Loch Lee, Hunt Hill & the Shank of Inchgrundle

[GariochTom]

After a long drive up Glen Esk, we arrived at the start point of the walk and continued up the road, past the church; Invermark Castle (an impressive tower house dating from the 14th Century, built to guard the southern end of the strategic pass leading from Deeside); Invermark Lodge on the hillside to our right, and then a number of attractive cottages.

We shortly reached the foot of Loch Lee, where there were the remaining gable ends of an old church.

Old church

It was extremely windy as we walked along the north side of the loch, but the visibility was excellent and there was only patchy cloud in the otherwise blue sky.

Eventually we reached the head of the loch, and we continued past a deserted house (Glenlee) and onwards, before stopping for elevenses in a sheltered spot alongside the track.

After another couple of kilometres along the track we crossed a footbridge over the first of several attractive mini-waterfalls, and soon reached the Falls of Unich, where we had our 'first' lunch stop.

Falls of Unich

Panorama 1

Once we had eaten enough food and taken enough photographs, we ascended the rough path alongside the Water of Unich up to the Falls of Damff, taking short diversions to look down the gorge and take yet more watery photographs.

Mini waterfall

Pouring

Falls of Damff

Falls of Damff

Nearing the top of the glen, there was a real sense of enclosure provided by the steep sides of Hunt Hill to the right and Craig Maskeldie to the left.
On reaching the more open landscape at the top, we decided to head up Hunt Hill (after all, it is a Graham, and it seemed to be a good vantage point...).
The hill being 'only' a Graham, there was no clear path up and little sign of erosion, but for much of the way we managed to follow a faint path through the heather, largely on the edge of the ridge with excellent views down the glen.

Falls of Unich and Craig Maskeldie

Panorama from Hunt Hill

Towards the top of the hill, the ground was less steep and more peaty, and we disturbed several white hares that had been hiding in the peat hags before springing out and bounding away.

White hare

The summit had a very small cairn and the views weren't quite as good as they had been slightly lower down, so we didn't linger for long but instead headed back down towards the bealach. We ended up descending a bit too quickly, into an area of vegetated boulders which were difficult to move over, so ascended slightly again to find an easier way down.
After crossing the bridge our next target was Carn Lick. However, we headed east rather than southeast so ended up reaching the lip of the corrie of Carlochy, which afforded an excellent view across that smaller loch and Loch Lee itself.

Carlochy and Loch Lee from north of Carn Lick

Loch Lee from north of Carn Lick

We then made a beeline to the track heading down the Shank of Inchgrundle, spotting another group of white hares in the distance, who were really noticeable in their white coats in the absence of more than a few patches of snow.

White hares

It was a relief to reach the track which allowed for much easier walking, and we quickly descended the shank, enjoying impressive views of the corrie with Carlochy at its base.

Carlochy

Towards the bottom of the zigzagging track we entered an area of larch trees before crossing a small bridge beside Inchgrundle. It was then a quick march along the good track beside the loch, and we reached Invermark surprisingly quickly so there was enough time to take a few more photographs of the castle; attractive birch woodland and early snowdrops before heading back to Aberdeenshire.

Castle

Birch woodland

Snowdrops

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[scoot100]

Great report I've walked Loch Lee and the area's around it many times, but I'm going to do the walk very soon Hunt hill looks like a great vantage point to me as well

[Sabbathstevie]

Lovely stuff! I've had this one pencilled in for this year and your report has made me move it further up the list...

[morag1]

Great report and lovely pics of a very isolated and unknown part of the north

[Johnny Corbett]

I've read a few reports on this hill, all good ones. Hopefully climb it soon

[chickadee]

This is my next walk! Well, I hope. I've been as far as Invermark Castle, was sad it's just a ruin and you can't get in, but I had no idea till recently there was so much more to see beyond it. Your pics are really nice and inspiring, so next time it's sunny (actually sunny as opposed to BBC forecasted "sunny") I will head up there I think!

[Gable Gable End]

A fine walk this, right on me doorstep, and a great account/pics of it.

[GariochTom]

Thanks all

I highly recommend the walk (especially in sunny weather!) including the short extension up to Hunt Hill - only added an hour or so to the total walk time.

[Klaasloopt]

I look at the map of your walk, and do not recognize where it is without zooming. This for me is a telltale sign of an interesting report. Beyond the hill-bagging routine: a tower, a deserted house, a church, some falls. Good stuff.

[mrssanta]

and the names - Shank of Inchgrundle is such a fabbie name.

[GariochTom]

I look at the map of your walk, and do not recognize where it is without zooming. This for me is a telltale sign of an interesting report. Beyond the hill-bagging routine: a tower, a deserted house, a church, some falls. Good stuff.

Thanks - yes, I like walks which have more than just large-scale scenic interest - they're my favourites.

and the names - Shank of Inchgrundle is such a fabbie name.

Hehe, yes! I wonder whether 'shank' is a word local to Angus - there's another Shank on the way to Mayer/Driesh in Glen Clova.