I parked my car beside the start of the private road leading to Auchness Farm, reached along minor snow and ice covered roads south from the village of Dallas in Moray. My map showed that the public road went to the farm but a sign indicated otherwise but In any case there were no parking areas on this stretch of road. According to another sign the farm road was part of ‘The Lone Road’, a public path to Johnstripe, to the west.
The farm road was covered in snow and ice and a stock gate required crossing as the catch was frozen. On passing through the farm another gate was crossed and this led to a snow and ice covered vehicle track which briefly headed south before turning west then later south-west as it passed through gorse bushes. The track went over Knock na Snaird, although there was no obvious knoll here.
On reaching another stock gate at NH10254801, it was easily crossed as the top spar was broken. Here I left the vehicle track and descended through high, rough, snow covered vegetation to the Lone Burn which was slow moving and quite deep. It required a short leap to get me to the other side.
A stock fence, which wasn’t in a great state, was followed south into the forest and onto a fire-break which was a bit more obvious the higher I got.
I crossed and re-crossed the stock fence a few times looking for the best route and to avoid a few fallen trees. The powder snow was quite deep and after a steeper section the gradient eased considerably then finally a short ascent led to what appeared to be the highest point of the Tump, Carnachie, a snow covered small gorse bush beside the stock fence.
The return was by the upward route.
- Time taken – 3.25 hours.
- Distance – 9 kilometres.
- Height climbed – 280 metres.