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Benaquhallie is just 10 minutes drive from home - in fact I can see the hill from the end of the road but for some reason haven't previously climbed it - which turns out to have been a mistake......
I've tried before to walk over all the high ground from Tillyfourie on the A944 over the Corennie Moor and Benaquhallie to Craigievar castle, but was pretty much defeated by dense forest and thigh deep heather on the slopes of Corennie Moor.
This time I tried from the south west of the hill. A small disused quarry on the B9119 at NJ592073 is accessible through a gate to park, but take care as it's on quite a quick bend. Opposite, a track gives access to grazing and the open moor above - turn sharp left immediately past the gate to get onto a rarely used access track all the way to the summit - which takes about 45 minutes of pleasant walking.
The views are worth it.........
To the south of the summit, a large and unusually shaped cairn has a fine view across Deeside to Clachnaben
To the north east beyond the Corennie Moor, Bennachie stands out as from so many places in Aberdeenshire. So prominent are the two hills that an old rhyme states that "
Clochnaben and Bennachie are twa landmarks frae the sea"
I lingered about on the top for a good while just enjoying the view. The descent is a reverse of the uphill route.
Why on earth haven't I climbed this super little hill before?! One to do again, perhaps as an evening walk.
Kind Regards
Ian
