Walkhighlands

Weather report was looking favourable for the weekend so i thought i'd take advantage and do this long route i'd been looking at to see how i fared on longer walks.Managed to get myself up and about early so i left the house shortly before 6 and was parked up at Glen Doll around 8. 2 other cars already in the car park and i assumed it would be full to the brim within a few hours (i was surprised to see it was only half full when i got back to my car.). There was a field full of tents by the clova hotel. \They had a beer festival on which i may well have gone to had i known about it. Would've made for a shorter drive in the morning (but perhaps a heavier head )

Been up here a few times before but the first time i'd headed off along Jock's Road. A pleasant walk through the woodland before emerging out into the open again.


It's a nice stroll along this route, quite a gentle climb. Good views back downas you make your way up through this section.


I chanced upon a few deer, but i couldn't get anywhere near them.

Got the fright of my life thanks to some grouse i disturbed. Devils!

I thought the path was a bit boggy and featureless when you get up in view of Crow Cragies, but it turned out the reason for that was i'd veered left off the path. This turned out to be a good thing because the map suggested i could hop over whitewaters relatively narrow width here and head up Tom Buidhe from here rather than having to loop back there from Tolmount.
The cloud was hugging Lochnagar and it's neighbours over to the west, but the skies were clear in every other direction. Fine views over Mayar and Driesh, and Glass Maol was easily recognisable thanks to the ski-lift workings.


Been windy since i'd left the car, at it's greatest up here, but it was good to reach the summit of the day's first Munro at about 11:15.


Didn't stop too long here. Headed over towards Tolmount where it looked like i could get some shelter from the wind and enjoy some lunch. I hadn't seen a soul so far on the walk, but i could see a lone figure heading down Tolmount towards Tom Buidhe. Nearing the top op Tolmount i could see a couple of groups making their way over from Glenshee way. Took some refuge from the wind south of the summit, took my boots off and stuffed my face.

At this midway point i could decide to drop off and head back down Jock's road to the car if i wasn't feeling up to the long haul walk i'd planned, but i was feeling good so off to Cairn Bannoch it was.
Good view of Loch Callater to be had. I stopped for a brief chat with a couple of guys who were doing Tolmount and Tom Buidhe from there. They'd cycled along to the Loch before starting their walk.


Deer, grouse and frogs aside, there hadn't been too much wildlife to be seen so far, but moving up towards Fafernie the hares and ptarmigan were out to play.


Approaching Cairn Bannoch more people to be seen. 1 man and his dog were going to beat me to the summit and their was a pair of folk some way behind him.
An interesting looking summit to Cairn Bannoch, i was sure i'd gotten a better picture of it.


A quick snap and then onward to the day's final peak. Man and dog had stopped for a bite to eat, so i took the opportunity to put some distance between us. Broad Cairn awaited my presence.


Rockiest summit of the day. A touch of cramp in my quads but nothing too bad. Passed one guy who i think must've been doing the White Mount circuit in reverse. A couple more figures ahead going over the summit too.


Feeling great as i reached the summit. Still a long walk back to the car, but i wasn't thinking about yet, busy revelling in the glory of number 35. A small Norwegian flag standing proud on the cairn.


Savoured the sense of victory and the views briefly then started making my way down. A good number of people making their way up in the sunshine.



The optin of either cutting back over to Jock's Road past Loch Esk, or heading down along the South Esk back to the car, i took the latter option. Should've been a straightforward decent down to the zig-zaggin path which takes you down to the South Esk but i initially missed the turn off, and ended up having to bound through the heather before i got myself back on the path. An extra mile or so that i'd rather not have had to do.

Plenty bees and butterflies as i made my way down to the river. Hopeless getting snapof adult butterflies, but this caterpillar was more accomodating.


A long but pleasant walk along the banks of the South Esk.


A good path, fords in places but mostly passable without the likelihood of wet feet. The exception being the last one, though there is a bridge further up to avoid it, i wasn't paying enough attention and missed that opportunity. No way i was back tracking, so insoles out of boots, gaiters on and the hope that i might stay dry.

A few steps into the near knee-deep water and my boots were filled with chilly water, which on weary feet was a fantastic feeling. Only a couple of miles to go before i was back at teh car so i was fine to suffer the minor discomfort of the soggy socks.

AT LAST! the car park cam into sight acros the river. Almost there. Weary by this point but not too bad considering my day.
Offloaded my rucksack, a chick change and a welcome coffee and my last roll. My concerns over whether i could do a walk of this length long gone. I found this day less of a struggle than the 5miler on Stuchd an Lochain a couple of weeks before.
Much to my surprise, two small blisters were all i had to show for this trek.

A great day out, i look forward to planning my next longer walk.

Congrats on your longest yet and great report of a cracking walk Nathan, and some beautiful pics. Great timing too as I haven't done 3 of the 4 you did here and I've looked at them from the Glen Shee side but it seems a bit of a dull wander - this gives me an option I hadn't considered.

A couple of little blisters is a small price to pay for 4 munros on such a cracking day, reckon those wet feet close to the end was a bonus

Well done nathan. Good to see you back out. Thats a good walk and the weather was lovely. Nice to see you stepping up.

Well done sir a fine long day out. Was wondering what the track is like from Bachnagairn to Glen Doll, is it bikeable, fancy approaching Lochnagar from there and doing a loop taking in Broad Cairn etc.
Looks like you had the weather which make all the difference on a long walk.

Your up there with Monty now Nathan

Well done.

Great report Nathan,still got Tolmount & Tom Budhie to tick of & was looking a this route from Glen Doll along "Jocks Road",looks like the path for most is fairly good,how long do you reckon these two would take car to car if you dont mind me asking

Love the hills in this part of the world, mostly becuse they are local but probably more because they are walks rather than climbs. Great report and good to see people making use of the Bachnagairn to Mouzlie track, often overlooked in favour of Glen Doll and Corrie Fee but a lovely wee spot in its own right, I always think these three glens seem more alpine than Scottish.

gammy leg walker wrote:Great report Nathan,still got Tolmount & Tom Budhie to tick of & was looking a this route from Glen Doll along "Jocks Road",looks like the path for most is fairly good,how long do you reckon these two would take car to car if you dont mind me asking

I did these on a through route from Geln Doll to Braemar but was prob on the summit of Tolmount in around 3-3.5 hours.

brpro26 wrote:Well done sir a fine long day out. Was wondering what the track is like from Bachnagairn to Glen Doll, is it bikeable, fancy approaching Lochnagar from there and doing a loop taking in Broad Cairn etc.
Looks like you had the weather which make all the difference on a long walk.

I have no idea what conditions would be considered bikeable or not but it is a pretty stony bouldery track, wouldn't be me but a mountain biker might think it fine, a little steep as you near the bridge at bachnagairn.

This goes down as one of my favourite hill days. Good to know i'm capable of longer walks. I thought i better up my game in anticipation of the Kintail meet. South Glen Shiel ridge perhaps in my thoughts.

brpro26, From Glen Doll there's probably about 3miles of the track easily do-able on bike before the gradient picks up. I actually noticed some tyre tracks up top as i was moving from Cairn Bannoch to Broad Cairn and there were more on the steep path going down to the south esk.

Gammy, i think i was sat atop Tolmount eating lunch about 12 having set off about 8:15, so i would guess someone fitter and faster than myself could easily do that route in 4 hours.

nathan79 wrote:Gammy, i think i was sat atop Tolmount eating lunch about 12 having set off about 8:15, so i would guess someone fitter and faster than myself could easily do that route in 4 hours.

I am none of the above Nathan

Looks like a really good day out. Perhaps it would be helpful to amend the distance to protect the unwary - from 17 km. to 17 miles.

Enjoyed your report very much, nice one! Glen Clova is a great spot with the links over into Lochnagar area. Great stuff

Bellfield wrote:Looks like a really good day out. Perhaps it would be helpful to amend the distance to protect the unwary - from 17 km. to 17 miles.

Whoops! Good spot!

Bod, i love the area. Not too far a drive from Fife either.