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The title should really read Mile Hill but mile high sounds like more fun.
Quite why it is called Mile Hill someone is bound to know, maybe it is a mile from the nearest road etc etc. Having said that Mile Hill isn't one of those hills that you want to rush back to.
We haven't been out on a weekday for a while, mainly because those folk that have to work make the roads far too busy and that was certainly the case as we headed north up the M90.
George was unavailable and Parminder volunteered to drive, so we met at Ferrytoll Park & Ride and as the hills weren't expected to be too demanding I suggested 8.30.
As we were going through Blairgowrie again we stopped at our usual spot for a coffee - Starbucks at the new 'wee' retail park on the southside of Blairgowrie. Parminder was looking forward to his sprinkling of cinnamon on his latte, he had to make do with chocolate as there was no cinnamon!
Mile Hill
, 2hrs 1min, 6.5km, 294m of ascent

Renovation ongoing to the entrance at Balintore Castle




Camera photo of Balintore Castle, I had never heard of it before today!

Zoomed photo, it is apparently under renovation, wouldn't fancy paying the bill

View down the road to where we parked for the start of our Mile Hill walk

Leaving the road & onto a cut grass section

Mile Hill, looks a doddle from here

We are going through the gate & then downhill towards the burn & mush

Parminder reckons badgers are responsible?

We spooked a wee deer, that was hiding in the long grass

This doesn't look inviting & it wasn't, we had to tread very carefully to avoid being ankle deep in water

The burn wasn't a problem, getting over the barbed wire fence was

And the barbed wire was rusty to make us take extra care

Looking back down

As you can see from the photo - there is no way of avoiding the long wet grass, from this direction

The hillside to the north of Mile Hill has literally been dug up in rows everywhere in preparation for a mammoth tree planting session

The way ahead

An added problem are new deer fences, luckily there is a style for us to clamber over

A clambering demonstration

Plenty of digging has been carried out

Looking back down and a passing shower decided to pay us a visit

Parminder arriving on the summit plateau

Any idea what the wee pink ribbon means? Some sort of tree planting secret code

Old buildings certainly fairly remote

Not sure what sort of welfare goes on in the van, we think the workers had already packed up for the festive period

Plenty of machinery waiting for them to return

There are also 2 caravans that they maybe stay in
If anyone is planning to tackle Mile Hill from the north you had better plan to do it within the next few years. Once all the trees have been planted and started growing access will definitely be a challenge.
Creigh Hill
, 1hr 6mins, 2.76km, 177m of ascent

Backwater Reservoir from the car

We opted to start from the car park at the side of the reservoir, there is a very large car park just before the dam

Low level shot of the reservoir looking towards the dam

Creigh Hill is up there

We opted to utilise the gate & then it was just a matter of picking your way through the heather and long grass

There is a wee burn in the dip ahead, not a problem

We opted to head up the grassy section, avoiding the heather

Reservoir from slightly higher up

The way ahead, typical Sub 2000 terrain

The other end of Backwater Reservoir now visible

The dam

Looking north across the heather

Northern summit cairn on Creigh Hill

Mile Hill right in the middle of the photo

Loch of Lintrathen

Southern summit of Creigh Hill

We opted for a slightly different descent route, only problem was another barbed wire fence. Parminder made the clambering over easier by attaching a bit of plastic

Looking towards the dam, weather certainly improved as the day progressed

Parking layby

As usual the littering lazy lowlife can drive here & just dump their rubbish

There is a bin but that would mean walking 20 yards
Another cracking days walking, the two hills are fairly close together so they are ideal for a winter walk - providing you have waterproof boots. Hopefully we will get another walk in before Hogmany after Santa has done his rounds.
A happy and safe Christmas to everyone on Walk Highlands and the wider walking community.