Hill of Wirren
Posted: Fri Jan 29, 2010 8:10 pmDate. Friday 29th January 2010
Completed by. Dave and Wilson
Weather. Clear skies with plenty snow higher up, good
Visibility, very strong winds at times
Distance. 14 km
Time. 4 hrs 30 mins
Hill of Wirren
Starting from Cowie Hill Farm Near Dalbog Edzell
Never expected to be walking today, but due to the weather I got a lucky escape from work.
Driving up the A90 heading to Aberdeen it soon became apparent that I would not be making it to work today. I got about 7miles north of Laurencekirk then decided that it was not worth the hassle, so I made the call to work and said I was heading back home (another holiday). By the time I got back to Brechin it was after 10am, it had taken 3 hours to travel the tidy sum of 35miles.
Decided I should have plenty time to catch the Graham (The hill of Wirren) up the back of Edzell.
Managed to have some Breakfast, Pack the gear and grab the dog. I was left home by 10.35am and by 10.55 I was parked at the farm.
Was very cold on arrival and the wind was nipping the exposed skin that was on show. Looked like it was going to be a bitterly cold day.
Left the farm heading West passing a open cattle steading on my right and headed through the gate then headed North West for about 400 metres where I arrived at a junction in the track. I decided on taking the more distinct path (mistake), the other path was fairly non distinct so I decided against that one.
After I had travelled ½ km I thought I may be off track as the path was always heading SW I was needing to go more NW, I carried on for about ¾ km and then headed NNW skimming the summit of Hill of Corathro and eventually breaking on to the ridge where the first views of East Wirren were seen. As for the Hill of Wirren, that would not be seen until the summit of East Wirren was reached.
Plenty snow from 500 metres and very very strong winds, but atleast the views were holding out, within no time the summit trig point was reached, and the first sight of the Hill of Wirren came into view.
Now im heading for Hill of Wirren about 1.5 km WNW should have been straight forward but the wind had picked up and the severe spin drift hampered visibility, and when my specs steamed/gummed over I could see nothing, I drifted off coarse slightly and ended up in lower ground on the edge of the corrie NO 5307/7345 deep snow and spin drifts this I could have done without.
15 mins later my second trig point of the day is reached Hill of Wirren.
I head back the way I have come, but this time I catch the summit of Hill of Corathro. There is a nice dry stane cairn just off the summit to the SE that has a nice viewpoint over the surrounding countryside. From here the farm can be seen in the distance about 3km away in the distance.
On the outward journey at the junction in the path at NO5732/7178 take the path to your right heading NW. All this will become clear when heading back as the paths can be seen from higher up.
Completed by. Dave and Wilson
Weather. Clear skies with plenty snow higher up, good
Visibility, very strong winds at times
Distance. 14 km
Time. 4 hrs 30 mins
Hill of Wirren
Starting from Cowie Hill Farm Near Dalbog Edzell
Never expected to be walking today, but due to the weather I got a lucky escape from work.
Driving up the A90 heading to Aberdeen it soon became apparent that I would not be making it to work today. I got about 7miles north of Laurencekirk then decided that it was not worth the hassle, so I made the call to work and said I was heading back home (another holiday). By the time I got back to Brechin it was after 10am, it had taken 3 hours to travel the tidy sum of 35miles.
Decided I should have plenty time to catch the Graham (The hill of Wirren) up the back of Edzell.
Managed to have some Breakfast, Pack the gear and grab the dog. I was left home by 10.35am and by 10.55 I was parked at the farm.
Was very cold on arrival and the wind was nipping the exposed skin that was on show. Looked like it was going to be a bitterly cold day.
Left the farm heading West passing a open cattle steading on my right and headed through the gate then headed North West for about 400 metres where I arrived at a junction in the track. I decided on taking the more distinct path (mistake), the other path was fairly non distinct so I decided against that one.
After I had travelled ½ km I thought I may be off track as the path was always heading SW I was needing to go more NW, I carried on for about ¾ km and then headed NNW skimming the summit of Hill of Corathro and eventually breaking on to the ridge where the first views of East Wirren were seen. As for the Hill of Wirren, that would not be seen until the summit of East Wirren was reached.
Plenty snow from 500 metres and very very strong winds, but atleast the views were holding out, within no time the summit trig point was reached, and the first sight of the Hill of Wirren came into view.
Now im heading for Hill of Wirren about 1.5 km WNW should have been straight forward but the wind had picked up and the severe spin drift hampered visibility, and when my specs steamed/gummed over I could see nothing, I drifted off coarse slightly and ended up in lower ground on the edge of the corrie NO 5307/7345 deep snow and spin drifts this I could have done without.
15 mins later my second trig point of the day is reached Hill of Wirren.
I head back the way I have come, but this time I catch the summit of Hill of Corathro. There is a nice dry stane cairn just off the summit to the SE that has a nice viewpoint over the surrounding countryside. From here the farm can be seen in the distance about 3km away in the distance.
On the outward journey at the junction in the path at NO5732/7178 take the path to your right heading NW. All this will become clear when heading back as the paths can be seen from higher up.
