A skite around Bennachie

[dugred]

Far’s my boots?
Decided to get up early and head out to Bennachie for a wander around it’s beautiful tops. Made a flask of tea, packed my bag and set off in time for sunrise at the Back ‘ Bennachie car park.

It was frosty and the temp gauge read – 3, which is not too bad. I set off through the forest and was soon out in the open. So far the path had been frozen but not slippy but from the end of the forest onwards the path was solid ice and the now falling snow was making it an interesting ascent.

It still didn’t take long to reach Little Oxen Craig but the usual good views were non-existent due to snow and fog.

From there, in an attempt to get a photo of something….anything other than fog, I went across to Craigshannoch, had a look around at nothing and went across the Mither Tap with the same resulting view.

I had a cup of tea in some shelter then skited my way over to Oxen Craig. By the way, if skited is not a real word it should be. I stuck around long enough to get covered in snow then started the slippy walk back down to the car park, falling half a dozen times in the process much to the amusement of a watching pheasant.

Now I know why they make a laughing noise when they fly off, they are actually laughing! I enjoyed polishing off the tea and was soon on my way home to a warm bath and bacon roll (separately of course) before watching the Dons get a rare victory on TV. A really enjoyable morning’s walk/skate and worth getting up for….I think!

[kevsbald]

Liked this wee report of my favourite local hill fan I'm hame to see the folks - and skited is definitely a word! Whether it exists beyond Aberdeenshire is none of my business but maybe we should start a campaign?

[morag1]

I like this report, I've yet to get up Bennachie but have had my eye on it for some time

Not sure if I want to skite around it though

[dugred]

I used a few other words when I was slipping about but yes, "skited" is word I'll use more often in polite conversation.

[dooterbang]

Phew, at firt i read this as a SH... around Bennachie

Nice we walk and looked as if microspikes would have helped.

[mrssanta]

skite is definitely a word but they don't use it much around here. but it's not just aberdeen-land, my lot are from the West and we use it.

[Tomsie]

I love this hill and have being up it plenty of times before I started on the munro's to get fitness up.

Here 3 years and not sure if I had heard skited, but probaly just nodding at the time when they blethering

[SouthernUplandKing]

A nice wee hill, the smaller one's often give the best adventure

I'm an ugly Southerner and even I know what Skited mean's

"Just aboot skited richt ontae ma erse there"

Or my personal favourite,

"Am just gon a donner doon yonder road"