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There were three WH reports for this hill, one starting from the West and the other two incorporating Deuchary Hill and starting from the South. These reports also suggested there were fences to climb. I had purposely left this hill for after a dry spell as i didn't fancy heather bashing in wet soggy conditions. I certainly did not fancy the very long walk in from the Dunkeld side and had decided that as I was coming from the East coast I should try and find another approach, so after studying the OS map I made the decision to travel to Alyth, Rattray then turn off at the Bridge of Cally and travel on the A294 until a small parking area opposite a cottage at the start of a private road to Pitcarmick House.
The first section is on a tarmacadam surfaced road but soon turns into a metalled road just after the entrance to Pitcarmick house. Pass over another bridge and head towards the outbuildings of Pitcarmick and head off right towards a field where the track takes you adjacent to a tree plantation and onto the open hillside, this track makes for easy walkng with a nice grassy middle section most of the way, until you come to Pitcarmick Loch where you head South up the lower slopes of Creag nam Mial on an ATV track, with not a lot of deep heather to trudge through, some grassy sections and some burnt sections with NO fences to climb, and also you get to look at the very tall cairn on the North top, not the summit but a good view point non the less.
- Parking area on the opposite side of the road from the cottage at the end of the private road
- Private road to Pitcarmick House
- View down river from bridge
- Just beyond river a tree lined avenue
- Turn right over bridge signposted Cateran Trail
- Heading right before the farm outbuildings, track leads to grassy field the turns left as soon you pass through gate
- Looking back from track
- Further up the track looking back
- Time for a wee break, fluid intake required, its over twenty degrees, getting hot.
- Heading towards Pitcarmick Loch
- Loch comes into view. Nice walking on easy gradient track, dry and reasonably soft underfoot conditions
- Heading down towards Loch with ATV track on lower slopes in the distance
- Boat House
- Looking back from ATV track
- ATV track with Sub2 on the left, at this point you can identify the huge cairn on the North top
- Now off track with a bit of heather bashing required but nothing too bad.
- Sub2 in view
- North summit cairn
- Actual summit cairn from the North summit
- North summit with Loch of the Lowes and Newtyle hill in the distance
- Loch of the Lowes and Newtyle Hill in the distance
- From summit cairn to high point near wall, measured at 1.5 m lower than summit
- View from the boathouse with the Sub2 in the distance. I can highly recommend this route, it may not be the quickest but it definately has good underfoot conditions most of the way. Although we took five hours on the hill, we were taking it easy with many stops for food and photo opportunities, it should only take between four hours and four and a half hours. A really nice walk in with plenty to see en route, enjoy this wee fella tucked away, and miss the hoards of folk from the Dunkeld side, we never saw another soul all day.