A quick border raid

[Jaxter]

The Buck 4.8 km, 378m ascent, 1 hour 48 mins

The weather in the East seemed to be a bit better, and I was tempted by some different hills that all had high starting points - it would be nice to get up a bit higher without having to put in too much effort.We found a spot to get the car off the road, and walked a few metres back along the road to where a faint track started up The Buck


The path was a bit unclear, and as it turned out on the way down, we had started up a less clear branch of it As we continued it did become easier to follow, and also a bit squishy across the initial flatter section. Soon we started gaining height more steeply which gave us nice views back the way, and as the steep section started to ease we could see the pile of rocks at the summit


Looking back


We had been fairly sheltered from the wind lower down but now it was brutal as we made the final ascent to the summit


We could see Bennachie in the distance


Tap O' Noth


The edge of the Cairngorm plateau


Climbing to the top of the pile of rocks was a struggle. and once there it was necessary to hold onto both hat and trig point


We decided to beat a hasty retreat and eat lunch in the car


Slightly better version of the path


Of course, as we approached the car, the sun came out


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Tap o' Noth 5.07km, 344m ascent, 1 hour 27 mins

Although I'd felt pretty knackered during the walk, after warming myself up in the car, a break and some lunch I was feeling like I might be able to make an attempt on a 2nd small hill - Malky drove us around to the car park for Tap O' Noth and we headed off - no danger of missing the path this time


Once we'd passed through a gate, the path was lovely and wide and easy underfoot


Looking back - the weather had definitely brightened up!


We could see our target ahead


After another gate, the path turned left and rose gradually


It then zig-zagged back and as it climbed steeply we could see across to The Buck


Bennachie


Another zig-zag took some of the sting out of the gradient


The summit finally in view - another couple of zigs to go...


Strange shape in the field below - looked like one of those chalk outlines they put around bodies


Ben Rinnes (I think)


Looking across to The Buck


Finally at the summit which turned out to be a hill fort!


Surprisingly we had been sheltered from the wind the whole way up, but as I decided to walk around the edge of the wall, it hit us with full force


Amazing light on The Buck


Trying not to fall off Tap O' Noth


Looking back across the fort


The sky was starting to look very cool as we started our descent


The sun disappearing behind The Buck


The sky became even more dramatic as we dropped height








The moon starting to come out as we neared the car


A nice day out in a part of the world I rarely visit - and happy to have managed both hills, even if they were wee!!