Clachan Yell and Black Craig
Posted: Wed Jan 18, 2012 7:51 pmOn the day many were heading back to work after the Hogmanay break, a fine morning was too good to miss. I set out from Glen Tanar car park for a round of Clachan Yell and Black Craig.
Caledonian Pines are what Glen Tanar is about really, and this one near the start of the walk is a cracker. It set me to reflecting on how many of our forest specialities are coloured to match these trees; Pine Martens and Squirrels match the red of the upper limbs perfectly, as does the cock Crossbill, while the hen is green to blend in with the needles. Crested Tits match the grey and lichen speckled lower reaches of the trees pretty exactly too.
Heading up initially to a small viewpoint, the forest stretches away to the south toward Mount Keen and Braid Cairn.
After a climb SW through a pine plantation, the track emerges out onto the moor below Clachan Yell's NE ridge (White Hill). This dead giant was very dramatic; the tree near it shows which way the wind blows here!. It was good to see lots of young seedlings on this bit of moor which haven't been chomped by deer.
From near a small lochan it's a straightforward climb over neather to the summit tor of Clachan Yell. At 626m, hardly a massive hill but a great viewpoint. The hill in the distance is Morven above the Howe o' Cromar.
Another view from the summit of Clachan Yell. There was almost no snow about, but a chilly wind reminded me that it's still winter....
On the way to Black Craig the going is on wind cropped heather with clumps of deer grass. This was fairly glowing like flame in the low sun, just beautiful.
Black Craig is actually a better viewpoint than Clachan Yell. From it's summit dome (not even a hint of a cairn and better for it), you get Mount Keen and Braid Cairn to the south, the Cairngorm giants to the east, while to the north and west are the Aberdeenshire landmarks of Bennachie and Clachnaben. It's amazing how visible these two are from a wide range of hills.
I reached the bridge in upper Glan Tanar at sunset with about 10km or so to walk down the glen. this was a great stroll which encompassed sunset, twilight and the rising of a huge full moon. Lots of Roe deer in the forest too.
These two hills aren't on any list I don't think, but they do make a nice round. All this and only 20 minutes to drive home - a lovely winter day.
http://mountainandseascotland.blogspot.com/
Caledonian Pines are what Glen Tanar is about really, and this one near the start of the walk is a cracker. It set me to reflecting on how many of our forest specialities are coloured to match these trees; Pine Martens and Squirrels match the red of the upper limbs perfectly, as does the cock Crossbill, while the hen is green to blend in with the needles. Crested Tits match the grey and lichen speckled lower reaches of the trees pretty exactly too.
Heading up initially to a small viewpoint, the forest stretches away to the south toward Mount Keen and Braid Cairn.
After a climb SW through a pine plantation, the track emerges out onto the moor below Clachan Yell's NE ridge (White Hill). This dead giant was very dramatic; the tree near it shows which way the wind blows here!. It was good to see lots of young seedlings on this bit of moor which haven't been chomped by deer.
From near a small lochan it's a straightforward climb over neather to the summit tor of Clachan Yell. At 626m, hardly a massive hill but a great viewpoint. The hill in the distance is Morven above the Howe o' Cromar.
Another view from the summit of Clachan Yell. There was almost no snow about, but a chilly wind reminded me that it's still winter....
On the way to Black Craig the going is on wind cropped heather with clumps of deer grass. This was fairly glowing like flame in the low sun, just beautiful.
Black Craig is actually a better viewpoint than Clachan Yell. From it's summit dome (not even a hint of a cairn and better for it), you get Mount Keen and Braid Cairn to the south, the Cairngorm giants to the east, while to the north and west are the Aberdeenshire landmarks of Bennachie and Clachnaben. It's amazing how visible these two are from a wide range of hills.
I reached the bridge in upper Glan Tanar at sunset with about 10km or so to walk down the glen. this was a great stroll which encompassed sunset, twilight and the rising of a huge full moon. Lots of Roe deer in the forest too.
These two hills aren't on any list I don't think, but they do make a nice round. All this and only 20 minutes to drive home - a lovely winter day.
http://mountainandseascotland.blogspot.com/
. Never heard of these before, and just assumed by the names that they would be on Shetland or somewhere.