Gask Hill|Sidlaw Hills

[mountainboy12]

I'm writing a report of a hill many of you probably haven't heard of... Gask Hill
For the last few weeks, Gask Hill has been a daily routine for me
Today I've decided to share the story.

GASK HILL - as seen from North Corston
IMG_2895 by Marc Pattullo, on Flickr

BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Gask Hill is Sub2000 Marilyn in Perth and Kinross, found within the Sidlaw Hills.
It's summit is at 358m/1,175ft making it the 8th highest Sidlaw Hill.
It's a very unpopular hill and is one of the least climbed in the Sidlaw Hills

The walk starts off at a small layby, big enough for about 2 cars (at the absolute most!) off the side of the road towards Abernyte from Pleasance Road, Coupar Angus. The layby is just outside the entrace to Balloglack.
IMG_2915 by Marc Pattullo, on Flickr
(Co-ordinates for Car Park: 56.507905, -3.229530)

Balloglack Entrance
IMG_2898 by Marc Pattullo, on Flickr

The walk starts off with a fantastic land rover track which take you about halfway up the hill, with great views to other Sidlaw Hills to one side and over to Glenshee and further
IMG_2899 by Marc Pattullo, on Flickr

Lundie Craigs
IMG_2900 by Marc Pattullo, on Flickr

The path steadily turns into a large dirt track
IMG_2903 by Marc Pattullo, on Flickr

After a while the path begins to turn into a rugid, somewhat boggy (Due to the number of tributaries leading into the Kettins Burn), grassy path which at points becomes quite steep and boggy but nothing to major
IMG_2905 by Marc Pattullo, on Flickr

Once beating the grassy path, it comes to a very steep and small trail which leads you around a large mound and towards the summit ridge, the path goes through deep heather and is barely noticeable at times, but it is there!
IMG_2907 by Marc Pattullo, on Flickr

The small trail with the summit ahead.
IMG_2910 by Marc Pattullo, on Flickr

The summit ridge allows you to become higher than neighbouring Northballo Hill.
This opens up a long view which extends to the highest Sidlaw Hill, Craigowl Hill.
IMG_2909 by Marc Pattullo, on Flickr

Aiver Hill
IMG_2908 by Marc Pattullo, on Flickr

Following the small trail leads you behind the summit mound to the pathless walk to the summit.
The summit is clearly marked at the highest point (358m/1,175ft), with a small cairn covered in sticks with a large stick poking out the centre of the cairn. (Which I built only yesterday as it had nothing marking the summit, which was annoying me a little!)
IMG_2911 by Marc Pattullo, on Flickr

The views from the summit are fantastic with great views of Southballo Hill & Ballo Hill to the right, Northballo Hill in the centre, Lundie Craigs to the left and Craigowl Hill being further away in the distance.
IMG_2912 by Marc Pattullo, on Flickr

Behind you there is an opening in the trees which gives you an amazing view of the King's Seat and on a good day you can make out the white trip point at the summit with Black Hill just making it in the photo behind it.
IMG_2913 by Marc Pattullo, on Flickr

If you look even further you can make out East and West Lomond in the silhouette
IMG_2914 by Marc Pattullo, on Flickr

Hopefully this gives you a better look at this hill!

After a number of weeks of walking up the hill, I personally think the route I take is the quickest, shortest and easiest route up the hill.
Route by Marc Pattullo, on Flickr

If you have a spare hour to an hour and a half, I recommend you give this hill a walk

PLEASE NOTE
- On a wet day, the path will become really boggy at parts and slippy on steeper, grassy parts nearer the summit
- Most fences nearer the summit have 2 rows of barbed wire
- There is a large number of branches and chopped trees left around the hillside, due to the cutting down of Gaskhill Woods
- There is a large number of pheasants from bottom to top with a small number of deer nearer the summit ridge
- On cloudier days the path may be hard to see, but cloud isn't much of an issue on the hill

[hills]

Visiting Scone Palace next week and was look for info on this hill as something to get in near scone, what a fine report, very handy.

[Jon and Jen]

Jen and I are sidlaw regulars but have never been up this hill. We usually confine ourselves to lundie crags and a swim from the pier on long loch. We will be taking a stroll up here next week I think. Looks great for a quick stomp aboot. Thanks for the report.