Ben Rinnes is the dominating summit of Moray and is a very popular hillwalk. The views, as might be expected, are extremely extensive, taking in much of northeast Scotland.
Summary
Well-worn hill path; straightforward hillwalk in good summer conditions.
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1. The usual place to start the ascent is from the small parking area on a minor road which branches north from the B9009. Ben Rinnes is very popular and the spaces are quite limited so it is a good idea to get here early if possible. The walk begins through the gate and follows a rising track which slopes across the hillside to the left. The track soon zig-zags up to the top of Round Hill where it levels off briefly and there is a first view of Ben Rinnes. Already there are good views back over Glen Rinnes.
2. The wide path heads through a gate in a fence and then continues the climb, this time up Roy's Hill. It levels off again at around 535 metres and descends very briefly. The main part of the ascent is now in clear view ahead; the original steep, direct line up the Black Banks had become very eroded and the path now has a much improved line, zig-zagging up the slope to ease the gradient and with pitched stone steps in places. Avoid short-cutting the zig-zags as this causes erosion.
3. This climb is certain to work up a sweat, but the views become more extensive with every step. At the top of the zig-zags the gradient eases slightly and the rocky tors of the summit come into view, seemingly near at hand. Reaching them, however, still takes a little more effort that might be expected.
4. The trig point, white-washed and gleaming in the sun, is situated atop a granite tor, and is capped with a view indicator. There is no better viewpoint in this part of Scotland, with most of the Moray coast visible as well as far into Aberdeenshire. Bennachie is easily indentifiable, whilst to the west is the great mass of the Cairngorms; Ben Avon being the most prominent with its granite tors.
5. The summit rocks also provide some welcome shelter from the wind. Although there are many possible ways up Ben Rinnes, none are quite so straightforward as that described and all end at different points, so the best option is to return the same way, enjoying the grand views in a more leisurely manner.
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