Benaquhallie. A quick walk after Arwen
Posted: Wed Dec 08, 2021 1:17 pmAfter all the damage inflicted in the North East by storm Arwen, I didn't think it was sensible to go too far, or attempt anything that went through any forests due to the large number of trees down. A quick look at the map, and Benaquhallie seemed to tick all the boxes. The forecast was for the sun to break through around lunchtime, which allowed for a 'relaxed' morning.
I decided to park in the area highlighted by mountainminx in her report, although I did manage to drive past it, so turned round, passed it again, before approaching slowly and squeezing into this area. You could get 2 cars here, if well parked, but the passenger side was almost touching the bank and the car is just off the road.
A quick walk up the side of the road to the quarry, and then across the B9119 and into the farm track. Once through the first gate it was quickly up the bank and into the field, staying close to the wall on the left, and up through the gate into the moorland. From here you can see the large cairn to the South of the Trig Point quite clearly. There wasn't as much snow laying as I had thought.
From here, you just follow the ATV track, keeping the fence to your left as you climb Tulloch Hill, and as the ATV track (now with a wall to the left) curves to the right, you just follow it.
As you come to the small larch wood, there is now a break in the wall with an ATV track through it, although there was an ATV track that did appear as though it would go through the wood. Not sure if I would be able to get back across the wall if I went left, so I headed into the little wood. I found many tress down blocking the way, so I stayed as close to the wall as possible before rejoining the ATV track on the other side. At which point there is another break in the wall, so I could have easily avoided the wood if I had known.
The track now just goes straight up
This brings you right up to the trig point
There is a clear track to the large cairn
This provides a nice shelter while having some coffee and snacks while taking in the views. Even though the wind was light, after @25 minutes you feel a chill, so I set off back
This time I avoided the wood, otherwise the return route is the just the reverse of the ascent route.
Before long I was back at the road. It was a good little short walk and I was happy that the weather had been kind
I decided to park in the area highlighted by mountainminx in her report, although I did manage to drive past it, so turned round, passed it again, before approaching slowly and squeezing into this area. You could get 2 cars here, if well parked, but the passenger side was almost touching the bank and the car is just off the road.
A quick walk up the side of the road to the quarry, and then across the B9119 and into the farm track. Once through the first gate it was quickly up the bank and into the field, staying close to the wall on the left, and up through the gate into the moorland. From here you can see the large cairn to the South of the Trig Point quite clearly. There wasn't as much snow laying as I had thought.
- Initial view with the large cairn visible
From here, you just follow the ATV track, keeping the fence to your left as you climb Tulloch Hill, and as the ATV track (now with a wall to the left) curves to the right, you just follow it.
- The track to the top
As you come to the small larch wood, there is now a break in the wall with an ATV track through it, although there was an ATV track that did appear as though it would go through the wood. Not sure if I would be able to get back across the wall if I went left, so I headed into the little wood. I found many tress down blocking the way, so I stayed as close to the wall as possible before rejoining the ATV track on the other side. At which point there is another break in the wall, so I could have easily avoided the wood if I had known.
- Many uprooted tress in the small wood
The track now just goes straight up
- The track heading up
This brings you right up to the trig point
There is a clear track to the large cairn
This provides a nice shelter while having some coffee and snacks while taking in the views. Even though the wind was light, after @25 minutes you feel a chill, so I set off back
This time I avoided the wood, otherwise the return route is the just the reverse of the ascent route.
Before long I was back at the road. It was a good little short walk and I was happy that the weather had been kind