This longer alternative to the usual Ben Rinnes ascent is tougher going, with more height to climb and some boggy, heathery terrain. The advantage is that it visits some fine granite tors that are missed by the standard route.
Good tracks at first. Boggy and heathery paths on the upper sections - faint in places; care with navigation required.
None.
Benrinnes Distillery car park.
There is a marked parking area at the rear of the Benrinnes Distillery - it is signed when you reach the distillery. The walk begins up the track that begins and leads SW from here. It soon leads into an area of attractive renegerating native woodland. Ignore lesser tracks off on both right and left, staying on the main route.
The track continues to climb at a steady gradient. It passes through a gate and leaves the trees behind to ascend the open moorland. There is a line of grouse butts off to the right, and as height is gained excellent views open up looking back, with Ben Aigan prominent.
The track continues to climb towards Baby's Hill. At around the 500m contour look out for a path which heads off to the left, aiming towards the prominent tors of Scurran of Well. The path is easily missed, but once picked up marks a fairly clear route though the heather, though the going is boggy in a few places. It crosses the Scurran Burn and then another burn before climbing moor steeply towards the Scurran. This side of the Scurran is mostly steep heather, but having gained the summit the much steeper granite crags of the east side are revealed.
Continue on the now much easier path that leads south to the next set of impressive granite tors at Lady's Chair. The tors here are composed of many horizontal layers, and are separated by deep channels. The highest can be scrambled up fairly easily but its neighbours would be more of a challenge.
From Lady's Chair a narrow path heads directly towards the main summit of Ben Rinnes; after 700m it meets a larger track for the final section to the top. The trig point is atop the Scurran of Lochterlandoch - another granite tor - though it is less impressive than those already visited. The views, however, are sensational, taking in a huge sweep of Moray, Aberdeenshire and into the Cairngorms.
One option for the descent would be the main path up Ben Rinnes from Glack Harnes, but this would be best if transport had been arranged. If returning to the distillery, it's best instead to retrace your steps initially down the track used on the last part of the descent. To complete your 'Tour of the Tors', leave the main track at a bend and follow a branch out to the Scurran of Morinish. This tor has the finest view towards the Cairngorms.
From here follow a narrow path through the heather to the north. This eventually peters out and some heather and peat-bog bashing is required - you could aim back for the Lady's Chair and the route of ascent, but it's perhaps easier to follow ATV tracks that keep to the higher ground before descending north via Fauldgates Cairn. Continue down to reach the top of the track used for the ascent, and follow this back down to the distillery.
Please consider setting up a direct debit donation to help support the continued maintenance and updates to Walkhighlands.
