Waughton Hill and the White Horse, from Strichen

Summary

The highest hill in the northeastern corner is usually referred to as Mormond Hill, whilst its highest point, visited here, is called Waughton Hill. The flanks of the hill include a White Horse - visited here - and a stag, which was restored in 2023 but is better seen from the countryside to the south.

Grade (key)

Bog Factor (key)

Rating

Terrain

Minor roads, tracks, hill paths, some pathless open grassy ground on summit.

Public Transport

Bus to Strichen.

Start

Strichen High Street. Open in Google Maps.

Walk Statistics

Distance: 7.75km / 4.75 miles
Time: 2 - 3 hours
Ascent: 194m (Profile)
Start Grid Ref: NJ946551

Summits Climbed

Sub 2000: Waughton Hill

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Accommodation

Walk Description

User reports (5)

Stage 1

There is plenty of on-street parking on the High Street in Strichen. Begin the walk by heading NW along the street from the centre, turning right at the church to head along West Street. Keep straight ahead up Hospital Brae. The road swings right, and becomes a lane as it leaves the village. It swings sharp left, and there's a first view of the White Horse on the flanks of the hill.

Stage 2

Continue along the lane to Bransbog, and to a cross-tracks beyond by a small wind turbine. Turn right here, heading towards the hill. After Bransfarm the lane becomes a muddy track - keep ahead - it soon becomes grassy and is signed as a path to the White Horse and Hunter's Lodge. The grassy track ends at a gate - don't pass through the gate ahead, instead turn left through another gate and cross the pathless grassy field (waymarker).

Stage 3

At the far end of the field is a kissing gate; pass through and turn right along the path through the gorse. This winds uphill and soon leads to the head of the White Horse. It is around 50m long and was built from quartz towards the end of the eighteenth century, since which it has been restored several times. It offers stunning views over this part of Aberdeenshire.

Stage 4

Continue uphill until a grassy track is reached. Turn right along this, then after 100m turn left onto another grassy track, heading towards the prominent stone ruin. This is Hunter's Lodge - it was built by a Captain Fraser, who also constructed the horse.

Stage 5

Reaching the summit involves some pathless going; from the left corner of Hunter's Lodge take a faint path NW down into a dip, then rise again on pathless ground, roughly following a line of old posts. The highest summit is marked by a couple of wooden posts, with a cairn almost hidden by clumps of tussocky grass. This is Waughton Hill, and at 234m is some 4m higher than the trig point by the masts to the east.

Stage 6

Retrace steps back into the depression, then aim SW towards the right hand end of the line of trees. The grassy track is met here; turn right but take the left fork of the track which descends WSW to reach an old quarry. Keep to the right (uphill) side of the quarry on grass, then regain the track and follow it to a junction. Turn left here to follow the larger track downhill.

Stage 7

Pass through a gate, and continue downhill, passing to the right hand side of a larger quarry. Join the tarmac lane beyond the quarry, but after 150m turn left onto a track at a junction. This leads back to the outward route at the junction by the wind turbine - keep straight ahead here to retrace your steps back to Bransbog and continue back to the start.

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