Some TUmps aroond Achnagatt

[Gordon Ballantyne]

We abandoned Wed because of the wee dusting of snow that greeted us that morn.
With Friday the last chance for an outing this week, I picked up GordonC and Harvey and we headed off round the AWPR to the Ellon hinterlands near Auchnagatt. ( makes me think of "Scotland the What" inviting the Queen to open their sports ! ).
Some fluffy clouds and a chilly breeze, but a nonetheless sunny morning greeted us at the end of the drive up to Hillhead farm.


Elphin Hill

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Parkup for Elphin at the end of the track to Hillhead

Squeezed in by the wheelie bins to park up, then up the farm track and through a gate into a grass field containing the top. Luckily for us, the kye in this field were still milling around their shed and couldn't see us, so we made it unhindered to the top. There was a rocky outcrop top and over the way a wee bit, a concrete "cistern". - either of which could've been the top.

Elphin Hill "cistern" top

The rock outcrop "ither" top of Elphin

Managed to return to safety of the farm before the kye - emerging from the shed, noticed us.
Some fine looking "Toffee coos" came to inspect us on the way back down the track to the car. .

"Toffee coos" on the way back

Highland cattle inspect our credentials

Hill of Dudwick

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Grass verge parkup for Dudwick at Firbank

Parked up on the grass verge just before Firbank, then walked up the track to Sunnybank. From the farm up through a couple of gates to arrive at the Met Office radar station.

Met Office weather radar station on Dudwick

Hopped over the fence and round the back to the trig. in a grass field.

Trig at the back of the radar station at Dudwick

Logan Hill

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Parked up on the verge at the end of the track into Mains of Elrick, across from a bonny sign with a couple of imposing bulls on it.

Parkup for Logan by the Bulls

We trundled up the track to the farm and, just as we were passing, a young alsation dog came bounding out to greet Harvey and proceeded to play with his new found friend. Shortly, the lady of the house followed the dog out to retrieve him.
We intimated out intention to walk up the track a wee bit then up to the top of the hill. She immediately warned us not to go into the field as the cows had calves and woud attack us. We thanked her for the warning and started chatting. It transpired that she was a hillwalker too, so we swopped a few hill tales, since she was going to Braemar to walk this weekend. We were about to retreat when she took pity on these two downcast auld codgers and offered to shaperone us up the field on her quad-bike.
Much surprised, we gratefully accepted and opended the gate into the field. She drove up and placed the bike between the kye and the top of the hill while we took our summit shots, then we immediately retreated back to safety on the other side of the gate.

Top of Logan with the quad guard protecting us from the kye - who ignored us.

Poor Harvey had to be left guarding my hillbag for a wee bit while we executed this short foray. Extra treats for doing this without any protest - weel done H, taking one for the team !
We engaged in a bit more hill chat as Max the young alsation and Harvy played around us, then as we reluctantly dragged ourselves away from this very pleasant encounter, the farmers wife offered us some eggs she'd just recoverd from a nearby huttie. Who said all farmers are grumpy ! - nae this een. Thankyou Lisa - you made our day and saved our lives !
As we headed off back to the car - Mad Max followed us down the track in spite of our efforts to shoo him back, until he was called back home by his owner who'd realise he was missing. We waved goodby and strode off.
Down near the car, I spotted a pound coin on the track - so I'm owe you a quid Lisa ! Mains o Elrick jist keeps giving.......



Hill of Skillmafilly

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A quick scoot round by Achnagatt and down part of the Formartine way to Skilmafilly ( sounds like it should be located in Ireland ! ).
The gate up to the wind turbine was open, so we drove up and parked by the nearest turbine.

Parkup for Skilmafilly

A short stroll to the highest point a few metres away felt like cheating - but hey - somebody has to do it !

Walking back from the grassy top of Skilmafilly

We had our piece stop here in the comfort of the car, with the turbine blades woosh - wooshing overhead.


Hill of Drumwhindle

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I'd originally intended to park at the end of the track into Braehead, but there wasn't much room, so we returned to the high point of the road and parked in a spacious passing place. A gate gave us convenient access to the field with a couple o big dubs in it. At the top of the field we had to negotiate a dyke & BWF to gain access to the next field containing the trig - nae bother.
By this time it had warmed up as the sun was still shining.

The trig of Drumwhindle Hill

The top o Drumwhindle

Carding Hill

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Parked at the spacious South Lodge entrance to Arnage Castle. ( There is also some parking space at the nearby crossing of the Formartine way )

Parkup at S. Lodge for Carding Hill

Carding wood from the Arnage Castle drive

Walked up the drive to gain entry over a creaky fence into the grass field beyond and thence, Carding wood. We walked up the field then through the wood to ascend the tor hidden in the middle.

On top of the Carding Hill tor in the summit wood

Down the grass field from Carding

Returned the same way, disturbing a wee herd of roe deer that bounded away across the fields.

Drove back down the road towards Newmacher to Beauty Hill - recently added to the list.


Beauty Hill

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We overshot the road end at West Cannahars and did a loop round by Kingseat approaching the track into Beauty from the West. The road in to Hillhead was tarmac'd, so we drove along it through Hillhead of Cannahars. Just beyond, we found a dumping area which afforded a convenient parkup.

Parkup at the rubbish tip for Beauty Hill

Walked along to Cannahars, pursued by a couple of barking collies and past Hillhead, which was some sort of equestrian setup.
At the end of the track, we passed through a gate then ascended round the end of the horse paddock up through a grassy field to a rickety wall and BWF bordered by gorse. This was negotiated through a gap in the gorse without much trouble giving us access to the trig point and the adjacent spot height.

The trig on Beauty Hill

The Spot Height on Beauty with the curtain of rain approaching

At this point we could see a curtain of rain heading out way, so returned to the BWF & dyke. The fence was no problem for us, but there was no-where for H to jump the fence and land safely, so I decided to lift him across. GordonC crossed first, catching his nether regions on the BW as the wall crumbled when he stood on it. Having extricated himself from the fence and parked his sticks, he returned atop the rickety wall to take H from me. Just as I handed H over, H gave a wriggle, shooting his back legs out. They caught GC full on the chest, and as GC hadn't quite steadied himself, he toppled backwards off the dyke in slo-mo into the gorse bushes behind. Luckily GC had his waterproofs and gloves on, so avoided multiple perforations from the prickly whins. H by this time had hopped down onto the other side of the fence and was wondering what all the stooshie was about. I managed to get over the fence and help GC oot o his upside doon position in the gorse, with his feet up on the dyke. He was chuckling away at the absurdity of it all ! No damage done luckily !
Quickly glourin around to see if anyone had witnessed this debacle, we then scuttled off down the field and back to the car, arriving after the rain had passed. Good old weather fairies - we must be back in favour.

Back at the car, we unfrocked and cruised off to find our way on to the AWPR and home - whit an eventful, but braw day !