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The Rinmore Loop - Strathdon

The Rinmore Loop - Strathdon


Postby Gordon Ballantyne » Fri Nov 20, 2020 5:59 pm

Date walked: 20/11/2020

Time taken: 4 hours

Distance: 10 km

Ascent: 440m

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The weather systems seemed to have speeded up, so with rain forecast in the afternoon, we changed tack and did these Strathdon hills instead of the planned Glenlivet ones.
Picked up H and met GordonC in Alford, now that he's returned to duty from his caravan shenanagins.......
Turned off the A944 just beyond Glenkindie, following the sign that we'd passed many times.
Found a parkup that we both managed to squeeze into, just before the start of the track up Garlet.

Parkup for the Rinmpre loop.JPG
Parkup for the Rinmore Loop



our_route.gpx Open full screen  NB: Walkhighlands is not responsible for the accuracy of gpx files in users posts



Walked up the road a wee bit and through a gate at the end of the grassy track
There was still a smattering of yesterdays snow on the ground, but it didn't impede our progress. At the top of Garlet we cut off the track through the heather to the highest point indicated by our GPS - just a tiny knoll.


Top of Garlet.jpg
The top of Garlet Hill



GordonC decided that it was time to don his spats, so I meandered off to find the track again which we followed.
H must've thought there was not going to be any walk , as we were so late in the week, so he belted up and down the track with gay abandon.

On the track to Broom.JPG
GordonB and H on the track over to Broom Hill



Followed the track over to Broom via a gate in a deer fence and then from the fork in the track, up a couple of heather burns to the trig, with some driven snow still sticking to its side.



Top of Broom.jpg
GordonC and Harvey at the Broom Hill trig


GB at Broom Trig.JPG
GB and H at Broom Hill Trig


Back down at the fork in the main track, we met a guy in a 4x4 out shooting deer. Seems Steve had worked with my eldest grandson Chris ! Small world !


Steve the Deerstalker.JPG
GB chatting to Steve the deerstalker below Broom Hill


After a news, we headed over to Roman via a nice track and another unmarked one, ascending from the fork in the tracks.
It threaded up through the trees and alongside the summit larches to a summit plook, just beyond a singleton pine tree - apart from the main larch plantation. We spotted a stag in the larches, which darted off as we approached. A fine specimen !
It was a nice view towards the Glenbuchat hills. ( we've still a few to do there ), with no sign of the forecast rain approaching - in fact the sun was trying to break through in places. ( we weren't complaining )

H Top of Roman.jpg
Gordon C and Harvey on the summit micro-plook at the top of Roman Hill


GB at Roman top.JPG
GordonB with Harvey at the Roman micro-plook top



Trundled back down to the path, then down through the fields and a wee flock of ewes to Glencuie farm. Fortunately, the kye were in the steading, so no problems there with livestock..
Dawdled down the road, appalled that we were off the hill so early - and dry to boot.
Nae rain, although there was a wee spit as we drove off..
However, this meant that we were in time for a bacon roll & coffee in Alford, where one of our neighbours daughters served us.( we didn't recognise her behind her mask ! )
Back at the ranch, there was even still plenty of light for GC to wash his car wheels before garaging it, what efficiency - eh !
Gordon Ballantyne
Munro compleatist
 
Posts: 396
Munros:282   Corbetts:89
Fionas:20   Donalds:7
Sub 2000:59   
Joined: Jan 30, 2011
Location: Westhill, Aberdeenshire

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