walkhighlands

Share your personal walking route experiences in Scotland, and comment on other peoples' reports.
Warning Please note that hillwalking when there is snow lying requires an ice-axe, crampons and the knowledge, experience and skill to use them correctly. Summer routes may not be viable or appropriate in winter. See winter information on our skills and safety pages for more information.

The Buck

The Buck


Postby litljortindan » Sat Feb 21, 2015 4:14 pm

Route description: The Buck of Cabrach

Fionas included on this walk: The Buck

Date walked: 20/02/2015

Time taken: 2.5 hours

Distance: 4 km

Ascent: 320m

Register or Login
free to be able to rate and comment on reports (as well as access 1:25000 mapping).



320m of ascent according to the map but if you took into account the up and down due to the boggy tussocky bit in the middle you're probably talking twice that. At least. Actually, that's an exaggeration because the frozen ground provided the mixed blessings of solidifying a lot, but not all, of the bog and of turning the path into an icy runnel.
So I struggled over that first bit but once onto easier ground I had a really enjoyable walk to the top. The MWIS forecast for the Cairngorms wasn't that encouraging but on the Buck, a Cairngorm/mounatin wannabee, things were fairly tame. Yes cold and frozen at the bottom but pretty springy higher up.
And the views, the views on the way up are amazing and, at the top, twice as amazing. On the way up you have a panorma of Rinnes, Convals, Bin of Cullen, Knock Hill, Foudland Hill, Tillymorgan, Waughton, Bennachie and co. That middle bit was particulary interesting to see as my first four wee walks this year were in amongst that lot.
At the top the wind became a lot more noticeable and blowing a bit of gale but only at the trig point (that sits atop a sort of tor); just below was really quite calm and cosy. Aside from the eye catching snowiness of the distant Cairngorms the other thing to catch the eye was a windfarm to the south east. Who put that there? Sure it wasn't there in 2012, last time I was here.
Anyway, that lovely northern panorama is perfectly complemented at the summit by an equally lovely southern panorama. Looking the the map I see there is a possible route over to Glen Buchat too -that would be a fine walk.
The way down was a lot easier, the lower ground having warmed up a bit and the heather acting as a cushion and break rather than the obstacle course it had been on the ascent.
All in all a great morning walk and a great destination if you like a view.

Image
The route goes pretty much over the gate and up to that pimply high point.

Image
I think the view of the Buck from Tap o' Noth is great but this reciprocal view is less impressive.

Image
North-east panorama from Tap o' Noth to Bennachie.

Image
West to Rinnes.

Image
Bennachie top miiddle.

Image
Bennachie zoom.

Image
Directly north to Knock Hill.

Image
Blustery trig point and Cairngorms backdrop.

Image
Who put that there?

Image
Another of Bennachie.

Image
Clachnaben mid right.

Image
Trying to pose.

Image
South west to Cairngorms.

Image
Another Rinnes.

Image
Another Bennachie.

Image
Rinnes and Convals on the horizon.

Image

Image
User avatar
litljortindan
Ambler
 
Posts: 2377
Munros:153   Corbetts:67
Fionas:29   Donalds:1
Sub 2000:47   Hewitts:12
Wainwrights:10   
Joined: Dec 11, 2011

Re: The Buck

Postby Huff_n_Puff » Sun Feb 22, 2015 4:10 pm

Some great photos - a real bogfest though :D
User avatar
Huff_n_Puff
Walker
 
Posts: 1083
Munros:278   Corbetts:20
Fionas:10   Donalds:1
Sub 2000:19   Hewitts:5
Wainwrights:1   Islands:19
Joined: Apr 13, 2012

Re: The Buck

Postby Graeme D » Sun Feb 22, 2015 11:38 pm

I like the posing shot. Interesting angle!
User avatar
Graeme D
 
Posts: 3996
Munros:251   Corbetts:123
Fionas:75   Donalds:22
Sub 2000:59   Hewitts:36
Wainwrights:28   Islands:6
Joined: Oct 17, 2008
Location: Perth

Re: The Buck

Postby rockhopper » Mon Feb 23, 2015 12:30 am

Looks a worthwhile wander - some cracking views esp on such a clear day - cheers :)
User avatar
rockhopper
 
Posts: 7446
Munros:282   Corbetts:222
Fionas:136   Donalds:89+20
Sub 2000:16   Hewitts:2
Wainwrights:3   Islands:20
Joined: May 31, 2009
Location: Glasgow

Re: The Buck

Postby litljortindan » Tue Feb 24, 2015 10:41 pm

Huff_n_Puff wrote:Some great photos - a real bogfest though :D


Yes, definitely best on a clear day to make the bog trot worthwhile.
User avatar
litljortindan
Ambler
 
Posts: 2377
Munros:153   Corbetts:67
Fionas:29   Donalds:1
Sub 2000:47   Hewitts:12
Wainwrights:10   
Joined: Dec 11, 2011

Re: The Buck

Postby The Rodmiester » Tue Feb 24, 2015 10:45 pm

Where's all the snow gone? A good hill to do after a hard frost, I guess :)
User avatar
The Rodmiester
Walker
 
Posts: 3396
Munros:107   Corbetts:196
Fionas:45   Donalds:13
Sub 2000:76   Hewitts:3
Wainwrights:1   Islands:17
Joined: Aug 15, 2012
Location: Newbigging

Re: The Buck

Postby litljortindan » Tue Feb 24, 2015 10:49 pm

Graeme D wrote:I like the posing shot. Interesting angle!


Just remembered I forgot at the time I had a wee tripod in my pocket and I spent ages trying to get the camera to sit level.
User avatar
litljortindan
Ambler
 
Posts: 2377
Munros:153   Corbetts:67
Fionas:29   Donalds:1
Sub 2000:47   Hewitts:12
Wainwrights:10   
Joined: Dec 11, 2011

Re: The Buck

Postby litljortindan » Tue Feb 24, 2015 10:51 pm

rockhopper wrote:Looks a worthwhile wander - some cracking views esp on such a clear day - cheers :)


I think the continuation south would be good too but not sure if there's a WH description of such a walk.
User avatar
litljortindan
Ambler
 
Posts: 2377
Munros:153   Corbetts:67
Fionas:29   Donalds:1
Sub 2000:47   Hewitts:12
Wainwrights:10   
Joined: Dec 11, 2011

Re: The Buck

Postby litljortindan » Tue Feb 24, 2015 10:54 pm

The Rodmiester wrote:Where's all the snow gone? A good hill to do after a hard frost, I guess :)


Fresh dump of snow yesterday morning. At the moment I get the sunrise over the Bennachie-Buck-Tap o' Noth skyline on the way to work and it was looking mighty impressive.
User avatar
litljortindan
Ambler
 
Posts: 2377
Munros:153   Corbetts:67
Fionas:29   Donalds:1
Sub 2000:47   Hewitts:12
Wainwrights:10   
Joined: Dec 11, 2011

Register or Login
free to be able to rate and comment on reports (as well as access 1:25000 mapping).




Can you help support Walkhighlands?


Our forum is free from adverts - your generosity keeps it running.
Can you help support Walkhighlands and this community by donating by direct debit?



Return to Walk reports - Scotland

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 78 guests