This prominent small hill offers fine views over the surrounding countryside and the ruined castle on top of neighbouring Dunnideer.
Bog Factor
Grassy paths and tracks; boggy in one or two places.
Insch railway station car park.
Bus or train to Insch.
NJ629275
There is a car park at Insch train station. Begin the walk by heading out of the station back to the road (Gordon Terrace), then turning left along it, crossing the railway at the level crossing. At the fork, take the right branch (B9004 signed for Huntly); there is a pavement. Ignore the turning on the left for Old Leslie, continuing briefly along the verge, then pick up a grassy path that winds through the trees, parallel to the road but on the left.
The path is faint in places but is waymarked; it undulates and winds through the trees of Beatrice Woodland, passing through a couple of pedestrian gates along the way. Eventually it comes alongside the road at a third gate where it leaves the trees - continue on the fenced path beside the road. After just over 200m the path meets a track heading left off the road, and there's a signpost for Hill of Christ's Kirk.
Head left up the track, but then almost immediately right onto a fainter, grassier track, passing between two gateposts. This track winds up the hill. After 400m it meets a line of telegraph poles - follow the grassy track that swings left here. Keep straight ahead at a cross-roads of grassy tracks, continuing by the telegraph poles until the track leads to a gap between two belts of birch trees, with a farm in view ahead. Turn right here, following another grassy track uphill along the near side of the birch trees. Higher up, follow the track as it swings left; there are great views back over Insch.
The track now leads through dense forestry. As it crests a rise, take a right turn at a track junction to continue uphill. The track soon rises clear of the trees and reaches the summit. The hill is named after the site of an old church just to the south of the hill. It is the site of a prehistoric fort, but the mounds and ditches are hidden in the dense gorse which almost obscures the trig point.
The views are superb. The castle on the summit of the adjacent Hill of Dunnideer is prominent, whilst the tors of Bennachie lie to the southeast. Out west, the steep dome of the Tap o' Noth is well seen, with the Buck of Cabrach to its left.
Although there are other paths on the hill, the easiest and best descent is to retrace your steps back the same way.
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