free to be able to rate and comment on reports (as well as access 1:25000 mapping).
Looking out of the window whilst lying in bed and seeing glorious blue skies over Aberdeen, we decided to head out to Bennachie and spend the afternoon in the local hills of Aberdeenshire. We have driven past Bennachie numerous times and seen the Mither Tap from many walks we have done, but it looked a little intimidating to us as novices, but today was the day we would go and see what it was like.
Arriving at the Back o' Bennachie carpark around 11:20am, we were ready to go at 1130am. There is now a mandatory parking charge for this car park of £2 per car per day. We headed past the picnic tables and came across a superb little stone bridge that lead us to the top of the car park and the start of the walk.
We had a quick read of the local information board before following the Mither Tap Quarry Trail signposts up the hill. Rick had his new camera with him today and was eager to try it out, so we pushed on quite quickly through the forest, stopping at a bench to have a test of the camera, and again at some stepping stone artwork, before making our way up to the heather-lined trail to Little Oxen Craig.
![P1000074.JPG]()
- When I see Bennachie...
![P1000075.JPG]()
- Stepping Stones Artwork
As we made our way higher up the trail, the views of Northern Aberdeenshire started to become impressive.
![P1000082.JPG]()
- Looking out towards Insch
We took the detour to Little Oxen Craig which has an informative sign about the quarrying work they did there and had a short breather, again admiring the views, before heading back to the trail and aiming for the summit of Oxen Craig. The Mither Tap was in full view now and looked as impressive from this side as it does from the other.
![P1000101.JPG]()
- The Mither Tap
We reached the summit of Oxen Craig and were rewarded with not only stunning 360 degree views, but also the summit to ourselves. We sat down on an overhanging ledge and spent a good 10 minutes relaxing in the sun. Lochnager had a nice dusting of snow on it and Ben Avon looked absolutely stunning in it's winter coat. The hills around the Lecht looked like they had a healthy dusting of snow on them too.
![P1000103.JPG]()
- Oxen Craig summit
![P1000112.JPG]()
- Mither Tap from Oxen Craig
We saw a couple of men with a dog coming along the path from Millstone Hill and decided we would let them have the summit to themselves and start our walk to the Mither Tap. As we came down off the summit, we stopped and spoke to one of the men who shared with us his knowledge of the surrounding hills and then we bid farewell and carried on to our destination.
![P1000122.JPG]()
- It looks further than it is
We reached the Mither Tap in no time at all. It looks a long walk, but is quite easy and quick. Halfway up the climb to the summit, we turned left and came around the eastern side and then made our way through up the steps and onto the summit.
![P1000133.JPG]()
- The top of the steps
We took some shots from the summit and then made our way down a short distance on the southern side to a large ledge for some lunch.
![P1000135.JPG]()
- Where we'd been and where we were going
![P1000138.JPG]()
- We climbed down to there for our lunch
After another 10 minute break for something to eat, we made our way back to the steps and headed down a path on the eastern side. We followed it for a short distance until reaching a sign for Craigshannoch.
Halfway along this path, there is a small cairn that we decided to head to and were treated to a splendid view of the Mither Tap.
![P1000157.JPG]()
- The small cairn and the big Tap
We retraced our footsteps and made it to Craigshannoch where we climbed some small steps and found another large ledge to have a 10 minute suntanning session on. We headed back to the main path and had one last look at the Mither Tap before returning to the forest section and back to the car park. Intimidating, no. Memorable, yes!!
We should have come here sooner.
![P1000162.JPG]()
- Goodbye, we will be back
