Millhuie Hill: I left my car on the north verge of the A944 Alford to Strathdon Road at the start of the unclassified road leading to Glen Buchat and briefly walked north-west along the minor road. I then crossed a fence entered a field, containing sheep, and commenced the ascent of Millhuie Hill. A short steady climb took me to a barbed wire fence and once over it I entered another field of sheep where a vehicle track ran along the edge of a dilapidated fence to an old gate. Beyond this gate I was onto the open hillside.
Vehicle tracks continued for a short distance then I followed animal trails through heather until near the summit where the tracks disappeared. I then walked through the heather, some of which had been burnt, to gain the summit of this Tump, which wasn’t marked, but was possibly beside a wooden fence post. There were limited views due to the cloud which had lowered to summit level. The return was by the upward route.
The Buchat: I then drove up Glen Buchat and parked beside a dilapidated iron hut immediately south of this Tump, entered the forest, and walked through the well spaced trees with some fallen timber and brash left from timber operations. Higher up there was lots of windblown timber making for an awkward climb before eventually reaching the summit where I wasn’t able to decide on the highest point. On the descent to avoid some of the windblown timber I descended east through the trees then south back to my car.
Tom na Gabhar: Staying in Glen Buchat I parked at the entrance to the forest just south of Newton and walked west along the forest track. At a junction I took a left and followed this track until I reached a wide fire break where a path led through the heather to the cairn marking the summit of this Tump. The return was by the upward route.
Tom Breac: I parked at Roughpark, west of Strathdon, and walked briefly north-east along the A944 to a signpost for a walking route to Bellabeg. This route took me up passed some cottages then east towards Strathdon. I later left this path and located an old vehicle track which led me onto the east side of the Tump, Tom Breac. From here I crossed an old fence then wandered around including through the fir trees looking for the highest point which wasn’t obvious. I then returned by the approach route.
- Total time – 3.25 hours.
- Total distance – 10 kilometres.
- Total height climbed – 550 metres.