Walkhighlands

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

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

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??

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

macq23 wrote: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!!

Gordie12 wrote: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.

heatheronthehills wrote: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.

The Rodmiester wrote:

Gordie12 wrote: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!!!

Gordie12 wrote:

The Rodmiester wrote:

Gordie12 wrote: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.

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!!

Gordie12 wrote: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!