free to be able to rate and comment on reports (as well as access 1:25000 mapping).
After a few days of persistent rain, the promise of unbroken sunshine under a pure blue sky proved just too tempting. The hills had been strangers for too long - it had been over a year since my sister's 100th Munro on Meall a'Bhuiridh. So the relative novelty of this brief excursion rendered my senses alive to the vivid, early-autumn colours on display - the modest Geallaig Hill has probably never been so fondly appreciated!
- Deeside reflections
Even on the drive up Deeside, the transition of the bracken from summer green through yellow to autumn brown had me wielding my camera before the walked had started.
- Bracken hues
The walk started beside a house marked on the map as Lebhall, and I followed a track between farm buildings, fording a small stream, and onto the smooth, grassy hillside. An old map of the area shows “township comprising thirteen unroofed buildings”, but my attention was preoccupied with the ever-expanding view, with layers of woodland rising to the distinctive skyline of Lochnagar.
- Lochnagar
- The fence where the route heads onto the open heather
- The remnant of bell heather I saw
A herd of sheep welcomed me onto the open hillside, the cropped heather awash with tints of orange, red and brown. I left the path and headed straight over the rougher ground onto the rise of Tom Bheithe (hill of the birch, 0.8 miles, 240m). The pyramid of Mount Keen, my 200th Munro, appeared beyond the lime greens of the birch woods, with the River Dee now appearing as a silvery ribbon gleaming in the sunshine. The remaining 20 minutes to the summit were on broad, featureless slopes, where interest was better served scanning for berries, most plentiful being small red berries (cowberries, I'd later discover) that carried a sharper more bitter taste. One solitary blueberry was found and eaten, for a balanced diet!
- Colourful heather
- Mount Keen rises in the distance
- Cowberries
Whilst grouse were bursting out from under my feet, to the west An Sgarsoch and Carn Ealar were a glimpse into the real Grampian wilds. A fenceline was crossed just before reaching the summit triangulation pillar, surrounding by a substantial stone circular shelter-wall. (58mins, 1.5miles, 480m).
- Summit pillar, Lochnagar behind
- The River Dee, Braemar's Morrone on the right, the remote Beinn Iutharn Mhor on the left
The table-topped pair of Beinn a’Bhurid and Ben Avon dominanted the view towards the west, where nearer-by Morven was a domed summit rising beyond Glen Gairn.
- Beinn a'Bhuird, Britain's 10th highest mountain
- Morven beyond Glen Gairn
After 10 minutes I headed back down the southern slopes I had climbed, cutting over to descend alongside a small bracken-lined burn between the birch trees, before returning to the car. (1hr 50m, 3miles, 480m).
- Looking back up to the summit
- Monarch of Deeside
