Morning walk in Sidlaws

[Briqual]

I've done this walk dozens of times since I was a kid (over 45 years ago was the first time ) and probably for that reason I kind of take it for granted. Fact is though that it's great wee walk, not too strenuous and affording some pretty cracking views from the tops of Auchterhouse, Bulluderon and Craigowl Hills.

It starts at the car park at Balkello woodland which is big enough to accommodate plenty cars, you'll find a mix of walkers, runners, cyclists and dog walkers in this car park as the woodland itself is a great and very popular dog walking area and the hills ideal for all pursuits. It's worth noting there are dozens of swathes cut through the woods here although the route up through them and on to the hills is very easy to follow.

The WH guide to this walk is excellent and pretty much covers everything leaving me just to stick some photos on and to remind everyone that the stile near the end of the walk has been replaced by a gate.

Start point at Balkello

Past one wall

Then over the stile

Approach to Auchterhouse Hill

Kinpurnie Hill from Auchterhouse Hill

West from Auchterhouse Hill

Balluderon and Craigowl hills from Auchterhouse Hill.

Path up to Balluderon Hill

Cairn on Balluderon

Fife from Balluderon

Path to Craigowl

Lone tree on Craigowl

Top of Craigowl

Trig Point

From Craigowl

From Craigowl

Dundee from Craigowl

View on the descent

Gate has replaced the old stile

There are signposts too

And back at the car park

Time from car park to Auchterhouse Hill was 40 minutes, there to Balluderon was 20 minutes then there to Craigowl was 30 minutes. Slow wander back spotting wildlife and taking in the views brought this to 130 very well spent minutes on an absolutely beautiful morning. It even brought back memories of that first walk into these hill 45 years ago, seemed a lot easier back then - maybe the hills have grown?