Parked at the end of the public road in Glen Tanar, accessed from the B976 South Deeside Road south-west of Aboyne, where there was space for a few cars beside the estate buildings. I walked past the lochan to the bridge over the Water of Tanar where a vehicle track initially headed over the south-west side of Knockie then a grassy track led to its summit of this Tump.
I returned to the Firmounth Road, a track I crossed earlier after the bridge, and walked south gaining some height. I later left this track and walked through long vegetation which was hard work although I did come across a vehicle track which I used briefly. On gaining the south-east ridge the trees had been thinned and a forest track led to the summit of the Tump, The Strone.
The descent was initially back along the south-east ridge before descending west on a brash covered track. Eventually I emerged onto a vehicle track and walked south-east along the side of the Water of Allachy looking for the bridge over the river but it no longer existed. I therefore returned along the track to a ford where I managed to cross dry shod before walking along the north side of the Water of Gairney. I later left this track, crossed the burn, then through well spaced trees onto the open hillside passing over an old track before reaching the summit of the Tump, Tom Giubhais.
I descended south then west re-crossing the Water of Gairney and the vehicle track that led to Glen Tanar. I then climbed to the summit of the Graham Top, Clachan Yell. From here I descended south-west to reach the col with Black Hill then ascended this Graham Top.
From Black Hill I headed south to join the vehicle track crossed prior to ascending Clachan Yell and followed it to Glen Tanar. Here a vehicle track on the south side of the Water of Tanar returned me to my car.
- Time taken – 7 hours.
- Distance – 22.75 kilometres.
- Height climbed – 1005 metres.