Distance: 9.7 miles
Time: 5 hours (including stops)

The route:

Map created by EveryTrail:GPS Geotagging

For once the malevolent weather gods of Aberdeen had taken a Sunday off, the coach arrived early and we even got a stop for bacon rolls at the services of Strathcaro where the authentic seventies experience is free. At the back of the coach it was Baltic and so the frigid air at Lumley Den was not much of a surprise as we kitted up under promisingly blue skies.

This might have been a new part of the world for the Stockets but the fresh air got us moving quickly up the steep slopes of Iron Hill away from the road. We observed the bus driver taking a quick self-portrait – evidently even he thought the surroundings were nice. After Liz barrel rolled through a fence we had a much more sedate climb up to our first summit where a flurry of snow from dark clouds hinted at a later change in the weather.

?For now though we seemed to be in the one clear patch for miles around. From horizon to horizon we were surrounded by shifting clouds and falling rain but after the snow abated we enjoyed walking in beautiful sunshine and wonderful views.

From Iron Hill we could have bagged Gallow Hill but a navigation error kept us on the distinct track through the heather towards the TV tower on the southern slopes of this eastern end of the Sidlaws. As we crested the ridge here we were treated to a view of the lower Tay valley with the Firth of Tay a glistening silver band beyond the city of Dundee. Everything glowed in the low winter sun.

The walk along the ridge to the road up to the weather station at Craigston hill was enjoyable and after a short tarmac’d section we reached the trig point and our high point for the day at 535m. Elevenses were had whilst we waited for the Dundee crew, including Sidlaw expert Alick, to join us. In the distance we could see the Folly on the day’s final hill. It looked a good distance and was also basking in the sun.

From Craigston we skirted around more radio paraphernalia then dropped down onto a good path winding its way up from Dundee which led us up to a look out on Balluderon hill. It offered fabulous panoramas and in fact under sombre clouds the base of some of the closer Cairngorms could be seen.

From here we zig-zagged our way amongst the heather-clad hills until we reached the remains of the hill fort on Auchterhouse Hill. There was a stiff breeze as we enjoyed views into Fife and all down the Tay and into the North Sea.

On the lea side of the hill several Stockets decided to break for lunch whilst others carried on across the somewhat boggy ground en route to Scotston Hill. In a small dell we paused for our lunch, remarking on the cloud that had crept in on the now stiffened south-westerly breeze.

Attempts to reach Scotston Hill were thwarted by an impressive fence so we skirted the contours back up to the main path. This led us above a small quarry and then onto a landrover track which wove its way around Henderston Hill. Bob appointed himself our forest guide and we wound our way through firebreaks and along hidden paths until we emerged somewhat away from our target of Kinpurnie Hill.

Crossing some more open land brought us up on to the final hill of the day where the impressive stone tower of earlier in the day turned out to be a somewhat disappointing shell with a propensity for funnelling the wind. The imposing clouds cut off the views from the panorama and it wasn’t long before we sought the shelter of the valley and the village of Newtyle only a mile or so below us.

The descent was a treacherous combination of slick grass and churned up mud which only became worse as we slithered our way through the woods alongside a chattering burn. It was well marked and thankfully had adequate hand railings which became even more important as a heavy rain started to fall.

The last half mile or so along the road were desperately unpleasant with thick rain driven into us by a strong wind. Nevertheless the comparative shelter of the bus was obtained, dry waterproofs were donned and our day was rounded off by a pint in the pub and the knowledge of an unlikely triumph at Pitodrie.

See more in my Sidlaws Flickr Photoset.

This time last year I was heading up the flanks of Morrone in a deep covering of fresh snow. This year’s detox walk was somewhat different with ice and winds providing the entertainment as Dave and I crossed the mysterious Sgor Buidhe plateau above Ballater.

Sgor Buidhe, Ballater at EveryTrail

Map created by EveryTrail:GPS Geotagging

We got the 08:45am 201 from Aberdeen which dropped us off at the Stagecoach depot in Ballater just before 10:30am. The streets in Aberdeen were shiny with recently fallen rain but as we set off through the back streets of Ballater there was nothing falling from the sullen skies.

The walk initially wound between houses and the sports field before crossing the Pass of Ballater road and heading up a forestry track into the pine covered slopes of … . It took a while before a view opened out and initial slope was fairly steep and muddy. As we climbed to a point where the track curves around the hill to the left we saw ahead up the Tullich Burn to Morven with a beautiful cap of snow. By now the wet ground was solid ice, dangerous when unsighted.

We followed the track as it passed above a radio mast and then climbed up to the flat summit of the first hill, . Here we encountered the wind which rose strongly as we left the tree line.

Despite the wind which tried its hardest to blow us off course, we now had a straightforward walk across the tops, heading west. The wind was incredibly strong and we only spent a short time at the white rock which marked the summit of Sgor Buidhe. From here we followed the faint track to the final summit Craig of Prony.

To extend the day slightly we descended from here north into a tributary of Glen Gairn, with Peter’s Hill and Morven off to our left. The descent was steep and heathery but there was no complaining as it got us out of the wind. We came down to where a track forded the small stream and paused for a bite to eat and a look at the thick ice which was lingering at the edges of the water.

The return route to Ballater was a very pleasant walk along springy paths through trees intially before we followed a farm track back to the Pass of Ballater. Reports suggested we might meet an unfriendly farmer so we skirted around the buildings of and then hopped across the barbed wire fence on the other side.

After crossing the main road we descended down a steep bank close to the Craigendarroch Hilton and then enjoyed the last stretch along above the Dee, which also had signs of ice.

Back in Ballater we scoped out a few shops, found that the Prince of Wales hadn’t yet woken up after Christmas and spent a warm hour or so in the pub next door.