Best day of the week so far - weatherwise. H up for his jabs today, so just the twa G's.
Drove along Deeside in fine sunshine to park at Keiloch and stump up their parking fee. Luckily, it took a credid card as I'd no cash on me.......







Readied ourselves in a balmy 12 DegC then strode up the track past the Cults Guides Felagie cottage.
Overtaken by a big truck on his way to load up some sticks that we could see piled up by the track ahead.
Turned off across the glen towards the bee-hive's autumn location. (We'd passed them on our way back from Craig Leek on a previous trip).







Crossed the burn and connected to the grassy track up to Meall Gorm. Followed a path up Meall Gorm until it petered out in a new-ish tree plantation.





Moose-stepped through the heather to the subsidiery plook top and on to the cairn of Meall Gorm proper. Met by a stiff breeze at the top.





Moved down towards the track to get a lee from the wind and to spy out the way ahead up Creag a Chait. Descended through trackless heather to a fence abutting another surrounding a recent plantation, which we surmounted - staying on the N side of the fence to reach the track over to Glen Gairn.




Padded our way up the track to just before the ford and struck up over some muirburn on the flank of Chait. Spotted a grassy lead up the slope of Chait which had been grazed by deer, so we followed it to near the top and then up fairly short heather to the dyke, where again we were met with a stiff breeze whipping over the top.



We cooried doon behind the dyke and had a snack. Eventually, we ventured over to the big stane near the top for our summit pics, then scuttled back behind the cover o the dyke.











Decided that Little Elrick looked too far away for today - into the wind, ( cowards ) so returned back down the same way to the main track albeit a little to the S, to shorten the distance.
Trundled back down the track towards Invercauld, remarking that we hadn't seen anyone on the hill, on such a nice day.
Suddenly 3 bikers apeared toiling up the track !
Continued down the track, marvelling at the mature pine trees, when we spotted a bench by the track with an intriguing inscription. We dubbed it the Philosophers Bench.








Acknowledged a young lassie toiling past us on her bike up the hill.
Soon we were on the flat tarmac back to Keiloch and were passed by a fishing group convoy on their way back towards Invercauld house. Just as we were neared the car park, we passed a group with big backpacks, looking as if they were either off on a camping trip, or finishing one - who greeted us cheerily.
At last we were able to slump into the car and stop our nav systems, then unfrock.
Scooted off to Ballater to find an open cafe, but too late ! So it was round to the chipper for a supper.
Just what the doctor ordered - fresh fish and a mealie puddin'.
Not much wildlife this week. Only a couple o Red Kites near Aboyne.
Didn't see any red deer, so we surmised it must be getting near the time when the hinds find a quiet place to calve - in may/june. - away from us hikers.
Drove home in a veritable tropical 18 DegC