at the dam and all the other cars had gone, maybe the Shrike had as well.

Wildlife: Grey Heron; Buzzard; Raven; Red Grouse; Meadow Pipit; Cormorant; Red Legged Partridge; Goldeneye.
Time: 2.37
Ascent: 775ft (255m)
Distance: 6.45m (10.8km)