free to be able to rate and comment on reports (as well as access 1:25000 mapping).
Weather looked perfect for the first mountain of the year. Set off just after 8am, with mostly clear skies, and around 0C, no bother as I quickly warmed up on the ascent.
Stunning views as the sun began to rise behind me, and I saw red squirrels in the trees eating from the feeders. The water level at the first ford was higher than my boots but helpfully someone has built two bridges to get around this, which aren’t mentioned in the walk description. Thought I was going to fall at the first hurdle before I saw the bridges!
Then the grouse jump-scaring began. Now, I love birds but grouse scare me every time they explode out the heather. All I could hear was the sound of my footsteps, the stream, grouse squawking at each other, and the occasionally FLAP FLAP FLAP “OH JESUS CHRIST” as one flew off from right next to the path. I was surprised my watch didn’t tell me my stress levels were high, and maybe I should relax.
As recommended by the route, I took a small detour to check the second ford. It was definitely too high to cross (would have been over my boots) so I resigned myself to just doing and out and back. A little further into the walk I noticed a different path coming down off Hill of Saughs, which wasn’t on my OS map but did show up on the WalkHighlands map. It looked like a good way to make the route circular, since I couldn’t follow the path off the top of Saughs to the ford, as in the description.
The views just kept getting better and better the higher I walked. Could see Lochnagar (I’ll get you one day!) and the surrounding snowy peaks clearly.
The path was pretty much snow free until you cross over the cattle grid (tad icy in places but manageable), and after that there was snow underfoot to the summit. Nothing unmanageable at all, the trickiest parts where as you get up to and come off the summit of Mount Battock where there’s no clear path (at least not in the snow!), and you’re walking on top of heather and peat. Foot went in deeper than expected a few times, so I was very glad to have my cheat stick with me.
Views from the summit were fantastic. Pretty sure I could see over to the coast (didn’t take photos in that direction - hands were too cold). It was a bit nippy at the top, so I didn’t hang around too long. As with the final bit of the ascent, the first 1km off the top towards Hill of Saughs was a bit tricky with the heather and peat but doable with care. Again, stunning views all around and could see over to Clachnaben, which I did a few weeks ago.
Took the path going to the right off the top off Hill of Saughs and follow it until it rejoined the path I’d ascended up. Not the most exciting view but it did the job. Some loose stones and gravel, so mind that underfoot. Then returned the same way I’d ascended, and returned to the car happy and tired.
