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Glenbuchat Ridge is technically a part of The Buck - an outlying line of tops on the northern side of the picturesque Glen Buchat. It can be added to the full traverse of all tops of the Buck, but this option requires two cars or a friendly driver waiting at the opposite end. We preferred to explore the southern tops in a separate outing, for practical reasons.
Even though this ridge features as a walk on Walkhighlands, it is not a very popular route, maybe because it doesn't contain any important listed summits (and who bags TUMPs and HUMPs?...). Such a shame as this half day ridge walk offers fantastic views in all directions and one of the tops features a lovely little tor, like a mini version of those so characteristic for the Cairngorms.
Our walk is a prolonged version of the WH route, we added Creag an Sgor and returned via Belnacraig (the road along the Water of Buchat):
We started from the car park for Glenbuchat Castle (still closed
), crossed the Bridge of Buchat and took the quiet minor road up the glen. Weather was lovely but very windy. Not a day for big Munro adventures, but good enough for Graham height.
Little Firbriggs Hill, our first target:
The track to Blackhillock Farm:
Once past the farm, we continued on a minor track uphill:
Views were nice from the very start, especially back south-west to the forest-covered slopes of Ben Newe:
IMPORTANT: a new fenced off enclosure has been recently built here and it is no longer possible to follow the track directly to the col. The walkers path was redirected around the enclosure (along the fence), with a stile provided for crossing at the start of the detour. We didn't see any animals inside the new enclosure so I don't know what it is for (Kevin suggested wild boar perhaps?).
The detour:
They definitely don't want you to cross this gate!
Above the fenced off area, we returned to the main track and continued walking up to the ridge, wit occasional breaks for some... gate swinging
Lookinh south-east to Millhuie Hill and Glen Kindie:
The first glimpse of The Buck:
As soon as we got to the ridge proper, we were almost swept off our feet by the gusty wind, but the ATV track over the minor tops looked so inviting that we didn't really care about the conditions. As long as we could still stand upright, we'd get there!
Ben Newe (left) and the distant Cairngorms, still covered in snow:
Panther speechless. After weeks of horrible weather, at last a sunny day! I felt liberated. Little did I know that our days of spring freedom were not to last long...
The track took us over Meikle Firbriggs Hill and Clachmaddy Hill, to the top of Creag an Eunan. Here, I posed as close to the summit cairn as possible, without having to climb over the fence
The Buck behind me:
The previous spring, when we traversed
the northern part of the ridge, we got as far as White Knowe, but the two TUMP summits on this ridge are Creag an Eunan and Creag an Sgor. The latter is the most interesting top on this side of the ridge:
Ben Rinnes just peeking from behind the wind turbines on Cook's Cairn:
The distant Bennachie:
From Creag an Eunan we traversed to Creag an Sgor on easy, heathery ground (the track skips this top but we didn't intend to!). Of course, I was first to investigate the tors!
Not really big enough for proper scrambling but I still loved a silly pose
The wind picked up again...
But Kevin still managed some decent photos. This particular rock reminds me of a giant head:
View north-west from the summit:
Looking back to Creag an Eunan:
After a quick tea break, we descended a short distance to pick the ATV track below the summit. This track can be then followed down towards White Hill, where it joins a better landrover track, descending to the tarmac road in the glen.
A glimpse back at the tors of Creag an Sgor:
Panorama of the ridge seen from below:
The landrover track near Upperton Farm:
Once down on the tarmac road, we enjoyed a sunny stroll back to the car. The wind was much less aggressive down in the glen and we felt the first touch of spring. It's so frustrating, writing about it today, but back then we had high hopes for another jolly good year on the hills!
Glenbuchat Castle still in renovation. I hope it will open again at some point (in the current climate probably later than sooner, sadly).
I think Glenbuchat Ridge is as good as the rolling hills get, especially without "ticking off" a listed summit. We like the whole area of Strathdon and before the lockdown, we had plans to repeat Morven and Mona Gowan via a new route. Well, it is still something to look forward to in the future. Whatever the future brings.
My next story will take us high up onto the Cairngorm plateau. Prepare for some pure winter wonderland!
