The Mountain's Silhouette

Hiking and backpacking in the mountains of Scotland

Glen Dye and Clachnaben

Distance: 6 miles
Time: 2hrs 50mins
OS Map: 43

I went walking today with a friend from work. After a slight problem with a closed road and diversion, we got to the car park at Glen Dye by 10 this morning. Under slightly hazy skies but ridiculously mild air we crossed into Miller's Bog, walking along a good forest track. From there we turned north, following a landrover track up and around Greystane Hill which has been planted with new conifer trees in recent years. As we approached the top a young deer sprang across the road and moved up the hill, turning to watch us with unwavering eyes for a couple of minutes before turning and moving off. The track eventually peetered out in a boggy patch of land where a small burn came off the lower slopes of Mount Shade. We headed up the firmer ground along its bank before coming to a deer fence. Instead of following it west towards our target we gained some height and crossed it at a point higher up where another clear track wound its way along a line of the hills. This gave us some stunning views over Miller's Bog, southward to the Howe of the Mearns and eventually brought the Granite-plugged peak of Clachnaben into view.

Braemar, Morrone and Glen Clunie

I was supposed to be going offshore for the very first time this weekend but due to an unfortunate few days of rain, high winds and general unpleasantness our flight got knocked back a week. Instead the true irony of the British weather was found when it turned out that Saturday was to be a perfect winter's day: cold, crisp and clear.

Glen Tanar and Mount Keen

Distance: 22miles Time; 7hrs OS Map: 44 Route: View on OS Maps

Today I went on a superb walk through some real, rugged Scottish countryside. I caught the 7:45am bus from Aberdeen out to the small village of Dinnet, beyond Aboyne on the A93. Arriving at 9:15 I …

Scolty Hill and the Falls of Feugh

This morning I caught the 10:15 Stagecoach bus and finally escaped Aberdeen for the day. Although slightly delayed due to two dozen or so German students trying to buy a group discount ticket, we headed westward up Royal Deeside under beautiful, clear sunny skies and arrived in Banchory just …

Aberdeen Harbour and Nigg Bay

Today under ominous clouds and high winds I decided to take a walk around the south side of Aberdeen harbour and down the coast back towards where I live in Nigg. This was a quite gentle walk, made more dramatic by the high seas and ferocious winds that were buffeting …