An Socach

[seamus0]

I finally have got round to writing up this walk as I thought it would be a great wee walk and a nice munro to bag in the winter starting from beside the road, with a good track most of the way and starting from 450m (less climbing! . It starts from approx. 5km north of the Glenshee ski centre in Glen Clunie at the entrance to Baddoch (grid ref 138832). The entrance as room for a couple of cars, however the other side of the road also has space for cars.

Start of walk

Go through the wooden gate beside the forest, crossing over a bridge.

View from bridge

Go past the picturesque Baddoch farm climbing over a stile, and follow the good track SW form approx. 1.5km before crossing another small bridge.

Good track to follow

There are different ways to approach this top. We followed the track for about 2.5 km and started to climb West following a small stream. After climbing 100m or so, we headed over the heather towards the top Socach Mor.

Leaving the track to follow the stream towards socach mor

Presumably the cairn on socach mor top

View of Socach Mor

There was a track to follow as we got closer to the top. The walking was easy and not that steep, and got to the first top of the ridge after 2hrs or so. By this time the weather was getting a bit more blustery, but still not too bad.

Walking towards first top

The top of ridge getting more stoney

Be wary, although it looks like the top of An socach, the actual top is another 2km along the ridge SW. The ridge is broad and stoney in places.

Dog getting a good workout!

Actual top at 080800 grid ref

Lunch at top

View from top

There is a good track about halfway along the ridge, that decends down following a stream to meet up with the end of the track to take you back to the start again.

Track following stream down

Tracking leading back to start

All-in-all a nice 1/2 day walk, but I think it would be ideal in the winter.