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Harveys walk day. GordonC was also up for it. I'd been up Oxen Craig many many years ago with my oldest son Donald, so now I was ready to re-aquaint myself with it. I decided to follow the Gordon Way ( GW ) from Towhill in the NW.
There was nowhere to park at the start of the GW, so we drove a wee bit further up the road ~200m, to the road end to Towhill Farm, where a wee area had been fashioned out to allow turning etc from the surrounding fields. We managed to tuck ourselves out of the way and walk back down the road to the start of the GW. The first thing we saw was a notice declaring that the path was not maintained. A couple of wee rickety bridges festooned with CYA notices were soon negotiated and we plunged on up the path.
- CYA warning notice on the Gordon Way near the B992
- Style for the Gordon Way off the B992
- GordonB on the Gordon Way near the B992
The District Council were true to their word and the lower part of the GW was pretty overgrown and tricky to follow.
Couldn't help thinking that a party of inmates from HMP Grampian with their balls and chains, armed with strimmers could've cleared the way easily in a day and given them some fresh air !
- Harvey on a less overgrown part of the path
I guess that would impinge on their human rights though, so we waded on up to where a marker post directed us up towards Corrie hill and a viewpoint that had been equipt with benches.
- A view with a seat
From there we headed up alongside some forestry where - OMG - it started raining - yes real rain ! GordonC stopped to make aquaintance with his waterproofs which were buried at the butttom of his sack after months hiding from the sunny weather. Luckily, the path at this point passed under the overhanging conifers which offered some cover from the rain, But eventually I had to relent and put my jacket on.
- The path up by the wood
The rain petered out as we reached the tracks taking us up past the Hermits Seat. A path branching off the GW took us a shorter route up behind the Watch Crag.
- The GW emerges onto a dangerous track
- The turnoff from the GW up to Watch Craig
- The Gordon Way heading off into the distance across Bennachie
By this time we could see our goal - Oxen Craig. A path took us down to the bealach passed a very healthy looking larch resembling a witches hat - albeit a bit big for Maggie Smith then up the final slope to Oxen Craig.
- A healthy witches hat Larch on the way to Oxen Craig from Watch Craig
We luxuriated at the top marvelling at the sunny north contrasting with the murky south. Usually it's the other way round
- The cairn of Oxen Craig
- GordonC checking the indicator cairn
- The Oxen Craig indicator plaque
A few whisps of cloud touched the summit of the Mither Tap across the way and eventually it started to waft around our top.
- Clag dusting the Mither Tap
During our piece, we mused over the chiselled incription on a nearby rock - " 1947 R QUEEN ". Also a strange rectangular trough hewn out of a summit rock between the two cairns.
- Strange trough on the top of Oxen Craig
We headed back over to Watch Craig, taking in the top this time, then picked up a path across to the Hermits Seat. Another path took us from the Hermits Seat back down to the GW , which we followed, retracing our upward route to the road.
- A Gordon Way marker post
- Harebells on the Gordon Way
If anyone else follows this route in damp weather, I'd suggest that they don waterproofs for the first part of the walk. We were pretty wet when we got back to the road after the rain, ploughing through all the long grass, broom and prickly whins ! Nonetheless, a great day out and glad to renew our acquaintence with Oxen Craig.