Mount Battock from Glen Esk

[BarneyRubble]

We picked a truly wonderful day to do this walk and included our wee Westie Moly again.
It has to be said the first part of this walk lulls you into a false sense of security and you set out on gentle slopes with the burn on your right hand side.

After about 45 mins we passed the sheep pens detailed in the walk description and headed out around Allrey, enjoying the ever more impressive views as we went.The tracks are excellent even when you start the real climb as you cross the burn having rounded Allrey.

Even now you really do not know what you are in for, the hill climbs steeply and progresses past the circular grouse huts which would make a fine halt for a cup of tea or hot soup. You pass these and through a gate between numbers 5 and 6 I think it is. Again this excellent track keeps ascending until right on the crest you turn right onto the boggy path, the day we were there it was very boggy and slippery even with walking poles to assist.

You work your way up to the top of Wester Cairn and as you crest the top Mount Batttock comes into view in front of you. The views from the top of Wester Cairn are impressive to say the least but having got this far you have to complete the walk to reach the summit of Mount Battock. A note here, two thirds of the way to the crest of Wester Cairn the track splits with a fainter track appearing to carry straight on. We took this and when we reached the top it appeared to be the correct choice as the other track lead into what was a very boggy area where the traverse would have been particularly difficult.

We passed through the electric fence without a hitch or shock and continued the climb to the summit. As we reached the Trig point the clouds rolled in and the top was shrouded in cloud and the temperature dropped a good few degrees. With a strong wind on the top the clouds soon moved through to leave us with incredibel views out toward Ballater Aboyne and beyond on one side and back down the valley to Glen Esk on the other.

This was a truly wonderful adventure and for 2 people (and their Westie) who have really only taken to the Angus hills this year one that will have us going back for many more days and experiences of the same type.

[ChrisW]

Good stuff Barney, I did this one myself recently but in reverse,(descended via the track with circular grouse huts) it is certainly less steep in reverse but the ascent track does end in the middle of some significant hags.....would have been a nightmare in the wet. Glad you enjoyed your day