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Left a wee bit late, but got going with Harvey to the Mossat turnoff towards Strathdon. Turned left down the road signposted to Milltown of Kildrummy, crossed the bridge over the Don at Brux & turned left towards Newton, where they seemed to be engaged in felling an old tree in the garden.
- Bridge over the Don at Brux
Parked up in a generous passing place next to an old ruined barn.
- Parking just past Newton
Headed off up the forestry track which takes a sharp bend after about a hundred metres and follows the side of a stand of Larch on the side of Drumgoudrum Hill. Theres a ruined bothy where the forestry ends but the track continues across the bealach, skirts Craigiebeg Hill until it forks.
- The forestry track up by the larches on the side of Drumgoudrum Hill
- Looking back at the bothy in the bealach of Drumgoudrum Hill
The right fork takes you up onto the bealach between Craigiebeg and Coiliochbhar.
- Right turn Harvey !
There is an ATV unloading area in the bealach - a "parting of the ways", with a grassy track heading straight up Coiliochbhar.
- The parting of the ways at the bealach below Coiliochbhar
Soon we were at the top - complete with a geocache in the wee cairn.
- Bennachie from the march fence running over the top of Coiliochbhar
- Summit cairn of Coiliochbhar - mit geocache
Great views across to Tap o Noth, the Buck etc. Surprisingly light breeze on top. Retreated to the trees to send my "I'm alive" text, then headed down.
Stopped to take a pic of the track curving round Craigiebeg bealach.
- Looking down at the track over Craigiebeg bealach.
Good views down to the Don at Ardhuncart & John's fishing beat. Harvey posed for this one !
- Looking down to the Don & John's fishing beat at Ardhuncart
Uneventful walk down to the car apart from Harvey putting up a couple of pheasants.
