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Some Tumps south of Haugh o Glass

Some Tumps south of Haugh o Glass


Postby Gordon Ballantyne » Fri Sep 17, 2021 4:29 pm

Date walked: 16/09/2021

Time taken: 5 hours

Distance: 10 km

Ascent: 400m

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Rain greeted us as we started off to pick up Harvey. However it was short-lived, as we drove west towards Alford and a land illuminated by the September sun.


Craig Watch and Craig Dorney
Parked up on the grass verge at the Brig o Ardgallie as advertised by Dave McG.

Parkup for the Craigs.jpg
Parkup at Brig o Ardgallie for the Craigs



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Took the track through an unlocked gate alongside a fairly deep ravine to where the the overgrown track cut off left.

Entrance to overgrown track on Craig Watch.jpg
The entrance to the overgrown track on Craig Watch



The overgrown trak on Craig Watch.JPG
GordonB and H on the soggy overgrown track below Craig Watch



It was a bit soggy too but the tree planting drills above us ran vertically up the hill and had been used by animals in a few places to gain access to the summit area. One was marked by a white stick, but we continued a little further along the overgrown track before striking up through the trees to emerge not far from the top. A bit of moose-stepping through the heather got us to the fence running over the summit.

Fence on Craig Watch.jpg
The summit fence on Craig Watch



We followed the fence along to the spot.

Top of Craig Watch.jpg
The top of Craig Watch by the fence with Ben Rinnes behind


GordonC spotted a solar powered comms mast in Glenmarkie to the north. Speculated it was a repeater for the grouse shooters.

The comms mast Craig watch.JPG
Solar powered comms mast in Glenmarkie


Returned the same route to the trees - more or less - to where we cut off the main track before it crossed the burn to follow a path skirting the trees on the E side of the Linn Burn to a fence and on the way, noted the parlous state if the footbridge across the burn marked on the map.

Followed the fence on the forest side until another fence forced us into the field on the S side. Followed the fence to the craggy top of Craig Dorney.

H watching gordonB scramble up Craig Dorney.JPG
H watching GordonB scramble up Craig Dorney



H at the top of Craig Dorney.jpg
Harvey at the top of Craig Dorney


Wheres the food.JPG
Where's the food Grandad ?



Took a shortcut from the top to the south, down through the field with the kye, who were huddled beside a feeder away to the W. Exited the field through a gate on to the road and walked along to the car.

Back to the road from Craig Dorney.JPG
Back to the road from Craig Dorney






Gallows Hill

Drove along to a generous track exit to park up.


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Wandered up the track to where another track branched round the back of the wood. GordonC walked up the edge of the wood while I discovered a harvester track through the woods up to the crest of the ridge. The farmer had recently driven up the mapped track to gain access to another field. We "discovered" this track near the top which alleviated our trudge through the long grass.
Arrived at the top marked by a big dockey, a cairn and a wee outlying rise.

Top of Gallows.jpg
Top of Gallows hill


Lone Larch on Gallows.jpg
The Gallows tree ?


W to Dorney From Gallows.jpg
Looking W across to Craig Dorney from Gallows Hill



Topped off all three before descending. Decided to take another adventurous "short-cut" down and struck through the wood, over a BWF and down the lush grassy field to the gate on the path. On the way down we tracked towards a flag flying at the rear of of the buildings of Backside. On the way past, we noticed that the flag looked a bit like the royal standard, although the Fleur de lis looked out of place !
Queen might've been in residence wi Macron !

GordonB snapping the royal standard at Backside.JPG
GordonB snapping the "Royal" standard


IMG_1361.JPG
The "Royal" Standard




Hill of Dumeath

Drove along the road to park at the end of the track beside Chapel Burn at Dumeath,not far from Beldorney Castle.



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Followed the track alongside the burn until we reached the track branching off to the NE. Followed this to a gate then Nw skirting the trees through a young broadleaf plantation, following a faint track prob created by the planters, to reach the fence running over the top.

Heading up Dumeath.JPG
The "planters" path up the edge of the wood on Dumeath


A bit of short, but vigorous moose-stepping ensued until we reached the sanctury of some mown paths around the summit area.

Top o Dumeath.jpg
Top of Dumeath


Thought about another "adventure" straight down to meet the track further down, but resisted the moment and returned the way we'd come up.

Back down Dumeath.jpg
Back down Dumeath through the broadleaf plantation


Back at the car, we unfrocked and headed for the Alford Bistro for a welcome coffee - nectar !.

A sunny day but a wee breeze to keep the flies and midgies away.
Gordon Ballantyne
Munro compleatist
 
Posts: 396
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Joined: Jan 30, 2011
Location: Westhill, Aberdeenshire

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