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The forecast was a bit iffy, with light rain showing on the BBC graphics, but I thought I'd take Harvey up his next Marilyn, just along the road a wee bit from yesterdays outing. Just before the Queens View layby going west, there's a generous layby on the other side that I U-turned into.
- A generous layby for a change
Looking across the road, the track looked a bit guttery and I could see a couple of vehicles parked up it a bit as if some construction/foresty was being done.
- The start of the track up Craiglich
However, didn't see anyone working as we walked by. The track continued muddy until the forestry gate was reached. I hopped over the style whilst Harvey squeezed between the fence wires ( none barbed).
- The muddy track up to the foresty gate
The track eased up & round the side of the hill until gaps in the forestry gave us peek of Lochnagar. The cairn marking the turnoff up to the top of Craiglich was bigger than I thought and the track was fairly wide.
- Cairn on the main track marking the path to the top
It quickly bringing us out into the open with an easy stroll across the top to the Trig point & monument with its wee rowan tree cowrin' behind it out of the prevailing winds. The monument had started to collapse, but when new it must've been a fair structure - maybe beehive shaped. The view took in Lochnagar, Mt Keen, Mt Battock & Clachnaben to the south, coming round to Morven, the Buck, with Tap o Noth and then Bennachie. What a viewpoint - Queens View supecharged !
- Harvey with his back to the Queens view
- Harvey reaches the top first again !
- The summit monument
- Harvey still not impressed wi the Queens view
I saw Harvey stiffen - looking at something and when I turned round it was a fellow walker. John who had just returned from Angola and was sneaking a wee hill in on his way back home to Buckie ( Hope I haven't blown your cover John) We swopped a few hill stories, then I left him to take some pictures and headed down. On the way down, he caught up with us and we chatted back down to the cars. Great boost to the day, to enthuse with a fellow walker !
Harvey had rolled in the gutters when we were walking along the track, so I had to clean him up before letting him into his house, lest the cleaner be blamed for a poor job ! Soon he was showing his beautiful fox coloured coat again. Weel done Harvey !