Cunbrae at least it is a walk

Walk: Isle of Cumbrae
Category: Other walk

This weather has been doing my head in, three walks cancelled in the last week or so. So it was with some relief to get a short walk in. I realised I hadn’t walked the island this year, usually do it two or three times a year, so off I went. 
Not a full blog, I will let the snaps do the talking. A very enjoyable walk but my feet were sore at the end, too much tarmac walking. And this was in trail walking shoes rather than boots.
From Millport spotted a nuclear sub on the horizon passing Arran, made a young boys day when I pointed it out to him.
There is always plenty of birdlife to be seen on Cumbrae and today didn’t disappoint. Lots of butterflies and a black bunny.

Its always the holiday feeling when getting on a ferry

Approaching Cumbrae

There must have been over 50 of these off Largs

Peacock likes the thistles

Black rabbit all on its own

Nuclear sub heading home

Tide is out round Millport Bay

View from the highest point

Plenty of berries on the Rowan, winter fuel?

scenic spot for lunch

Has it had a coat of paint?

Wildlife: Gannet; Herring gull; Hooded crow; Curlew; Large White; Painted Lady; Small green veined white; Peacock; Chaffinch; Meadow pipit; Swift; Pied Wagtail; Swallow; Wood warbler; House Martin; Raven; Sparrowhawk; Buzzard; Eider; Stonechat; Mallard; Common seal; Lesser black backed gull; Widgeon; Chiffchaff/Willow warbler; Meadow brown; Black Rabbit.

Time: 4.09
Ascent: 791ft 
Distance: 10.55m 

The Knock of Crieff

Hill: Knock of Crieff
Category: Sub2k
Height: 279m
On my way back from the mighty Tay I had about 2 hours free so I  decided to tick off a new but quick Sub 2k. My map showed a few possibilities on my route but this was the quickest.
Although it was quick it turned out to be an enjoyable short hike.
The car park is just after the horse riding set up. Lots of jodhpurs around today.
I was informed that this wood is one of the few where red and grey squirrels cohabit but I saw neither today.

Natural woodland at start

A steep pull up the marked trail through the oak trees until I saw a hefty woman standing still holding a big horse. Just as well she had some weight as she was struggling to hold this frisky horse. If it broke free it was only heading in one direction, mine. At least there are a few trees to hide behind. Warily I got to them, the woman explained it was a very young horse being trained!!
After the excitement the walk continued before more excitement as an MTB rider came down the narrow track at speed but did at least brake.

Most walkers might stop here

Then out of the natural wood with wide views now on your left. Glen Turret beyond, Ben Chonzie and Auchnafree Hill would be in view but low cloud still covers the tops. 

Monzie Castle

Still nice good into the picturesque valley with Monzie castle just in sight, surrounded by trees. 

Deforested track to the top

There has been significant deforestation around which meant I took the detour to the highest point. Walkhighlands says not to bother but that was obviously written before the trees cut down. 

Summit

Still a messy top, the small spread out stone pile might represent a cairn. Looking over to the mast on Milquhanzie hill, the site of a hill fort.

MTB trail

Beside this there is another MTB trail, not one for the inexperienced. I have noticed that lot of the forestry hills around here have specialist MTB trails, good for them.

Open views

I rejoined the main trail as a guy appeared with two dogs off the lead, one of which starts growling away at me, what's going on today?
The trail descends and winds its way around The Knock and then back into the woods heading back towards Crieff Hydro. There is an option to extend the walk around the golf course but knowing my luck with incidents today I would probably get hit by a run away golf buggy.

Ringlet

Stacks of woodland birds and butterflies to admire.

Wildlife: Jay, Chaffinch, Mistle thrush, Blue Tit, Large tit, Greenfinch, Wood pigeon, Peacock, Ringlet, Small tortoiseshell.
Time: 1.01
Ascent: 421ft
Distance: 2.67m 

An early morning Braemar Corbett

Hill: Creag nan Gabhar
Category: Corbett
Height: 834
A double outing today so an early start saw only 2 more cars in the car park (£3 charge). The walk start is a historic right of way, Jock’s Road, worth investigation and a poignant read as as its most recent incarnation is the Land Reform Act which allows us to walk with freedom in Scotland. 

The start of Jock's road

The rough track follows the Callater Burn, fast running brown and white water as it cascades through the rocks, still high after the recent rain.

The ridge ahead with Corbett the highest point

After half a mile or so there is a turn to head up a very rough estate track zig zagging to reach Sron Dubh.

Pearl-bordered Fritillary?

 Although it is not bright the butterflies are flying and caught this little cracker amongst the heather and thistles.
A couple are spotted ahead of me so I wonder if I will catch them up. Turns out not it doesn’t take too long.

On the ridge just follow estate track to the summit

Once on the ridge it is an excellent walk, albeit along the basic track created for the grouse shooting not us walkers. The bigger Munros are still just covered in cloud but my target is in the clear.
Red grouse almost wait until they are trodden on before bursting out of the heather, my ticker gets a fright. Must have seen a couple of dozen or so today.
Luckily I also saw a few mountain hares today, they must have escaped the culls.

There is an alternative start from those woods, shorter but much steeper

There a few minor ups and downs but the route is clear as it takes a slow right hander too reach the top of the Corbett. Good going 1 hour 20 to the top. 

View from far away cairn I can hear the motor bikes below

Good views to enjoy. It is worth taking the short walk on to the far away cairn, superb views up to the Cairnwell, albeit its top stayed in cloud.

Aosda in foreground, The Cairnwell behind

After spending some time enjoying the views, the top very windy but balmy warm, I took the slow descent back the same way. There is a circular route but I preferred the high level descent taking in the great views back to Braemar, Ben Avon, Morrone etc.

Descent looking back to Braemar

The clouds are disappearing as the heat kicks in, glad I was up in the hills early. There are some high tops here that are not classified but look tough wee beggars.

Callatar burn and Morrone behind

On the ground walk back to the car the tourists have arrived. The aforementioned two the only people I saw until about a dozen in 200 metres.
An excellent short walk with top drawer views.
Now there are 18 holes on the highest golf course in Scotland to look forward to.

Wildlife: Meadow pipit; Wheatear; Red Grouse; Grey Wagtail; Golden plover; Mountain hare, Small tortoiseshell; Fritillary ( probably pearl bordered)

Time: 3.11
Ascent: 1647ft (550m)
Distance: 7.85m 12.8(km)

Outstanding panoramic views from Creag Bhalg in the Cairngorms

Hill/Walk: Creag Bhalg
Category: Graham
Height: 668m
I am amazed yet again at how a so called ‘modest hill’ can produce such outstanding views as Creag Bhalg did today and for such little effort.

Victoria bridge

An early morning cycle, in very windy conditions, dictated a slightly lower route for the good lady. She was a bit feart of the ski chair lift in these winds.
We started the walk by crossing the Victoria Bridge, where an estate worker informed us that it was getting a full refurbishment in the near future. Then taking the track to Mar Lodge Estate.

Mar Lodge

Passed the Mar Lodge buildings and across the tarmac road (Linn of Quoich road) to an obvious track. 

Track starts here

A bit boggy at the beginning, well wet, but a very well maintained route that has a very gradual incline. As you climb there are excellent views below of the River Dee and the lower grounds and the tracks heading into Glen Ey as well as the hills beyond. Plenty of colourful insect life, a few butterflies and some mini sized frogs, wonder if they are full grown?

Cairngorm giants appear

After half a mile or so you join in with the hills alternative tracks from Linn of Dee and Linn of Quoich. Just go straight ahead to the obvious track that continues your line.
More trees than bracken and the Cairngorm biggies started to come into view. I love these natural Caledonian pine trees, what a great landscape.

Turn right soon

After another half a mile or so there is a singular old post on your left and soon after an obvious track cuts into the right, heading for the dead tree. 

Clear way marker

Stop frequently and take in the views of Ben Macdui and all its mighty Cairngorm neighbours. The track continues up to the top passing a solar panel structure, feeding what?

Cairn

The cairn comes into view, obvious on your right, flat top walking, slightly boggy but who cares, all you are doing is looking around at the stupendous views. 

Beinn a Bhuird massif

What a spot, what a 360 degree panorama for an hours effort, breathtaking. 
So glad to be fit enough to see this all for real, no snaps will do it justice. The mass of Beinn a Bhuird, what a bulk and the tors of Ben Avon. Looking around apart from the previous mentioned hills there is Lochnagar, Morrone and many others.

Track back to treeline

A great place to spend some time taking it all in before heading back down the same way we ascended.

River Dee below

I really enjoyed that little outing, no doubt coffee and cake now on the agenda.

River Dee from bridge

Finishing line

Wildlife: Meadow pipit, Dunnock; Grey Wagtail; House Martin; Minature frogs, Small bordered fritillary.
Time: 2.30
Ascent: 1062ft (360m)
Distance: 3.92m (7.3km)

Great views in Ballater and the clegs are back!!

Hill: Craigendarroch
Category: Sub2k
Height: 402m
The weather gods altered our plans for a high level walk so I had to break the good news message to the good lady. I decided that we would return to Ballater and go up the short, but steep, wood and craggy Craigendarroch. Even for her.
The cunning part of my plan was that I got to cycle the 17 miles to Ballater a cracking ride through stunning countryside. Plus a return home, made.

No trains here

Our walk started at the stunningly refurbished Ballater railway station.
We had left our walk book but how could you get lost, the hill is in front of us? Not through the housing estate surely. Well the crags were not the obvious route so after asking an old guy, wrong move, we followed the field edge alongside the games park heading out of Ballater. There were yellow markers which did not seem right. Thankfully a woman appeared and we were not on the official route but could get there through the woods.

The bin marks the entry spot

There was a path but no signs so on we went. Paths began to criss cross so I just picked the one heading up that looked as the feet of humans, not deer, might have ventured this way.
We did gain height and after a few naughty words, the good lady hanging well back, we stumbled upon a red marked post, more like it.

Path at first but is it the right one

The good path climbs and winds its way up the hill through the magnificent ancient woods, initially oak trees the Scots pine and birch. It is very humid and sticky. The crags are steep and shiny, glacial wear from way back. As you look down this feels a lot higher than the actual height.

Shiny steep crags

The track is hemmed in with blueberry/bilberry plants, the purple/blue fruits perfect for eating, sweet and tasty. There are regular fresh blue/black scat marks all the way up the trail, I presume they were deposited by a pine martin marking its territory from eating all this fruit.

Memorial cairn looking down on Ballater

Finally we break out onto a flattish rocky area where the trig stands and just further away a huge memorial cairn and a marker board. The welcome wind very strong and gusty, storm on its way.

Seat marks highest point

The granite has been noticeably scarred by the ice formations millions of years ago. Good timing as we just watched the documentary last week on how Scotland was formed.

The views are excellent but sadly the aforementioned storm has covered the tops of Lochnagar but the local views don't disappoint particularly of Ballater itself.
A straightforward walk back down the same route and heading to where we should have been in the first place.
Just as we finished the walk, a painful stab in my leg just above my socks. Blood drawn, my first clegg bite of the year.
An excellent short little walk, warm down here in town so time for a Shorty’s ice cream.

Wildlife: Blue tit; Chaffinch, Song thrush; Wood pigeon; Ringlet.
Time: 1.49
Ascent: ft (m) 264m
Distance: m (km) 5.01k

Tap o' Noth a Pictish hill fort and what a view

Hill: Tap o’ Noth
Category: Sub2k
Height: 563m
When the good lady rose from her slumbers I told her that it was her lucky day, we were going to visit the remains of the second highest hill fort in Scotland. Not sure she quite processed the lucky bit so I left her to digest the information and went for a cracking bike ride to Linn’ O Dee, stunning scenery.

Beautiful early morning Strathdee

The reflection time was positive. After brekkie we set off for a gloriously scenic drive, which perked her up, apart from the two squished red squirrels on the road, one of her favourite species. Still, we arrived at the less than daunting hill, the Tap o’ Noth car park almost full, a tourist trap? To be fair it only holds about 8 cars and the motor home did for most of that.

New track at start

A nice new looking sandy track took us uphill to the deer fence where it became a grassy track that wound its way to the next fence.

Pleasant grassy section

 This grassy section a riot of colour and butterflies and moths aplenty. A new plant to me yellow monkey flower (according to said good lady) a highlight.
Unless you want a cross country circuit turn right here and head to the gate at the deer fence.

People on top of Tap

he top does not look far away, we can even see people moving about, not sure someone else agrees!!

Clearer view of the TAp

Now out onto the moorland where the track is more rocky but is still in great condition and thankfully for the good lady it continued to meander round the hill. 

Getting there

Views were excellent, the scarred track of Ben Rinnes prominent.
As we got towards the top both Lochnagar and Mount Keen came into view. 
There is an excellent information map to spend some time at before heading over the top into the bowl of the fort and then onto the trig. 

Trig with Ben Rinnes behind

Certainly not the biggest hill but in terms of location it is the biggest around. With a fantastic 360 degree perspective, no wonder it was the location for a fort.
It is fantastic to stand here and let the mind roam. Built by the Picts, the huge walls vitrified (burnt), probably deliberately by them to make the fort even stronger. Mind-boggling when you read the notice board at the car park, this is our history. 

Inside the fort looking to Aberdeen

Spotted a large very orange butterfly which on examining the snaps later turned out to be a ‘small’ tortoiseshell. If that’s small the extinct large version would be mighty impressive.
From the top the Cromarty coast and Sutherland are clear. The stand out peak on Sutherland, surely Ben Hope. If so there cannot be many places where you can see the most northerly and the most easterly Munros. Another reason why the good lady should be so lucky. She always enjoys it when she gets to the tops and soaks in the views.

Superb shot bringing the fort boundaries to life

The rain threatened and skirted us but thankfully we stayed dry.
A gentle descent back the same way to the car park with the promise of coffee and cake in Ballater.
A cracking MTB ride and a good wee walk with fabulous views, a good day to be alive.
I wonder how lucky she will be tomorrow?

Wildlife: Kestrel; Buzzard; Linnet; Meadow pipit; Meadow brown; Six spot Burnet moth; Small tortoiseshell; Ringlet.
Time: 1.47h
Ascent: 295m
Distance: 5.01k