The weather systems seemed to have speeded up, so with rain forecast in the afternoon, we changed tack and did these Strathdon hills instead of the planned Glenlivet ones.
Picked up H and met GordonC in Alford, now that he's returned to duty from his caravan shenanagins.......
Turned off the A944 just beyond Glenkindie, following the sign that we'd passed many times.
Found a parkup that we both managed to squeeze into, just before the start of the track up Garlet.





Walked up the road a wee bit and through a gate at the end of the grassy track
There was still a smattering of yesterdays snow on the ground, but it didn't impede our progress. At the top of Garlet we cut off the track through the heather to the highest point indicated by our GPS - just a tiny knoll.





GordonC decided that it was time to don his spats, so I meandered off to find the track again which we followed.
H must've thought there was not going to be any walk , as we were so late in the week, so he belted up and down the track with gay abandon.




Followed the track over to Broom via a gate in a deer fence and then from the fork in the track, up a couple of heather burns to the trig, with some driven snow still sticking to its side.







Back down at the fork in the main track, we met a guy in a 4x4 out shooting deer. Seems Steve had worked with my eldest grandson Chris ! Small world !




After a news, we headed over to Roman via a nice track and another unmarked one, ascending from the fork in the tracks.
It threaded up through the trees and alongside the summit larches to a summit plook, just beyond a singleton pine tree - apart from the main larch plantation. We spotted a stag in the larches, which darted off as we approached. A fine specimen !
It was a nice view towards the Glenbuchat hills. ( we've still a few to do there ), with no sign of the forecast rain approaching - in fact the sun was trying to break through in places. ( we weren't complaining )






Trundled back down to the path, then down through the fields and a wee flock of ewes to Glencuie farm. Fortunately, the kye were in the steading, so no problems there with livestock..
Dawdled down the road, appalled that we were off the hill so early - and dry to boot.
Nae rain, although there was a wee spit as we drove off..
However, this meant that we were in time for a bacon roll & coffee in Alford, where one of our neighbours daughters served us.( we didn't recognise her behind her mask ! )
Back at the ranch, there was even still plenty of light for GC to wash his car wheels before garaging it, what efficiency - eh !