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Date - Sat 25/06/2011
Title - Ben Aigan & Knock More
Route - From Cycle Trails car park up track to Knock More then Ben Again. Didn't take firebreak shortcut. Return same way.
Weather - Dry with slowly clearing cloud. Light breeze
People - Me
Time - 3h
Distance - 12.9km
Ascent - 370m
Max Altitude - 471m
Was in the area yesterday with a few hours to kill so went for a wander up Ben Aigan. It's a popular venue with mountain bikers and there's several constructed trails on the hill. Nobody around today though- just 1 biker passed me all day. I was hoping it would be a clearer day than this so I'd get better summit views- it was forecast to clear later in the day- but (as I heard on telly and seen for myself later) the sky didn't clear up 'til much later than forecast. Stayed dry though and a welcome breeze kept the bugs at bay- although they did come out and chase me during the descent (when the sun made an appearance and breeze died).
The route is straight forward- just stick to the main track from the car park. Many people bypass Knock More and head straight to Ben Aigan by way of a shortcut through a firebreak at NJ323489. I wasn't in a huge rush (and not too excited about bashing up a soggy firebreak) so went the longer way, sticking to the track, up to Knock More before heading over to Ben Aigan. Returned the same way.
Knock More (left) & Ben Aigan (right). Viewed from near Rothes
MTB trails
Track
The mast on Knock More comes into view
Entrance to firebreak shortcut on your left
I stuck to the track and headed for Knock More. Spotted a deer in the distance
Looking NE to distillery warehouses
Approaching Knock More summit mast. Full bars on the phone signal here!
Satellite dishes
Looking across to Ben Aigan from Knock More (took about 40 mins summit to summit)
Approaching Ben Aigan summit. Track weaves around to the side a bit before going up. Possible to bash a direct line through the short heather if you like.
Summit trig point
Looking back across to Knock More
Rothes
South
Ben Rinnes
I could see the sky was trying (not too hard!) to clear so hung around for a little while. Sitting next to the trig I spotted a tin stashed in the rocks- it's full of notes (soaked with water!) from people who have visited the hill
Getting a bit chilly on the summit so started making my way down- took a different path S off the summit to join a track heading NE that soon enough meets the track I ascended on. Looking back, the sky was clearing....a little bit....
I followed the track back up to Knock More
Looking back to Ben Aigan, the blue hole in the sky had closed again
Followed the track back to the car park- about half an hour from the mast
A good wee jaunt- one of the better wee forest covered hills around here with great views- that are much better on a clear day.
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Went down to Findhorn Beach later on at night- had a wander around the sand dunes and the beach for sunset