Duchray Hill and Mount Blair
Posted: Mon May 23, 2016 4:58 pmAttendees: Me, Big Dog, Small Dog
Map: OS 1:50,000 no.43
Two circular walks located either side of the minor road (B951) to Glen Isla. Cold and overcast with the occasional sign of sun.
A painless Sunday morning drive up from Edinburgh saw me good to go at 10 am. Parked up in the small lay-by near Balloch Farm. Short road walk and then straight up the southern slopes of a minor hill, Carn an Fhidhleir. I inadvertently topped out on this hill when really I should have kept to the west, closer to Duchray Burn. Not a major issue but probably added an extra kilometre to the walk. The going was good on short grasses and a wire fence acted as a handrail all the way to the top of Duchray itself. En route there is a wooden gate to pass through and nearby I found a couple of deer antlers. The owners may have amongst a herd of 50-ish beasts that shot off when they saw the dogs.
Back on track towards Duchray after unintended detour
fullsizeoutput_31ab by Neil Mackay, on Flickr
Mount Blair was visible throughout, a big lump of a thing on the opposite side of the glen. The summit of Duchray Hill has a large cairn and there are good views of the Glenshee hills to the north. The return route south follows a tumbledown wall. For the most part at least; towards the bottom I left it to rejoin the road close to the car.
Mount Blair from the slopes of Duchray Hill
fullsizeoutput_31ad by Neil Mackay, on Flickr
Views from summit cairn at Duchray Hill
fullsizeoutput_31ae by Neil Mackay, on Flickr
The route up Mount Blair is obvious enough – a prominent track that is steep in places. The top is quickly reached. In truth, the radio mast and buildings spoil any sense of solitude but the views are decent enough. Rather than return the same way, a prettier option is to drop east to the unnamed top at 653 and then north to the road.
Small Dog just off the track up Mount Blair
fullsizeoutput_31b0 by Neil Mackay, on Flickr
Trig point and summit scenery - Mount Blair
P1120305 by Neil Mackay, on Flickr
Return route off Mount Blair - best part of the walk
fullsizeoutput_31b2 by Neil Mackay, on Flickr
All in all, a decent morning's walk if not an entirely memorable one. The route I took can be found in the SMC publication ‘The Grahams and Donalds’.
Edited 7/2/17: Text added, pics added from Flickr and status changed from personal log to trip report.
Map: OS 1:50,000 no.43
Two circular walks located either side of the minor road (B951) to Glen Isla. Cold and overcast with the occasional sign of sun.
A painless Sunday morning drive up from Edinburgh saw me good to go at 10 am. Parked up in the small lay-by near Balloch Farm. Short road walk and then straight up the southern slopes of a minor hill, Carn an Fhidhleir. I inadvertently topped out on this hill when really I should have kept to the west, closer to Duchray Burn. Not a major issue but probably added an extra kilometre to the walk. The going was good on short grasses and a wire fence acted as a handrail all the way to the top of Duchray itself. En route there is a wooden gate to pass through and nearby I found a couple of deer antlers. The owners may have amongst a herd of 50-ish beasts that shot off when they saw the dogs.
Back on track towards Duchray after unintended detour
fullsizeoutput_31ab by Neil Mackay, on FlickrMount Blair was visible throughout, a big lump of a thing on the opposite side of the glen. The summit of Duchray Hill has a large cairn and there are good views of the Glenshee hills to the north. The return route south follows a tumbledown wall. For the most part at least; towards the bottom I left it to rejoin the road close to the car.
Mount Blair from the slopes of Duchray Hill
fullsizeoutput_31ad by Neil Mackay, on FlickrViews from summit cairn at Duchray Hill
fullsizeoutput_31ae by Neil Mackay, on Flickr The route up Mount Blair is obvious enough – a prominent track that is steep in places. The top is quickly reached. In truth, the radio mast and buildings spoil any sense of solitude but the views are decent enough. Rather than return the same way, a prettier option is to drop east to the unnamed top at 653 and then north to the road.
Small Dog just off the track up Mount Blair
fullsizeoutput_31b0 by Neil Mackay, on FlickrTrig point and summit scenery - Mount Blair
P1120305 by Neil Mackay, on FlickrReturn route off Mount Blair - best part of the walk
fullsizeoutput_31b2 by Neil Mackay, on FlickrAll in all, a decent morning's walk if not an entirely memorable one. The route I took can be found in the SMC publication ‘The Grahams and Donalds’.
Edited 7/2/17: Text added, pics added from Flickr and status changed from personal log to trip report.