Meikle Balloch

[litljortindan]

Inspired by the recent Chesh report we went for a wander up Meikle Balloch yesterday. Apart from the "giant" tree root which turned out to be a bit of an imposter I thought this was a great wee walk.
Arrived at the car park just before two lots of dog filled cars. The driver of the first enquired if we'd be alright with the dogs being let out whilst we were donning boots as they would doubtless want to say hello. Without thinking we said that's ok and of course were then mobbed by three spaniels but not before they'd had a good bounce around the muddy car park.
So the first part of the walk was spent reassuring my wife that her trousers looked fine.
Anyway, we opted for the blue route, the quickest, as the path looked pretty good and that was the case all the way to the trig point. Lower part a little slippy as it was a mossy lane embedded with occasionally protruding tree roots.
This led on to a slalloming, new gritted section of path that led up through a plantation and out onto an open moor. Views up to this point were a bit obscured by the trees but Bin of Cullen could be made out to the north and Ben Rinnes to the south.
Once on the moor though the views really opened up -first Ben Rinnes peeking out above the tree line to the south and Bin of Cullen and Knock Hill to the north. To the east and back round to the south, a whole arc of Fourman Hill, Foudland Hill, Bennachie, Morven, Tap o' Noth, The Buck and, yes, Lochnager.
The moor crssing was over boggier path but reverted to gravel at the trig point. There we stopped for a bit to take pictures with interestingly lit clouds providing a backdrop for the star of the show, Ben Rinnes.
More new gravelly path on the descent which levelled out onto a forest track leading back to a blue marker indicating the way back down to the car park.
A great wee walk.


we took the blue route, the most direct


the "giant" tree root


the mossy lower reaches of the blue route






into the darkness


emerging onto the moorland


Ben Rinnes


view west




another Rinnes


Lochnagar surprises us with an appearance






north to Bin of Culllen and Knock Hill


the blue route does a u turn at the trig point


view to Keith


the star of the show


spectators












the last embers