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A balmy day for Aberdeenshire in January reaching 10degrees C.
A light breeze which we were screened from on most of our walking.
Battle Hill
Parked up in the public car park at the bottom of the hill.
- Public car park for Battle Hill
Followed the track on the N side then the signposted one for the top, past what we thought was a newly dug grave for a dog. Nice to be planted on you fav walk !
- The path up the N side of Battle Hill
- A commemorative tree on Battle Hill
- The signpost on Battle Hill near the "dog grave"
- View of Huntly from Battle Hill
At the top we struck off the track to find the highest spot and blundered around among brash, brambles and wild roses. Finally we declared the top and retreated back to the car.
- GordonC in the brambles at the top of Battle Hill
Newtongarry
Parked up in an agri-dump area across the road in plenty of room without obstruction any farm work.
- Parkup for Newtongarry
- Looking back to the Newtongarry parkup across the road
Toddled up the track through the row of old beeches and thence through an open gate into a grassy glebe. The pimple top was obvious, but we sauntered across to inspect a possible ciste beside a beech tree a little further over, as well.
- GordonC n the top plook of Newtongarry
- GordonB and Harvey at the Newtongarry "ciste".
Greenfold Hill & Hill of Mungo
A false start. Plan A was to access the forest via Annatswell, but as we passed the first house, the lady came out and warned us not to go this way, as the access to the forest track was through the next house's garden. So after a chat we took her advice and returned to the car and parked opposite the track up to Mungo via the scrap yard ( empty).
- Sign on the empty scrapyard below Mungo
Wandered along the track to do Greenfold first, through massive winfdall from Arwen. Cut off the track through mature trees to the top.
- Windfall across the track below Mungo
- Top of Greenfold
Returned to the junction for Mungo then along the track to the E of the top until level with it, then up a FB in mature trees to the top.
- Top of Mungo
- GordonB descending the firebreak from Mungo
Returnd back down to the track and then to the car..
Hill of Cruchie
Parked up on a draw-off beside the N end of the wood.
- Parkup for Cruchie
Walked up the road which now serviced two new houses instead of the old gravel pit. Up round the back of the wood via a stubble field until met by a heap of dung and an electric fence.
The fence wasn't active, so it was an easy crossing. As we approached the top we saw what we initially thought was a dead ewe lying on it's back. As we approached, its legs started to flail forlornly - much to our surprise. I hung on to Harvey - who wanted to round it up, while GordonC grabbed its fleece and righted it. It stumbled off a wee bit after being erected, then settled down behind some gorse while we sorted out which one of the lumps was the true top. As usual, every one looked higher from the other, so we accepted the OS spot Ht.
- GordonC and the rescued ewe at the top of Cruchie
- The view E across the fields from Cruchie
We retreated to the car and left the ewe resting peacefully - the right way up -. Sheepus Erectus !
White Hill
Parked at the junction off to Cairnton. A couple of diggers had been improving the field drains in the corner of the nearest field, but were currently idle......
- GordonB starting off up White Hill over the dyke
We chose the field to the E of the strip of beech heading up White Hill, first negotiating an estate dyke followed by a deep field drainage ditch, then across a squelchy stubble field to the beeches at the other side, whereupon we "discovered" a track leading into a mini-quarry.
An animal track led up by the side of the estate dyke to a fence at the top which had the mesh, (used for forcing game birds to rise ) - conveniently missing, just at the right spot.
We ducked under it and followed an animal track W until the whins above petered out and afforded us a way through the forestry brash up to the trees. We headed into a gap in the trees, but at the top, we came out again on the W of the top and found a tree stump which we declared the top and took our pictures.
- GordonC on the summit stump of White Hill with Mungo behind
We returned W directly to the track that circumnavigates the top and followed it round to the E a wee bit, then descended through the ankle-twisting, leg-breaking brash to the top of the beeches.
GordonC ripped his hill-bag, ducking under the fence. We descended the track from the mini-quarry to the road, then down the road to the car.
- The track down from White Hill by the beeches beside a braw estate dyke
We could've made it a wee bit easier driving up to park at the bottom of the track and ascending this way - but hey ho, as usual, the perfect route is always found on the way down !
A great day out on a "spring" day befitting of April and not atraditional January.
Not complaining - we''ll take it !