I was back up in the Huntly and Keith areas of Aberdeenshire to climb some more of the lesser known hills. The first one was Gallow Hill to the west of Huntly parking at the roadside to the west of this Tump. Initially I walked up a gap between a stock fence and deer fence before entering an area where the hillside was covered in ditches and hollows as trees had recently been planted here. On approaching the summit it became apparent that areas had been levelled and a new building had been constructed which may have altered the height and the location of its highest point. After visiting what appeared to be the highest point I descended north to a vehicle track which returned me to the start although a locked gate had to be clambered over.
The next Tump was Hill of Janestown a couple of kilometres further north although I decided to climb it from the minor road to the north-east parking beside a couple of gates. I then walked up the edge of a field containing sheep, crossed a barbed wire fence, onto the open hillside where I visited a few high points.
The Tump, Caird’s Hill, located south of Keith, was climbed from the B9115 to the south using vehicle tracks that led to the wind turbines. Beyond the turbines was Caird’s Wood and here I wandered around as I couldn’t tell which was the highest point.
I parked on the minor road to the north-east of Ten Road Hill, south-west of Keith, and after a short road walk entered and crossed a couple of fields containing sheep. A barbed wire and electric fence forced me to enter and a wooded area where I walked along the side of these fences until I was able to cross them into another field. I thereafter entered a wooded area where cattle roamed and here located the summit of the Tump which was on the opposite side of another electric fence. Fortunately a couple of nearby gates afforded access to the high point.
Black Hill was also located to the south-west of Keith. I parked on the minor road to the south-west then walked along the farm track towards Jocksleys later leaving it, crossing a barbed wire fence, a grassy field, and a second barbed wire fence. This took me into a wooded area where cattle roamed and to the summit of the Tump.
The final Tump of the day was Hill of Towie, again located south-west of Keith. I parked near the high point on the minor road to the west then walked east along the track giving access to the wind turbines. I later left this track and walked through heather to the summit trig point.
- Total time – 4 hours.
- Total distance – 14.75 kilometres.
- Total height climbed – 560 metres.