Glen Esk- Hill of Rowan and Craig Crane

 1 June 2024

Where: Hill of Rowan, 380m/1,247', P 75m, Tump, OS 44, NO 473 795 and Craig Crane, 337m/1,106', P 82m, Tump, OS 44, NO 518 790

Hill of Rowan was a hill that I had wanted to climb for a while; situated north of Tarfside with an unmistakable monument on its summit. I set off from the car park in the village and followed the road for a few hundred yards; where it turned right I carried straight on opn a good track. This wended its way gently up the hill; where it levelled out I left it to follow a rougher track which went to the monument......

The monument, known as the Maule Monument, is huge. There is an entrance but it was secured so I couldn't see what was inside. It was built in 1866 by the First Baron Panmure to commemorate seven members of his family and as a dedication to others......

As expected the views were good and I sat around in the warm sunshine for a while just taking in the scenery. Looking to upper Glen Esk with Creag Maskeldie and Hunt Hill prominent......

Looking to Mount Keen.....

Back at Tarfside, I pondered whether to drive to the head of the glen and have a look at Loch Lee or go 3 miles back down the glen to bag another Tump, Craig Crane. The Tump won! There was a big parking area just before the track to the farm at Auchintoul which was also the start of the track to the hill. This track went all the way to the summit. Upper Glen Esk from the lower slopes.....

The summit.....

The view across the Glen to the Glen Lednock hills.....

View to upper Glen Esk.....

View to Mount Battock.....