Brown Hill (Ochils)

21 October 2019

Participants: Just me

Where: Brown Hill, 419m/1,375', P 35m, Tump, OS 57, NN 834 002

The days have fairly drawn in and unless we get a really sunny spell of weather I am now concentrating on my list of hills to do closer to home during the winter period. Brown Hill is a bit of an insignificant looking Ochil outlier reached from the Sheriffmuir road at the map spot height 249m but it provided reasonable walking conditions. I had to cross a field initially and while there was plenty of evidence of cows having been present not so long ago, the field was empty today. This is a view of the hill and its southern top, Loss Hill, from near Sheriffmuir.....

 

 

Starting up the hill proper.....

 

 

Insignificant it may look but it was a fine viewpoint. This is looking to the west from part way up; the familiar shapes of Ben Ledi, Stuc a'Chroin and Ben Vorlich in view.....

 

 

The summit area, just east of an old fence, with Dumyat and the Forth and some familiar landmarks....

 

 

 

To the east is Colsnaur Hill, I'm not sure if I've done that one or not so a visit will be necessary.....

 

 

 

 

 

 

Barry Hill (Alyth)

13 October 2019

 

Participants: Just me

Where: Barry Hill, 208m/682', P 60m, Tump, OS 53, NO 262 504

 

I drove back from Deeside view the Cairn o' Mount. The weather was still good so I made a slight diversion to climb Barry Hill east of Alyth. I had climbed its two bigger neighbours previously, Hill of Alyth and Hill of Loyal, but this one got missed out. The hill is notable for the remains of an Iron Age hill fort consisting of an inner wall which apparently was 35m thick enclosing a large area which would have been where the occupants lived. More recently, someone has built a number of stone shelters which kind of takes away from the feeling of the place.

It is a steep little hill. There is a parking area at its south west corner which will take a few cars, then its over a gate and up through some gorse bushes. The highest point is on the north rim of the fort.....

The entrance to Glen Isla is immediately to the north.....

north east the view is to Hill of Wirren.....

and the southern view is of the Sidlaws.....

  

Some Aberdeenshire Tumps

9-13 October

 

Participants: Neil and Ben

Where: Ord Hill, 224m/735', P 45, Tump, OS 37, NO 439 984; Knockargety, 267m/876', P33m, Tump, OS 37, NJ 454 031; Craigievar Hill, 349m/1145', P46m, Tump, OS 37, NJ 562 095; Drum Hill, 133m/436', P 55m, Tump, OS 38, NJ 792 002; Ley Hill, 112m/367', P 34m, Tump, OS 38, NO 730 968; and Mammie, 498m/1634', P 76m, Tump, OS 37, NJ 316 019

 

Here is a short report about the other Aberdeenshire Tumps done during my few days on Deeside while attending the MBA AGM.

 

Ord Hill is a small wooded knoll alongside the A93 just outside Dinnet. It is in fact the highest point of the Muir of Dinnet. The deciduous woodland was pleasant but there wasn't much in the way of views, although I did catch a glimpse of  Loch  Kinord.....

  

Knockargety was reached from a side road off the Dinnet to Tarland road. There was a large turning circle/parking area at the start and a track and then a path to the open summit. It was a fine viewpoint being close to Morven to the west and with an open aspect to Mount Keen and Lochnagar to the south.....

 

 

Craigievar Hill is part of the Craigievar Castle estate now owned by the NTS. There is a marked trail of about 2 miles from the castle over the hill including the highest point. With the autumn colours starting to appear, this was a very pleasant walk.....

 

 

Drum Hill is part of the NTS estate at Drum castle. The hill was less wooded than at Craigievar with nice summit views over the Dee valley, again reached easily on a marked trail from the car park.....

 

 

 

 

Ley Hill was the least interesting being entirely wooded. It completed the NTS estate hills being part of the Crathes Castle grounds.....

 

On the morning of the MBA meeting, I diverted to Gairnshiel to climb Mammie, a typical Deeside heathery hill. Fortunately, there was a track all the way as there was a phone mast on top. The shooters were out on neighbouring hills..... 

 

 

 

 

Hill of Dunnideer and Scolty, two fine Aberdeenshire hills

10-13 October 2019

 

Participants: Neil and Ben

Where: Hill of Dunnideer, 268m/879', P 59, Tump, OS 37, NJ 612 282 and Scolty, 299m/981', P 45m, Tump, OS 38, NO 678 939

 

It was MBA AGM time again, this year in Ballater on Deeside. The weather was excellent so it was a good opportunity to add on a few days and do some new hills. These were two of the most interesting on a 9 hill trip.

 

Hill of Dunnideer is a very prominent hill on the outskirts of Insch because of the ruin of a very old castle at its summit. The castle was preceded by a hill fort and it certainly dominates the surrounding landscape. Our ancestors certainly knew how to protect themselves from surprise attack. Today, there is a small parking area at the foot of the hill reached from the village and a good path up. Approaching the top, Ben just sneaking into the picture.....

 

 

Another couple of photos of the castle, which is thought to be one of the earliest in Scotland dating back to around 1260. The hill in the distance in the second photo is the Marilyn Tap o'Noth, another hill fort.....

 

 

 

And another view west.....

 

 

Down to Insch and across the Aberdeenshire farmland.....

 

 

The southern view was dominated by Bennachie......

 

 

I'll describe the other walks that I did that day on another post and instead concentrate here on the other great viewpoint of the trip, Scolty at Banchory, a hill that had been on my "to do" list for some time. It is surrounded by forestry, there is a large car park at its foot and a selection of paths to the top. Again, it is a prominent feature locally, this time because of the tower on the summit. Unlike many such buildings on hills, this one, built as a monument to General William Burnett who fought with Wellington in the Napoleonic wars, has been maintained and you can climb to the top. Approaching the tower.....

 

 

Banchory from the tower.....

 

 

 

Another well known Aberdeenshire hill, Clachnaben, is well seen to the south along with its neighbour, the Corbett, Mount Battock.....

 

 

 

 

Immediately to the south is the Marilyn, Kerloch......

 

 

And finally, the view to the north.....

 

 

Two excellent hills but you need a good day to appreciate them properly.

 

Two Fife Tumps: Wether Hill and Springhall Hill plus part of the Loch Leven Heritage Trail

1 and 2 October 2019

 

Participants: Neil and Ben

Where: Wether Hill, 335m/1,099', P 61m, Tump, OS 58, NT 043 957 and Springhall Hill, 281m/923', P 30m, Tump, OS 58, NO 113 087 plus part of the Loch Leven Heritage Trail

 

I had passed Wether Hill north of Saline on a number of occasions and had read on the Hill bagging site that although its slopes were clothed in conifers, its summit was clear. Situated to the south of the entrance to Glen Devon it looked as though it would be a good viewpoint and so it proved. I parked at a track entrance at a wide bend in the road- just as well that I parked carefully and did not obstruct the gate as the farmer was exiting as I returned to the car! I followed the track uphill turning left on to another less used track at the first junction. After a while, I spotted a narrow firebreak heading upwards with an old fence at its side. I followed that easily out of the trees and on to some very long wet grass. It was only a short distance to the obvious high point.

 

Looking east I could see West Lomond above Loch Leven.....

Looking west it was a view up the Forth valley.....
 

 

The summit with the Ochil Hills in the background.....

The Ochil outliers further east.....

and a view south over the Forth with the old Kincardine power station prominent.....

The following day was again clear and sunny. I certainly hadn't intended going back to Fife but that's what I did. I had heard that the Loch Leven Heritage Trail was now open and I thought that it might provide some good views of the loch and surrounding hills. I couldn't resist diverting a few miles to the north of Milnathort in the direction of Path of Condie to take in one of a number of Tumps up that way. There wasn't much to Springhall Hill apart from a view of West Lomond.....

Then it was down to Kinross and the car park for the Trail. Ben at the lochside with Benarty Hill background.....

The hills to the south- Benarty Hill.....

Bishop Hill.....

West Lomond from the track.....

Unfortunately, the views of the loch were restricted for much of this section but at one point I spotted what looked like a bird watchers hut and decided to investigate. I'm certainly glad that I did as it overlooked a bay in which there were a large number of whooper swans. Winter must be on its way! They were a noisy group and I watched them for quite some time. The scene was made even better as the hut was in an ideal location for views of West Lomond and Bishop Hill across the loch.....

I reckon that I did about a 4 mille return trip but the complete circuit of the loch, about 13 miles, would be a great experience.