I parked at Easter Balmoral, immediately south of the B976 South Deeside Road, and walked briefly south-west along what was initially a tarred road, passed a few houses to the start of a path that led to Princess Beatrice’s Cairn. The path continued to Prince Albert’s Cairn, a large pyramid, on the summit of Creag an Lurachain. The highest point of this Tump was a mossy mound on the opposite side of the path.
From there I descended south-west to an estate track that ran above Glen Gelder. After a short walk south I left this track and climbed through heather of various lengths onto the north-west ridge of Creag nan Gall. A contorted ridge with some wet and tussocky ground led to the summit of this Tump.
I descended south-east to the col with Creag nan Gall South Top, and ascended this Tump across a mixture of heather and boulders. I then continued south-east and climbed Cnap na Clais Giubhais before continuing across more heathery ground to Little Conachcraig.
A short drop west took me to the estate track which I followed back to the forest at Easter Balmoral. At a junction of tracks, paths led to Princess Helena’s Cairn and from there I crossed rough vegetation and a few fallen branches to reach the summit of the Tump, Craig Gowan. Other paths then took me back to the houses at Easter Balmoral and my car.
- Time taken – 5.25 hours.
- Distance – 15 kilometres.
- Height climbed – 605 metres.