I left my car at the start of the forest track (grid reference NJ443279) on the north side of the A941 Rhynie to Dufftown Road and briefly walked north-west along this track before leaving it, entering the trees and crossing some brash and windblown timber. On clearing the wood the ground was tussocky then there was long heather to contend with before reaching the summit of Clayshot Hill. This consisted of some rocks and it was an awkward climb before I was able to touch the highest point of this Tump.
It was then back to the forest track and onto Boganclogh Lodge where I followed the track going west gaining some height as it swung north-west, north then east before coming to an end. At this point there was fire break to the north so I climbed through it although there was lots of brash and fallen timber so at times it was easier working my way through the fir trees. Higher up the trees had been harvested so once across the brash I was into some long heather before coming across an old track leading to the summit of Cloichedubh Hill. The highest point of this Tump was apparently an embedded rock although there were actually two. I then continued to the East Top which appeared higher.
I descended through long heather to the edge of the forest and with no sign of a fire break entered the wood. The descent through the fir trees was awkward making for slow progress as I searched for the easiest route. Eventually I reached the forest track to the south of the Ealaiche Burn.
Walking was now easier as I headed north-west to the junction with the upper track on the south side of Raven Hill then east along this track to a firebreak. I ascended the firebreak north through some rough vegetation and old tree stumps. Higher up I entered the fir trees and climbed to the summit of Raven Hill although the highest point of this Tump wasn’t obvious.
I returned to the track above Ealaiche Burn and followed it to Boganclogh Lodge then the forest track back to the start.
- Time taken – 5 hours.
- Distance 17.5 kilometres.
- Height climbed – 510 metres.