Climb to the finest peak on Bennachie, the impressive Mither Tap, with its rocky granite summit surrounded by the remains of a historic hill fort. Return across moorland and through mixed woodland, leaving time to visit the Bennachie Visitor Centre where this route starts.
Summary
Clear waymarked paths in woods and exposed moorland, steep climb, rocky steps onto summit.
Terrain
Users'
rating
None to start, nearest bus Pitcaple (Inverurie to Huntly route) 45 mins walk from start
Open Traveline Scotland
Public transport
1. The Bennachie Visitor Centre is south of the Chapel of Garioch and is well signed. An informative visitor centre and toilets can be found at the car park. There is a map with the waymarked routes. This walk follows the green Mither Tap Timeline Trail up to the summit of Mither Tap and then takes the pink Mither Tap Heather Brig Trail down to link to the Gordon Way to form a circuit. From the information board head to the left as you face the board and follow the wide path through the trees alongside a small stream.
2. Keep straight on when the all-abilities trail leaves to the right. At the next junction keep straight on, following the waymarkers and at the next junction when the Gordon Way goes off to the left bear right on the waymarked trail to pass a bench. This soon passes the remains of a house. The whole of Bennachie used to be common land where people could dig peats, quarry stone and graze livestock. In the early 19th century, scarcity of land forced people to squat in this area and form a community. However local landowners pushed through a new law that divided up the common land between them so they could charge rent. Many could not afford the rent and the community died out as people were forced to move away.
3. After entering the pine trees bear right on the waymarked path and head uphill. At a T junction turn right and soon turn left into the dense trees. The trees thin and then as the path passes a bench, the trees become denser for a short while before the natural tree line is climbed passed - ignore a short detour to the right to a bench.
4. The pitched stone path climbs up the heather-clad tip of the Mither Tap. As the path climbs the views over the flat countryside towards the sea and Aberdeen improve and Millstone Hill comes into view on the left. Near the top, ignore the path to the right which leads to Rowan Tree car park and continue ahead. The stones of hill fort which surrounds the rocky summit of Mither Tap can be seen. The fort is undated but is thought to have been built in the dark ages and consists of two walls (now in a ruinous state) running around the part of the summit which does not have natural stone walls. Follow the path up and at the junction head left to climb up through the fort entrance and eventually up the granite slabs to the summit at 518m.
5. The views are superb, with rich farmland leading away east to the coastline and the North Sea, whilst heather moors head west towards Oxen Craig, the highest summit of Bennachie. Return through the fort entrance and then turn to the left to follow a clear path around the north side of the summit crag. Keep on the main path which bears left and look out for a junction where you turn left down a steeper pitched path.
6. This curves left and heads south with Millstone Hill directly in front before reaching birch and rowan trees and then pines. At the junction with 2 other paths turn left to follow a section of the Gordon Way. The path heads into the pines and turns sharp left still on the path. When the path emerges on a wide track head across this diagonally to the left. Continue on this path, ignoring a track coming in from the right. Soon the junction near the bench passed earlier is reached, turn right here to retrace your steps to the Bennachie Centre, keeping on the main path and ignoring any paths leading off it.
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