A wintery walk up Criffel

Date walked: 05/01/2017
Time taken: 4 hours
Distance: 12 km
Ascent: 607m

My first hill walk of 2017.
A very cold hill walk with Mr Globetrotter.
We followed the circular route described here on Walkhighlands, setting off from Sweetheart Abbey about 11am.

A quick visit to the local store then we were on our way.

After following the description as far as the link up point, we somehow began following signs to Criffel instead of the description and ended up going up the way we were supposed to come down, passing over Knockendock.

It took us about 3 hours to reach the summit, it stayed clear and dry but the temperature was a bit chilly at 1 degrees celcius. We enjoyed a quick Coffee and biscuit at the top before heading down the same way we came. We chose not to go the other route (the way we were supposed to come up) just in case we got it wrong again.

We were back at the Abbey by about half past 3.

White mounth munros circuit from Ballater

Munros included on this walk:
Broad Cairn, Cairn Bannoch, Carn a'Choire Bhoidheach, Carn an t-Sagairt Mor, Lochnagar
Date walked: 07/07/2014
Time taken: 11 hours
Distance: 29 km
Ascent: 1228m

I completed the White Mounth Munros circuit in bust boots, started from Ballater and walked 8 miles out to Glen Muick. From Glen Muick I wandered 2 miles along Loch Muick to Glas-allt-shiel bothy where I had lunch before starting the big ascent by the waterfall to bag Lochnagar, Carn a' Choire Bhoidheach, Carn an t-Sagairt Mor, Cairn Bannoch and Broad Cairn.

It took me 11 hours in total, I must have walked about 26 miles, a long day but got great weather for it which was a bonus. I had the mountains all to myself only passing 1 person who was out for a jog. I had planned to make it back to Ballater for the last bus but later realised there was no way that was happening. Luckily I managed to get a phone signal and called a mate to come and pick me up, which cost £30 for the privilege. If I had known it was going to take me as long then I would have brought my camping gear.

Bennachie, Aberdeenshire (Mither Tap & Oxen Craig)

Walking Mither Tap, Craigshannoch & Oxen Craig via Bennachie Centre

Caught the 9am bus from Aberdeen Union Square to Pitcaple, then walked the country roads from Pitcaple to Bennachie Centre.  Finally arrived at our destination, Bennachie Centre just after 11am.
If travelling by car, this whole journey would only have taken 30 minutes.

We took the timeline trail through the forest (or what used to be a forest!) and began to ascend the three peaks of Bennachie.  We arrived back at the Bennachie Centre for 5pm then had another hours walk ahead of us back to Pitcaple bus stop.