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The Hills and Outdoors thread

A wee thread for your outdoor pursuits.routes up local and further afield hills and mountains, low level walks,mountain bike trails,wild camping,ski reports.Anything else outdoorsy that others may want to mention/recommend.

 

  My thing is hill walking mainly,with a bit of skiing now and again.Ill start things off with a few routes of hills of varying difficulty, starting with the toughest,from the South Cairngorms

 

1)      Bheinn A Ghlo,Carn A Chlamain,Beinn Dearg,Carn an Fhidlier,An Sgarsoch

 

The approach route i took for these hills can also be done as a low level walk,or mountain bike route without doing the hills. Starts at the Linn of Dee,5 miles beyond Braemar,and carries on through to Blair Atholl at the far end.Takes you through some of the furthest from civilisation landscape in the UK.

 

My plan was to bike and walk in on an evening, to just beyond the Falls of Tarf (at the side of the river Tilt),set up camp and do the west side Munroes the next day,and then Beinn A Ghlo's 3 munroes on day 2, and then back out

 

Parked at the Linn of Dee,and followed a good low level track to white bridge,where it splits in 2.Took the route South over the bridge,and past Bynack lodge,all the way to the falls of Tarf.

  I should point out that,cycling absolutely kills me. I never normally cycle anywhere, except a couple times a year to get to some hills.Any gradient at all and I need to come off and push.This route was pretty reasonable all the way to around Loch Tilt

 

Track near Bynack to give an idea of terrain.Easy biking /walking,great sense of space around here

 

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Track near the Falls of Tarf.Pushed the bike at this stage,though a regular M/biker would breeze it.Easy enough walking.

 

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I set up camp at the start of a track at,OS - 972,775 (Braemar/Blair Atholl map),took about 2 hrs to reach here,appx 2/3 bike,1/3 hike.

  In the morning,followed the track that heads towards a sheiling/old building on the edge of the Tarf water,and headed up An Sgarsoch first(initially a bit rough),then over to nearby Carn an Fhidlhier.From there over to Beinn Dearg,round by the west side of Loch Mairc,and up Carn A Chlamain,before heading for the track on Braigh choire na Conlaich back to the tent.

  A long summer day needed

 

Day 2 was the Beinn A Ghlo route, starting from the tent,down Glen Tilt to the bridge at Marble Lodge.From there,make way up Carn Liath,the first Munro,along to Braigh Coire Chruinn bhalgain,the second,and then to Carn nan Gabhar.From there head down to Meall A Mhuirich, looking out for a stalkers path to help you down to Glen Tilt and aiming for the bridge across the Tilt river,around 3km above Forest lodge

 

  .An Sgorsach and Carn an Fhidhlier can be done seperately by following the same route initially,but turning up the track at the Geldie burn,past Geldie Lodge,where a path leads you on to Carn an Fhidhlier,over to An Agarsoch,and back to the Geldie Burn/Linn of Dee.

  If not doing An Sgarsoch/Carn an Fhidhlier,the other hills are best planned from the Bridge of Atholl side.

Glen Tilt,a very attractive glen

 

 

2)  Geallaig hill - 743m

 

 

An easier hill,just past Ballater on the road to Braemar.The tourist route for this one is a rather drab track from the north side,but can be done from the South via this route.

  Park at the first car park on the right,just after the Coilecreich Inn.walk west along the road until you come out from the trees.There is a wooden gate on your right hand side.Go over that,and follow the grassy track up hill,which becomes more of a vehicle track further up.About two thirds of the way up the track seems to veer away from the summit,but a path appears,and takes you on to the top.

  Good views of Lochnagar and Upper Deeside. 1 or 2 hrs up and the same down depending on fitness

 

3) Millstone hill - 408m

 

  And a good starter hill on the south side of Bennachie.Parked at the Donview visitor centre near Blairdaff with good paths all the way.Took about an hour up,hour doon with a couple of 7 year olds.Theres also a link path from the summit over to the South top of Bennachie.

 

  Nice Aberdeenshire landscapes en route,and some nice spots along the river Don nearby,...which is nice

 

 

 

EDIT - A link to a map which you can zoom in for more detail.Sometimes shows paths not seen on an OS map

 

http://www.hill-bagging.co.uk/search.php?ct=SEWM

 

 

 

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Probably had bird flu.

  • 2 months later...
  • Author

Coastal walk from Huisinis(Harris),past Cravadale to Loch A'Ghlinne for a bit of fishing.Cracking walk

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Beach on the way,place to ourselves

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51 minutes ago, Elgindon said:

Coastal walk from Huisinis(Harris),past Cravadale to Loch A'Ghlinne for a bit of fishing.Cracking walk

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Beach on the way,place to ourselves

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I assume you'll be putting up the photo of your 8lb trout later?

  • Author

4.5lb Ferox as close as weve ever got...

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Tasty though...

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  • 2 weeks later...

I'm nae one for hills. Nae for walking up them anyway but decided to walk up Ben Nevis. Did it before a long time ago. It was much tougher than I remember. Winna be rushing back to do it again! I' glad I waited until there was no snow at the top. That would have been a nightmare. I'll stick to Benachie. Or Buckie Brae. 

  • 3 months later...
  • Author

I was never bothered about doing Ben Nevis,due to the amount of tourists,but its a very good viewpoint.

Heres a an easy one down near Edzell,good autumn walk with loupin salmon https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/angus/edzell.shtml

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  • 6 months later...
  • Author

Fine week on Lismore last week

Loch Etive/Ben Cruachan at Connel early am

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Sailean Bay,Lismore looking lush

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First time I’ve looked at this thread, really nice pictures Elgin. I grew up in lanark, some of your pics remind me of the Clyde valley, while my parents used to bag Monroe’s and they’d send me other pics like those. Been here for close to 30 years, best I can do these days is post a pic of Mickey Mouse, sorry!

Edited by OrlandoDon

  • Author

Send some 'gator pics if nothing else...

 

image.jpeg.c7e44e9d02dae14f6711941cfe474288.jpeg

image.thumb.jpeg.a4f7eb0bed33f2fd6dbc3a3326a31adb.jpeg Tree in my back yard, but if you zoom in behind you’ll see my new neighbor, arrived about a month ago. Apparently they grow about a foot every year.

Edited by OrlandoDon

4 minutes ago, OrlandoDon said:

 

image.jpeg.c7e44e9d02dae14f6711941cfe474288.jpeg

image.thumb.jpeg.a4f7eb0bed33f2fd6dbc3a3326a31adb.jpeg Tree in my back yard, but if you zoom in behind you’ll see my new neighbor, arrived about a month ago. Apparently they grow about a foot every year.

Can you eat them?

3 minutes ago, RicoS321 said:

Can you eat them?

Would be nice! Illegal to catch them, kill them, or feed them i believe. Basically you have to wait until they eat your dog or kid before you can approach them. We asked for someone to take it away since it’s close to my house and I have a pool. Don’t want my kids jumping in to find him at the bottom! They won’t do anything until it ‘threatens’ us.

34 minutes ago, OrlandoDon said:

Would be nice! Illegal to catch them, kill them, or feed them i believe. Basically you have to wait until they eat your dog or kid before you can approach them. We asked for someone to take it away since it’s close to my house and I have a pool. Don’t want my kids jumping in to find him at the bottom! They won’t do anything until it ‘threatens’ us.

Gatorland no longer selling 'Gatorbites'?

Or were they actually chicken nuggets and 1980s Florida allowed them to be 'creative' in their marketing?

  • Author

Poor mans Iguana if you ask me.Proper one next time....👍

  • 1 month later...
  • Author

Been doing the Formartine/Buchan way the last few weekends(Old Abdn to Broch/P'head railway).Enjoying it,good weather helps.All easy walking,....cyclable too.https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/aberdeenshire/formartine-buchan-way.shtml

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Old Signalmans boxes?

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We noticed a feint unmatked path going into some woods.Thought we'd hae a nosey,and came across an unexpected lake.think this may be a lotus flower? Unusual this far North,but maybe teased out with the amount of recent sun

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Edited by Elgindon

  • 1 month later...
  • Author

last sections of the Buchan way.Easy walking,cyclable the majority,if not all the way.Some dour straight bits,but mostly nice walking 7/10

Ugie water at Longside

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Badgers sett near Udny station

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Approaching Achnagatt

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On 18/05/2025 at 01:48, OrlandoDon said:

 

image.jpeg.c7e44e9d02dae14f6711941cfe474288.jpeg

image.thumb.jpeg.a4f7eb0bed33f2fd6dbc3a3326a31adb.jpeg Tree in my back yard, but if you zoom in behind you’ll see my new neighbor, arrived about a month ago. Apparently they grow about a foot every year.

This big lad had been relocated to a wildlife reserve from some of the rivers I used to go fishing at. I don't do fishing now...

 

 

 

 

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  • 1 month later...
  • Author

Just back fae Rum,first visit.Dolphins,Whales and Eagles within the first couple of hours over.Its a rough,often wet island though.Veered between shite and fantastic during the time there.Trench foot aside,highlight(on the one fairweather day) was the coastal path from Kinloch to Dilbidil bothy on the East coast.

https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/islands/dibidil.shtml

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  • 2 weeks later...
On 04/10/2025 at 04:04, Elgindon said:

Just back fae Rum,first visit.Dolphins,Whales and Eagles within the first couple of hours over.Its a rough,often wet island though.Veered between shite and fantastic during the time there.Trench foot aside,highlight(on the one fairweather day) was the coastal path from Kinloch to Dilbidil bothy on the East coast.

https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/islands/dibidil.shtml

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Rum has always intrigued me, a reasonably large island and recall reading that there had been a population push fairly recently which doubled ? The population. Looks fairly rugged but ace that you got to see the eagles! Is it there they have deer as well? 

  • Author

Biggest island of the small isles,but only about 40 inhabitants who mostly live in Kinloch the harbour village.The rest of the island probably too rough or exposed id say.Fantastic mountains.Not huge,but challenging and great views.A few cyclable tracks go to various sides of the island.Definitely going back next year to hill climb,too soggy this year.And aye theres about 1000 deer on the island.Nae good when youre trying to kip during rutting season,lol

   Mother and baby dolphin on the way over.Minke whale juming out the water near the mainland

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Edited by Elgindon

  • 1 month later...

A walk up Rangituhi (Colonial knob)with the family a few sundays ago. We’d had a week of rain and thought we’d timed it well with avoiding the first bit of pause in a while. Turns out not. Still, great hilly walk. Not on your levels of walking though EG 😂

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Next photos are a week later in our local harbour (Porirua). Sun had been shining but a whole bunch of cloud came over. Since then the weather has been pretty good (minus wind) and love having all this on our doorstep.

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  • Author

Nice. Looks quite jungly,and soggy underfoot going by someones feet.Got my eye on the Heaphy track next time Im visiting Sister.....whenever that is  🤔

1 hour ago, Elgindon said:

Nice. Looks quite jungly,and soggy underfoot going by someones feet.Got my eye on the Heaphy track next time Im visiting Sister.....whenever that is  🤔

Have had friends do that, meant to be great. Me and the wife want to do quite a few tracks but gonna have to wait for the boys to be a bit bigger.

the track we did is fairly typical of NZ bush, always reminds me of what Jurassic park would be like, minus the fact that NZ didn’t exist at that time period. But yeah, even under canopy the water gets through and can be quite soggy. Although they do generally maintain their tracks pretty well.

49 minutes ago, manc_don said:

always reminds me of what Jurassic park would be like, minus the fact that NZ didn’t exist at that time period

New Zealand didn't exist in 1993?

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