Mount Battock is the most easterly of the Corbetts and the highest point of a wide area of rolling moors. It provides a straightforward ascent from Glen Esk.
Excellent track for most of the ascent, rougher track for the final section, optional boggier descent.
Very limited (school bus times only) bus from Brechin.
Millden, Glen Esk.
Just past the bridge at Millden in Glen Esk turn right onto a minor road; there is parking immediately on the right. The walk begins by continuing up this side lane, climbing slightly to pass a stone watermill. Pass the house at the Mill of Aucheen and then fork right onto a track which bends right to pass in front of Muir Cottage. Go through the farm gate and stay on the track towards the woods ahead, ignoring a smaller grassy track to the left. Continue as the track bends left above the tree-clad burn. The track soon descends to ford a feeder stream but there is also a footbridge; stay on the main track to climb up and continue near the Burn of Turret through more open ground.
Ignore a track on the left and keep right to go through a gate. At the next junction turn left; the right hand branch crosses the Turret and provides an alternative route of return - check the level of the burn if planning on taking this route back. Continuing on the left hand route, the track now veers left across the moor and reaches a junction by a sheepfold; turn right here and follow the main track as it climbs around the flanks of Allrey. A short distance further on ignore the newer track heading up Allrey by the grouse butts, instead keeping on the right hand track around the east side of the hill, giving grand views back over Glen Esk.
The track eventually comes close to the burn once more; keep straight on at a junction, ignoring the track which branches right across the burn. Continue and climb up onto the ridge of Black Craig, following a line of neatly built circular stone grouse butts. The track then swings left through a gate in the fence. Follow it gently up and across the hillside, but before it starts to descend turn right onto a path to shortcut directly uphill to rejoin a track. This leads over the top of Wester Cairn; here leave it and follow a faint grassy track down then up towards Mount Battock. The views have by now become very extensive, with Mount Keen a whale-back ridge from this direction, and the corries of the more mountainous Driesh beyond to the left.
There is a slight dip before the track begins the final climb up to Mount Battock, soon reaching a junction of fences; go through the gate on the left to continue to the summit cairn and trig point. The views now open up over Aberdeenshire, with Mither Tap on Bennachie prominent and the huge summit tor of Clachnaben visible to the east.
The easiest way back is to retrace your steps. If the Turret Burn looked crossable it is possible to vary the descent. Don't climb the ladder stile (as this leads to more fences which have to be climbed) instead keep to the left of the fence on a faint path heading SE downhill. An indistinct path winds through some peat hags to the right of a couple of marker posts before reaching a farm gate. Go through this to join a well defined track which heads up to the summit of Hill of Saughs. Continue ahead on the track and as it begins to descend keep left ignoring another track heading to the right. After the Hill of Turret turn right onto a smaller track descending west southwest. Boggy to start with, the track descends by some grouse butts to eventually join and turn left along a track. Soon ford the Burn of Turret and climb up to rejoin the outward route.
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