Meall Odhar

9 October 2012.

Participants - Just me; Ben had to miss out because there were a lot of sheep about, deer on the hill and a deer fence that I wouldn't have been able to get him over.

Where - Meall Odhar, 656m/ 2,152', Graham, Map 50, NN 298298

I decided on the approach from the south, using the track to Cononish farm, and therefore parked at Dalrigh. The main reason was that this looked a much more open route than that from Tyndrum via the old mines with the other hills in view all of the way. It was a fabulous early autumn day with the colours starting to come out on the trees.....

My objective soon came into view, it is the hill on the right in this picture, the Corbett, Beinn Chuirn is the other hill.....

I couldn't let the opportunity pass to take the classic picture of Ben Lui and its central gully.....

The area between the track and the hill was heavily forested but I knew that there were fire breaks that I could use and that one in particular was a recognised route. To reach it, I went through an old gate and crossed the more westerly of two rough fields, following 4x4 tracks where I could and heading for the top left hand corner of the field....

Sure enough, this led to a wide break in the trees with the makings of a path up it.....

Beyond the trees, it was just a case of climbing the steeper slopes of the hill towards the east ridge. I disturbed a small herd of deer at one point and every so often there was the roar of a stag from one of the hillsides round about.....

This is looking east towards Ben More, Stobinian and Cruach Ardrain from higher up.....

The cairn was surprisingly big for a lower hill (the shoulder of Beinn Chuirn is behind with the Cruachan hills distant).....

There was hardly any wind and it was really pleasant wandering around looking at the views and taking pictures. This is looking to Ben Lui.....

and this is to Beinn Dorain and the Auch Corbetts.....

The only downside was a constant humming noise from the gold mine at the foot of Beinn Chuirn. I presume that it was the sound of drilling. But apart from that, it was the perfect day to be out and the walk back to the car was lovely.....

Burgiehill

7 October 2012

Participants - Neil and Ben
Where - Burgiehill, 254m/832', Sub-2k Marilyn, Map 27, NJ 097559

It was heading home day, and I had found another woodland walk cum Sub-2k Marilyn that was not too far out of my way. And, unlike Mount Eagle, the track on this one went all the way to the trig!

I drove to Forres and took the B9010 road to Rafford; at least I thought that that was what I was on but the signposting in this neck of the woods was a bit sparse. Burgiehill, being low lying, doesn't look much like a hill but eventually I saw the telecommunication masts above a forest and knew that I was at least in the right general area. It didn't help that the start of the route was on one map and the route itself on another but I eventually found the entrance to the forestry track on the east side of the hill; it was on the opposite side of the road to two other tracks that headed east into another part of the forest. The walk itself through the forest was pleasant and the various tracks were as marked on the map.....

As with Mount Eagle two days before, the amount of ascent was negligible and after about a mile, I came to a cleared area containing the masts.....

The trig was immediately behind some buildings.....

and at least the cleared area allowed me a view to the south (to Ben Rinnes I think).....

Although there is not much of a view from the top of Burgiehill, a fabulous viewpoint has been created on the access road to the north (marked on the map). It provided a great view across the outer Moray Firth to the hills of east Sutherland and Caithness, an area that I have yet to visit.....

I then continued on my journey south, across Dava Moor to Carrbridge to rejoin the A9.

Cnoc Ceislein and the Fyrish Monument

6 October 2012

Participants - Neil and Ben
Where - Cnoc Ceislein, 523m/1,716', Sub-2k Marilyn, Map 21, NH 589706

Cnoc Ceislein was the main objective of the weekend; it looked a good hill with the Fyrish Monument an added attraction. I had seen many pictures of this structure but had never visited it. This is a view of my objective from the other side of the Cromarty bridge.....

The starting point was a small car park off a side road off the Evanton- Struie road.....

The track wound up through the forest at a fairly gentle angle. Emerging from the trees, there was a good view to Invergordon and down the Cromarty Firth towards the North Sea.....

I reached the monument in about an hour, just as some high cloud came over!  So I only took the one picture.....

However, on the way back, the sun was shining brightly again and I took a few more pictures using part of the monument as foreground.....

It was built in 1782 on the orders of Sir Hector Munro of Novar and represents the Gate of Negapatam, a port in Madras in India which Sir Hector took for the British in 1781. It is an amazing structure and well worth visiting even if you don't extend the walk to Cnoc Ceislein. Needless to say, I was adding on the sub-2k, this is looking to it from Cnoc Fyrish.....

The track lost a bit of height, went through another bit of forest and turned north to cross the shoulder of the Marilyn. Getting closer.....

The autumn colours were starting to show and there was a good view to another sub-2k Marilyn to the north, Beinn Tharsuinn.....

I left the main track at its highest point where I found a faint path through the heather leading to the top. Blow me if a shower didn't come in just as I got there. It was also quite windy and cold. Here are Ben, the trig, the Novar wind farm, Ben Wyvis and to the right of it the Corbett Meall Mor which I've still to do, together with rainbow.....

There were a flock of Golden Plover near the top, first time I've seen them this year. However, I didn't linger for long as I hadn't brought a thick jacket; just took a zoomed shot of Ben Wyvis and the wind farm before heading back the way I had come.....

The sunshine returned on the way back although it remained on the cool side. It had been an excellent walk and one that I would do again, c.8 miles taking 4 hours.

Deep in the forest.....Mount Eagle

5 October 2012.

Participants - Neil and Ben
Where - Mount Eagle, 256m/841', Sub-2k Marilyn, Map 26, NH 649590

I was driving up to Inverness for a few days; usually I stop somewhere on the way to let Ben have a walk. On this occasion, however, I decided to carry on for a few miles beyond Inverness and climb Mount Eagle, which is the highest point on the Black Isle and a Marilyn as well.  95% of the "climb" is a gentle forest walk with an ascent of only around 50m; just right after a lengthy drive. I hadn't been here before but the start was easy to find, being at the foot of the Black Isle transmitter mast.....

There was a small car park at the opposite side of the road and the tracks were good and obviously well used by walkers, cyclists and horse riders. The radio transmitter, originally built to establish a commercial TV service in the area, came into operation in 1961. It rises to a height of 800' and, although in the middle of a forest, can be seen from many miles away.

The trees were fairly well spaced out and it was a nice walk.....

I was aiming for some more masts and buildings deep in the forest and followed the tracks to them.....

 I knew from the map that the trig was about a hundred yards north of the buildings and the pictures that I had seen of it showed that the summit area had been cleared. However, it had also been replanted and the new trees were now starting to get big. To complicate things still further, the gorse bushes at this time of year were quite high. This is what we were faced with (spot Ben looking as well).....

With a bit of a struggle, I headed in the direction that the trig should be, with no great hope of finding it. But...ah! there it is, just visible and no more.....

The few yards around the trig were a bit clearer.....

and if I stood on tip toe there was also the semblance of a view, north to Ben Wyvis....
.

At the trig, I noticed that there was a faint path leading back in the direction of the buildings so of course I took it. For anyone else doing this hill it starts at the north east corner of the buildings. However, the trees are growing in around it and it might not be there in a few years time, when getting to the trig could be a major undertaking. So the moral of the story is if you are going to climb Mount Eagle, then do it soon! And find the path from the buildings to the trig, maybe if enough people use it it will be passable for a while yet.

Bennachie

22 September 2012

Participants - Neil and Ben
Where - Bennachie, 528m/1,735', Sub- 2k Marilyn, Map 38, NJ 662227

Bennachie is the dominant hill in Aberdeenshire, easily recognisable and visible from many parts of the county. I think of it in terms of a mountain rather than a hill but in fact, writing this up, it suddenly struck me that it was lower than Coiliochbhar Hill which I had climbed yesterday. It comprises a high moorland with a series of distinctive granite tops. There are a number of possible starting points and ways up the hill but I like the one that starts at the Forestry Commission car park at Back o' Bennachie- charge £2. A well constructed path led up through the forest and directly to the main top, Oxen Craig. It was another cool but very clear day and the views when I got past the forested area were extensive. This picture is taken from where the path leaves the shelter of the trees and is looking over Aberdeenshire towards the coast.....

I stopped a lot on the way up to admire the views and take photographs, this is looking north over Insch to Hill of Foudland.....

and this is looking north-west to Tap o' Noth with Ben Rinnes behind and to its left.....

There is lots of signage on this hill, no chance of getting lost here.....

We carried on to the top of Oxen Craig where there was a substantial cairn and also a topograph- they certainly cater for visitors hereabouts.....

After a bit of a rest and a chat to some other walkers, it was time to head for the most distinctive feature of Bennachie.....

Down on the moorland again, Ben decided to solve any possible dehydration problems before we carried on to this well known landmark.....

 

It is crowned by a mass of granite and there are the remains of a Pictish fort just below the top. I believe that there are some hard rock climbs to be had on it, not being a climber the cliffs look terrifying to me!  Fortunately, the walkers path circles the hill at a fairly gentle grade on its way to the top. Not surprisingly, being a weekend, there were a lot of other walkers about with the Mither Tap being the most crowded. I guess that there must be many people who only visit it and are under the impression that they have reached the highest point on Bennachie.

We then re-crossed part of the plateau to visit the most northern tor, Craigshannoch.....

This is the view from it to Oxen Craig.....

and this is looking across the farmlands of Aberdeenshire.....

It was then time to head down and start the journey home, via Alford, Braemar and Perth. It had been a good couple of days, and there are still some sub-2k's in the area that I have not yet done.

Coiliochbhar Hill

21 September 2012

Participants - Neil and Ben
Where - Coiliochbhar Hill, 533m/1,748', Sub-2k Marilyn, Map 37, NJ 503163

The weather was good and I decided to make another visit to Aberdeenshire. The main focus this time was another ascent of Bennachie, but there were a few other sub-2k Marilyn's in the area that I had not yet climbed. I had chosen Craiglich as one to climb to break up the journey as it was on the direct route that I was taking to Aberdeen but when I pulled up at the start point I saw that there were cows and calves in the field that the track went through. So no go there. A look at the map showed that there was another Marilyn a few miles away that I had not climbed- Coiliochbhar Hill- so I drove down a few country roads to get to it. I had not researched this hill and knew nothing about it so I hoped that there would not be too many obstacles for Ben to manage. In fact, there were sheep in two fields that we had to initially cross so Ben had to remain on his lead for this section. There were also 3 gates, the first was held closed by a stone, the second by a piece of rope, and with a bit of persuasion, Ben managed to crawl underneath the third.

The starting point was just west of the farm at Upper Minmore. I managed to park on the verge at a corner in the road about 100 yards away. This is a view of the hill from close to the start.....

There was a good track which went through the fields and then after the third gate, entered an area of cleared, but replanted, forest. I was now clear of all livestock so Ben was able to be released from his restraint, much to the relief of us both. The track climbed steadily up through the trees before emerging on heather moorland. This is actually one of the higher sub-2k's in the area and the views really started to open out. They were enhanced by a few old Scots pines that had sprouted out of the moorland, here is one fine speciman  in an easterly view towards a distant Bennachie.....

 

Looking round, the best of the westerly view was across the farm lands to the Corbett of Morven.....

Nearing the top of the hill we reached an older forest.....

The track headed off to the left and downhill so I decided just to make my way through the trees, it was only for a short distance and the going was not too bad underfoot. An old fence headed in the required direction. Once out of the wood, the cairn was in sight, here is the approach with another sub-2k, Tap o'Noth in the distance.....

To the north-west was a Graham, the Buck, which I had hurried up one autumn to avoid stalking.....

As usual, Ben was keen to keep on the move, here he is waiting for the signal to set off down again.....

I really enjoyed this hill, particularly as I had known nothing about it! The Aberdeenshire Marilyns are good value in terms of views as most of them are fairly isolated from their neighbours. And the weather forecast was good for tomorrow when I planned to walk the best known of all the hills in the area.