Knock of Braemoray from Dava

[gyles]

I didn't intend on going for a walk today but around midday after seeing the weather being clear and settled I decided to set off towards the Knock of Braemoray about a 30 minute drive from home.

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I chose to park at Dava, a small hamlet to the south of the hill. There is a public phone box with a large layby suitable to start from. Leaving the car I made my way along the road until I cut into the woodland where I picked up the Dava Way, the long distance walk between Forres and Grantown on Spey. Following the old railway I walked north to reach the foot of the summit.

On the Dava Way with Knock of Braemoray facing me.

The Dava Way swerves round the east side of the summit so I reached the closest point along the line until I cut off to climb the summit. The Knock of Braemoray has little or no tracks, certainly none to reach the top, so it was now a wild clamber amongst the heather. Slowly but surely I got to the summit.

Pillar facing north

North over Findhorn Bay and Moray Firth

Can't seem to do any summits without seeing a wind farm, this wasn't the only 1

Lochindorb

Cromdale Hills

White covered peak of Ben Rinnes to the east

White Cairngorms to the south

Carn Tri Tighearnan plateau in the west

I returned back to the car following the same route. A 2 hour trip altogether.

This really was a fantastic viewpoint over the middle ground between the Cairngorms and Moray Firth. I was fortunate today with the views being so clear. I would encourage more people to try this one however I think the lack of a track to climb this summit may put some off.

Thanks for reading.

[Gordie12]

Hi gyles

I did the Dava Way last summer, I was tempted to head up Knock of Braemoray but with about 12 miles walked and the same left to do I thought I'd better leave some energy in the tank. Seeing the views, I wish I'd done the short climb.

Looks like you had a great afternoon!!

[The Rodmiester]

Hi there gyles, that looks an ok wee hill for a morning or afternoon, and the heather doesn't look too tussocky, how was it ok?, one for the next time I'm passing, certainly looks like no problems access wise.

[gyles]

Hi Gordie,

Yeah I was in the same position last year when I done the Dava Way. It would have been possible to do the climb and the long distance walk in a day but it is cutting it fine and would be exhausting.

It was a great afternoon thanks, spur of the moment decisions always seem to be.

[gyles]

Hi there gyles, that looks an ok wee hill for a morning or afternoon, and the heather doesn't look too tussocky, how was it ok?, one for the next time I'm passing, certainly looks like no problems access wise.

Hi Rod,

The heather is tall on the bottom half of the hill but does get shorter and easier the higher you go.

Access wise its great. The 2 options I considered was the Dava Way route I took, but there is also parking laybys on the A940 directly west of the summit where you could attempt to climb walking to the east. Distance wise going across the heather is about the same.

[Gordie12]

Hi Gordie,

Yeah I was in the same position last year when I done the Dava Way. It would have been possible to do the climb and the long distance walk in a day but it is cutting it fine and would be exhausting.

It was a great afternoon thanks, spur of the moment decisions always seem to be.

The difference is you can get back there in half an hour, bit of a treck for me but I think I'll look to do it some time as the area has great memories for me (I had distant relations who had a croft a couple of miles from the hill and we used to go to Forres every year on holiday when I was a kid).

[The Rodmiester]

Hi there gyles, that looks an ok wee hill for a morning or afternoon, and the heather doesn't look too tussocky, how was it ok?, one for the next time I'm passing, certainly looks like no problems access wise.

Hi Rod,

The heather is tall on the bottom half of the hill but does get shorter and easier the higher you go.

Access wise its great. The 2 options I considered was the Dava Way route I took, but there is also parking laybys on the A940 directly west of the summit where you could attempt to climb walking to the east. Distance wise going across the heather is about the same.

Thanks for that info gyles, I seem to remember that lump when I was supporting my daughter when she ran the Dava Wat trail race a few years ago, I think the trail passes by on the East side of the hill if I remember correctly. The weather looked fine and little snow about as well, great stuff.

[gyles]

The difference is you can get back there in half an hour, bit of a treck for me but I think I'll look to do it some time as the area has great memories for me (I had distant relations who had a croft a couple of miles from the hill and we used to go to Forres every year on holiday when I was a kid).

Good stuff, without a doubt it's definitely one for you then. I hope you get a good day when the chance comes around.

[findhornloon]

Great stuff Gyles,

First report and photos I have seen of the Knock, now I know a suitable route for the 2 hour hike I will put it higher up my "to do" list next time I am up North. I have looked at the Knock so often from Findhorn and on the way past heading south, always fancied seeing the view of Findhorn from the top. The nearest I have been to the Knock is the passing round its base on a train to Grantown as a loon and that wasn't yesterday !!!

[foggieclimber]

I did this one a couple of years ago from a lay-by on the A940. Up and down in under an hour but it was not a particularly interesting route. Your route looks much nicer.

Surprised at the lack of snow - there is still quite a bit more snow on the hills further East.

[gyles]

Thanks for that info gyles, I seem to remember that lump when I was supporting my daughter when she ran the Dava Wat trail race a few years ago, I think the trail passes by on the East side of the hill if I remember correctly. The weather looked fine and little snow about as well, great stuff.

Your welcome

Haha "lump" is a good description! Yeah the Dava Way does swerve round to the east side of the err..... lump.

Weather was fantastic, I was pleasantly surprised there wasn't much snow to contend with.

[Gordie12]

gyles/findhornloon

This is a bit off topic but as you are both locals I don't suppose you have done The Ghost Train Walk on the Dava Way (thinking about doing it this June)??

[gyles]

gyles/findhornloon

This is a bit off topic but as you are both locals I don't suppose you have done The Ghost Train Walk on the Dava Way (thinking about doing it this June)??

I haven't done it but would be interested. I did see it advertised on a signpost whilst walking the Dava Way.

[Gordie12]

gyles/findhornloon

This is a bit off topic but as you are both locals I don't suppose you have done The Ghost Train Walk on the Dava Way (thinking about doing it this June)??

I haven't done it but would be interested. I did see it advertised on a signpost whilst walking the Dava Way.

Sorry gyles, I've really taken this off topic but here's a link to the Dava Way website.

http://www.davaway.org.uk/dava-way-events.html

First time I heard about this I thought it was a bit odd but it's starting to appeal (even if just as a one off to see what it's like).

[findhornloon]

>>This is a bit off topic but as you are both locals
Unfortunately, despite still being a Findhorn loon at heart, I live within touching distance of the Campsies, though I am in Findhorn several times a year. What I recall from going by train to Grantown (probably a steam train) was a steep cutting on the route so I guess it would be a bit creepy in the dark. What exactly is The Ghost Train Walk, I thought the Dava Way basically followed the old railway line.
June is a non-starter for me I will either be walking the River Findhorn from "source to sea" or working in Tanzania !!