Bennachie (Oxen Craig), Mither Tap and Millstone Hill

[The Rodmiester]

One of the reasons for climbing these hills was that my daughter was running in the Bennachie Hill race in the afternoon which started at 1400hrs, so there was no reason to rush as there was always going to be plenty of waiting time involved, but it was a clear and reasonably bright day yet windy on top although not cold which would be fine for sitting about waiting for the runners to come into view. I left the Bennachie visitors centre to the East of Mither Tap at 0915hrs and walked along the wooded trail towards Mither Tap and branched off on another forestry track between Mither Tap and Millstone Hill as I was to be climbing Millsone Hill first

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Wooded trail

Passing some forestry operations as I go

On my right I can see the very distinctive shape of Mither Tap come into view. I take various turnings on the track basically heading towards Millstone Hill and find a path from a turning area which takes me ont another parked marked Bennachie Donview, take a left turn onto this path and it continues up Millstone Hill. All paths are good for walking.

Looking back to MT from the path up Millstone Hill

A lot of the wetter areas have sleepers with mesh fitted on top to prevent slips

Mither Tap from the summit of Millstone Hill

View back to Millstone Hill from the path going up the South of Mither Tap. If you have a brochure from the visitor centre the path is coloured Pink and is numbered 9

Looking up to the summit of MT from path

View NW from the summit of MT looking towards my next destination Craigshannoch

Summit view East

Looking down to the top of the path from the Visitors centre to MT

Top of path in more detail with Drystane Dykes either side of the well built pathway

MT from the summit cairn of Craigshannoch

View to Bennachie (Oxen Craig) from the summit of Little Oxen Craig

MT from Little Oxen Craig

Oxen Craig from Little Oxen Craig

Path to the summit of Oxen Craig

View Indicator on top of Oxen Craig

Mither Tap

Later on in the afternoon waiting for the runners to appear.

[macq23]

A nice area for walking....even with the everlasting choices of paths available

[Gordie12]

Hi Rod

Hope you enjoyed it - with it being a sunday I was expecting to see more people about but I suppose it was a reasonably early start. I wish I had realised the hills could be walked together rather than starting from the north of Bennachie and driving over to Millstone.

How did your daughter get on??

[heatheronthehills]

This is my home territory, or rather it was until I moved to Conon Bridge a couple of months ago. Lovely to see your pics of your day out. These hills are ingrained in my memory so well....many happy hours spent wandering around. You mention drystone dykes at the Mither Tap, but they are part of an old iron age hill fort. Its amazing to think of people actually living at the Mither Tap all those years ago....I guess the vantage point was pretty good
Our local 'hill' is now Ben Wyvis....it's a bit more of a climb to reach the summit

[The Rodmiester]

A nice area for walking....even with the everlasting choices of paths available

Hi there macq23, some great trails up there, as you say just so many to explore, just a pity Carnoustie has nothing like that!!

[The Rodmiester]

Hi Rod

Hope you enjoyed it - with it being a sunday I was expecting to see more people about but I suppose it was a reasonably early start. I wish I had realised the hills could be walked together rather than starting from the north of Bennachie and driving over to Millstone.

How did your daughter get on??

Hi Gordie, wonderful hills these, glad it was a fine day, the wind was warm, not like today!, bitter or what. Looking better for the West coast thi s weekend though, going up the Ben.

[The Rodmiester]

This is my home territory, or rather it was until I moved to Conon Bridge a couple of months ago. Lovely to see your pics of your day out. These hills are ingrained in my memory so well....many happy hours spent wandering around. You mention drystone dykes at the Mither Tap, but they are part of an old iron age hill fort. Its amazing to think of people actually living at the Mither Tap all those years ago....I guess the vantage point was pretty good
Our local 'hill' is now Ben Wyvis....it's a bit more of a climb to reach the summit

Hi heather, you have been quiet for a wee while, not seen a report. These are wonderful hills, I fancy having a local playground like that Glad you corrected me re the old fort, I suppose the higher up you were the safer you were, but they must of been a hardy lot. I assumed and assumed wrong about Dry Stane dykes, ever since I took a course a couple of months ago, good fun, but hard work! but I survived it I need to go up Little Wyvis and also i, think there are other additional tops I still have to do. At least you still have lots of hills beside you, which is great.

[Gordie12]

Hi Rod

Hope you enjoyed it - with it being a sunday I was expecting to see more people about but I suppose it was a reasonably early start. I wish I had realised the hills could be walked together rather than starting from the north of Bennachie and driving over to Millstone.

How did your daughter get on??

Hi Gordie, wonderful hills these, glad it was a fine day, the wind was warm, not like today!, bitter or what. Looking better for the West coast thi s weekend though, going up the Ben.

Looks like I'm heading West as well (tomorrow) but still not sure exactly where - I need to decide soon!!!

[The Rodmiester]

Hi Rod

Hope you enjoyed it - with it being a sunday I was expecting to see more people about but I suppose it was a reasonably early start. I wish I had realised the hills could be walked together rather than starting from the north of Bennachie and driving over to Millstone.

How did your daughter get on??

Hi Gordie, wonderful hills these, glad it was a fine day, the wind was warm, not like today!, bitter or what. Looking better for the West coast thi s weekend though, going up the Ben.

Looks like I'm heading West as well (tomorrow) but still not sure exactly where - I need to decide soon!!!

She was 5th overall, I think she overdid a training run the week before, something like 40 miles, legs had not really recovered, NO WONDER! Where you going I'm heading to Bunroy campsite at Roybridge but hope to do something en route, fancy meeting up? I'm doing the Ben Clean up on the Saturday.

[Gordie12]

Sorry Rod, I've been offline and just seen your post.

I'm doing the Creag Meagaidh circuit tomorrow, hoping to start at around 9am - too late to contact you now and arrange anything.

Next time!!

[The Rodmiester]

Sorry Rod, I've been offline and just seen your post.

I'm doing the Creag Meagaidh circuit tomorrow, hoping to start at around 9am - too late to contact you now and arrange anything.

Next time!!

Hell I was thinking the same, but I've slept in, so I think I would run out of daylight, cannot see me getting away until back of 0830hrs now, next time!