From the Braes of Glenlivet we hiked passed beautiful lambs, speckled like cows and up the track to the first ascent. We sweltered in the sun and with sunglasses on our heads the sky dumped a snow flurry to cool us. Four seasons in one day they say!

The initial climb is easy, steepening to the top where we spent some time exploring and getting a wee bit lost among the peat bog. It's easy navigation to the top where I'd recommend a compass to make sure you're heading towards the right spur as there are only contours to nav with.

After the path disappeared and reappeared in the peat bog for about 40minutes and a short snow crossing (! Be prepared, snow patches still at low levels !) we headed to the trig point where we stopped for another four seasons to have a snack and watched the flurries across nearby peaks.

Once you're passed the trig point you can see most of the route off to your right, and the path isn't clear but it's easy going, mostly on the level. There comes a point where old fenceposts align with your path and the final downhill can be taken at almost any point. There are two cairns which suggest a good route down but these will cut your day short by about 1km.

Once down follow the track to the Scalan, now a Catholic pilgrimage in recognition of a period of oppression but with beautifully maintained features and the story of Sandy who lived there until 2003 and used the milling wheel to charge a battery which powered his TV! It's then a good low level walk through the curlew calls, lapwing flutters, suckling lambs and bounding deer, passed the Highland Spring bottling Plant and Chivas Brothers distillery.

Back at the car park getting changed we waved at a farmer transporting a bucket of neeps to feed the sheep who pulled in to ask about the hike, and we left with a huge Scottish neep each!