Sometimes the shortest of walks can give the best of views. For me a walk up Mortlich in Aboyne provides such an experience.
The most rewarding aspect of the views is that they are to places where I walk the most. In this photo you get the folding up of the hills, but while you walk up the hill the experience is more narrowly focused to the path ahead. The hills in front of you mostly out of site. In the end of the day, its the variety of walking in Deeside that makes it so special.
We are lucky to have a local walking holiday business called, Walk Deeside, that specialize in outdoor activities and walking holidays on our door step. Whether you are looking for guided tours of local hills or the Cairngorms they provide a complete package from accommodation to skills expertise. They even provide international expedition leadership again as a complete package from guide to accommodation, next year both Kilimangaro and Peru are scheduled.
With the second half of the summer being particularly unsettled weather wise then the chances are you will have been walking a lot in the rain recently? Especially on longer distance walks, I head in to Glen Tanar from Aboyne the other weekend and it rained for 3 of the 4 hours I was out walking. It was a muggy and humid day and the Fungle, felt more jungle like but my CragHoppers and t-shirt were keeping me cool enough, but on leaving the tree line behind the open heather moorland brought steady and heavy rain, and a bit of wind, nothing to strong but enough to dramatically lower the temperature. A few years back I got a pair of made to measure water proof over trousers. With no lining they are light to carry and easy to roll up into a pocket, zipped at the bottom to save you taking off your boots, but you still need to have good balance to get them on quickly. I also had a shell outer jacket. I was wrapped up from both the wet and the cold wind. I had not been for a long-ish walk in the rain for ages, no views to take in or Buzzards soaring in the sky to watch but it was enjoyable enough, especially guessing when the could might break. Then it came time to descend and the valley bottom was a lot warmer, the rain became more showery and I could remove the over trousers. The day became warm before a big shower ensured I finished my walk in the rain as I returned to Aboyne.
If you spend any length of time hill walking at this time of year in Scotland, then you know how easy it is to pick up ticks. When the bracken stands tall and invades the paths it is all too easy to brush past it allowing the small insects their opportunity to latch on. Here is some tips on hill walking at this time of year to avoid picking up ticks.
Ticks carry some nasty infections so it is well worth the effort.
The calendar said 15th June but high on Ben Avon and in its gullies winter was still hiding.
The walk to the summit of Ben Avon is best characterised as three long plateau walks, the valley floor walk-in, then the moderate climbed through Fairy Glen to the moorland plateau before things get a lot steeper as the gully climbs the side of Ben Avon to the long flat top of Ben Avon. I found it a gentle and less threatening walk compared to those around Ben Macdhui however, there was a still a lot of risk around. Mainly, whether to trust the snow bridges that were clearly being used by other hill walkers? There were three occasions where the path took a snowy turn. The first couple looked safe enough as the main stream was some distance way, but I did get a ‘post hole’ on the way down. However, the last snow bridge was a straight burn crossing. Plenty of foot prints and boot dirt stretched over the snow but I opted to follow the stream up a side gully and to cross on some expose bare granite, no fear of that collapsing. Safety first. The weather on the summit was OK but it started to rain and add in the wind, it was not a day for hanging around in the great outdoors. I could have opted to put on my rain jacket on but I decided for a quick descent to the mid plateau. I wore my Hilltrek made to measure venture trousers that were ideal for the walk up and half the way down but the lower valleys had heated up a lot. A quick change into the CraigHopper shorts made for a more comfort. A 20 mile, 7 hour summers day when winter thinking was still required.
What to do on a bank holiday Monday? Answer: walk from Aboyne to Aberdeen. The warm sunny days had slipped away, so the vision of wearing shorts and t-shirt for the walk was no longer on. What to wear on a day when the weather forecast suggested a band of rain early morning that would clear the sky come evening along the coast but with a northly wind, stronger nearer you get to the coast? Well, when I woke at 5.15am it was a clear sky and frosty in Aboyne, -2c but with a quick scan of the radar image, a band of rain was steaming south. So, I chose my ventile ‘made to measure’ hilltrek walking trousers and the inner lining of my skiing jacket. Sure enough it started to rain just after crossing Aboyne bridge. My first leg of the trip was to walk to Potarch Bridge via the south deeside road, 6.6 miles according to google maps. By then the rain had past and it cloudy but with sunny spells, and it remained like that for the rest of the day. The Deeside Way, was the walk I was wanting to follow, the only snag is, that it does not exist between Aboyne and Banchory so I free walked it along the river bank to Invercranny before walking along the road to enter Banchory, a 6.9 mile leg.
River Dee Banchory
Then I met up with a friend in Banchory and we started on the official Deeside Way path, the old Deeside Railway line walk. The train was in operation at Milton of Crathes and 6.5 miles from Banchory we arrived at Drumoak. Not far from the edges of Aberdeen, Peterculter being the first sign of Urbanisation. It was windy by now keeping it cool but feeling warm in the glimpses of the sun. Now I thought, my 4 month old ventile trousers may still be in need of some wearing in but no, they felt great the whole way. More than I can say for me feet. I chose my hiking boots but by Peterculter I opted for my trainers. Us hill walkers are used to soft hill tracks or soft peaty ground but the deeside way path is hard and tarred for good stretches. I met up with another friend for the last 7 miles from Peterculter to Duthie Park but the finishing line for me was the north seas at the beach esplanade. I think about a 32 mile walk in about 10 hours.
A cold spring day in the West Highlands and another Munro -An Caisteal- a perfect test of my fitness after recent 57th birthday celebrations.
I set off late from Glasgow after a breakfast in the Tapa coffeehouse, where my daughter works, hoping to reach the hills at the north end of Loch Lomond by 10.30. The weather was as predicted in the mountain forecast, low cloud and rain at low levels.
My 
preparation was not the best after a very late but excellent curry at the Pakastani Cafe and a long drive down from Aboyne the evening before.
I had planned to take the route via the north ridge to Sron Garbh over the Twistin Hill to the summit of An Caisteal and then south east to Beinn Chabhair returning back down the track along side the River Falloch.
Deep snow on the approach was testing to my fitness, so much so, that I had to take off my Lochnagar Karisma fleece and pack it in my rucksac. I was wearing Paramo’s new lightweight Velez Trousers to test their effectiveness in the conditions -I would normally have worn Paramo Cascada or perhaps Aspira Trousers which are warmer but heavier.
Above 600 meters the rain turned to snow but, as the day wore on, the showers lessened and the cloud lifted opening up superb views all around, as forecast.
My late start, the poor forecast for the late afternoon, the icy conditions on top and the long drive home to Aboyne dictated that I return on the same route.
The Velez Trousers were perfect for the conditions light wind and temperatures around zero degrees. If the wind had been stronger I would have been warmer in Cascada or Aspira Trousers but probably perspired much more lower down.
You can find out more about Velez Adventure Trousers on the Hilltrek website.
If you are planning to walk or climb in the Scottish Mountains try the Mountain Weather Information Service - the forecast was very accurate.
An excellent overview of the route can be found on Munro Magic website, which also has 3D views.
I was out freeskiing at the weekend, Carnferg to Aboyne, full story on my blog. As it was a relatively warm day, I didn’t want to wear my ski pants so I opted for my ventile Cabrach made to measure trousers. I had never skied in them before and thought they might be a bit stiff but I was proved wrong, totally flexible and they fitted round my ski boots perfectly. This was also my first test of the ventile waterproofing technology. While not raining, the snow was real wet from the mornings rain and it was up to my knees and beyond at times, so plenty of moisture to test out the trousers. They certainly got wet but the water was kept out. Near my boots the fabric got frozen and this made the material real stiff but just the last couple of inches, the snow temperature was still below freezing. I was impressed on how well the material also dried out, the classic example being sitting down in the snow for a rest or to have some lunch. You could feel the cold on your bumb and the material was clearly soaking in the water (ventile works by the fibres expanding and thus making a barrier to prevent the water leaking through) but within a few minutes of walking again, they were dry. I expect I’ll choose my Cabrachs a few times in what is shaping up to be a long Spring season of free skiing on Deeside.
The sky has awoken bright and clear in Aboyne this morning. With great visibility the opportunity to get out in the hills to stretch the legs and to take in some majestic views arises. Here are some tips on powder walking:
1. Wait for the weather to give you a clear blue sky day or at least favourable conditions
2. Choose a walk that you have done many times before i.e. you know it well. It is amazing how such familiar surrounds look so different when under 50-100cm of snow.
3. Equipment, map, compass and in terms of clothing, Gators are the top tip. The powder snow can get everywhere, especially when its up to your knees. A band around the sole of the boots is also invaluable to save the gators riding up. Carry plenty of liquids.
4. The walk will take up to 2 or 3 times as long and it will be tough going so keep an eye on the clock. NB. day light is still short. Leave information on your plans and arrival time back.
5. If at all possible walk with a partner, helps with sharing the burden of breaking new ground. Life is better to share any how!
Lastly remember a camera. The views will be stunning.
