Day Meets 2021 : Possible Locations

Lochnagar
OS Map 44 (Ballater & Glen Clova),
Lochnagar summit Grid Ref NO244861

One of Scotland’s most famous hills, immortalised in verse by Lord Byron as ‘Dark Lochnagar’, the mountain’s principal feature is the north facing corrie.

The most popular start point for Lochnagar is Spittal of Glenmuick where there is a large pay and display car park (£3 charge), there are toilet facilities at Glenmuick.

It is a fairly easy walk to the summit with a well used path most of the way, en-route a short diversion can be made to bag the Corbett Conacraig. The return to the car park can be made by a variety of routes; down Glas Alt to Glas Alt Sheil and along the north shore of Loch Muick or by completing the Lochnagar Horseshoe via four more Munro summits.

Spittal of Glenshee
OS Map 43 (Braemar & Blair Atholl), Grid Ref. NO109699

The Spittal of Glenshee is situated where four glens meet, a well established travellers rest stop, for centuries there was a hostel or inn at the site, however this burned to the ground in 2014 and has yet to be rebuilt. Whilst there are no Munros accessible in a day walk from the Spittal of Glenshee the Corbett Ben Gulabin (806m) is approximately 2.5 kilometres to the north. The village is on the Cateran Trail and part of this could be incorporated into a circular day walk

 
Ben Chonzie &/or Auchnafree Hill
OS Map 52(Pitlochry & Crieff),
Grid Ref NN773309 Ben Chonzie), NN808308(Auchnafree Hill)

The easiest way up Ben Chonzie is to start at the head of Glen Lednock at Coishavachan. A landrover track heads up from here to around 800m from there it is an easy plod up the broad south east shoulder to the summit (931m). The day can be extended by heading back down the south east shoulder to Meall an Seide (757m) and Carn Chois (780m). From here, a return to the col between these two tops finds you at a track leading down to Carroglen. From there continue on to Funtulich and the tarmac road leading back to the start. 19km, 987m, 6-7 hours

The Corbett Auchnafree Hill can be ascended by heading up Glen Almond from Newton as far as Larichfraskhan. From here a track heads up to the summit (789m). An interesting return can be made by descending past the Thief’s Cave in Coire Chultran to the bridge at NN844 319 and return to the start. 21km, 707m, 6-7 hours. An alternative start would be to head straight up from Newton and navigate the complicated ground between Meall Tarsuinn and Achnafree Hill.

Both Hills can be climbed from the car park at Loch Turret (NN822265) reached by driving up the Hydro Road in Glen Turret.
To ascend both is roughly 21km, 1160m, 7-8 hours.

The Pentland Hills
OS Maps 65(Falkirk and Linlithgow) & 66(Edinburgh)

The hills can be accessed from Flotterstone Ranger Centre (NT232630) on the A702 from where a variety of rounds of varying length can be made, the longest, (24 km, 1470m), taking upwards of 8 hours. The area is steeped in history including a Font Stone (NT176592) where the occasional baptism is apparently still performed and some of the tracks are of historical religious significance. An alternative start can be made from Thriepmuir Reservoir Ranger Centre (NT182655) just off the A70 near Balerno. A circuit from here can include Hare Hill, Scald law and Carnethy Hill. 20km, 1226m, 6-7 hours.
 

Glen Gairn
(This walk assumes that car sharing is once again allowed)
OS Maps 36(Grantown & Aviemore) & 37(Strathdon & Alford)

Not so much a through walk as a circuit with a bit of a car shuttle at the start and finish. Cars should be left at NO256966, the start of the walk and NO235939 where the walk will end. 24 km, 810 m

The walk starts just north of Bush (NO257966) and proceeds up a track north through a plantation before breaking out onto the open moorland, and past Blairglass before descending slightly into Glen Gairn. Here the track heading west is used to reach Daldownie before crossing the river by the “Sydney Harbour Bridge”. It’s worth a stop at Corndavon Lodge to peer into the window and admire the wall painting here. This was used by the Queen Mother as a hunting bothy. There also used to be an open bothy next door in the old farm buildings, but due to misuse it has been closed by Invercauld Estate. Continue west until the bridge over the Gairn at NJ212019.

Cross this and head up to the junction at NJ203990 where a decision must be made, to go for Culardoch or not and which is included in the initial calculation. If my memory serves me correctly, this is not a great section of track. Omitting Culardoch would save about 200 m of ascent and about 1.5 km. From Culardoch head south down the steep south east shoulder and eventually make for the junction at NJ191972.

Here head south east and follow the rough track as far as Auchtavan where there is a small agricultural museum. The old cottage has one of the last remaining “hanging lums” in Scotland but it is usually locked up. The track then continues east and south through pleasant woodland, past Balmore and Balnoe to reach Thistledae. From there is about 2 km of tarmac to reach the start of the day. It might be possible to leave at least one car at Thistledae if this option is preferred at the start.


Glen Prosen
OS Map 44 (Ballater & Glen Clova)

Glenprosen, a glen and a quoad sacra parish in Kirriemuir parish, NW Forfarshire. The glen is that of Prosen Water, rising at an altitude of 2750 feet on the western slope of Mayar, and running 18 miles south-eastward through the northern division of Kirriemuir and along the borders of Cortachy, Kingoldrum, and Kirriemuir proper, till, after a total descent of nearly 2400 feet, it falls into the South Esk at a point 1¼ mile SE of Cortachy Castle.

It is a glen steeped in history. Scott planned his ill-fated polar expedition at the Prosen home of Edward Wilson – a world authority on grouse parasites. At the turn of the century the Prosen estate earned more from shooting grouse than from agriculture. That kept Balnaboth, the Laird’s house, well stocked with supplies of game … and famous guests.

J M Barrie rented the house for three summers in the 1930s from the grandmother of the current owner, Hector MacLean, when the success of Peter Pan ruled out an “ordinary” house in his birthplace of Kirriemuir for summer holidays. Balnaboth was indeed grand enough – Hector’s dad remembered meeting the Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret there as a boy, and dinner was halted as the young ladies picked strawberries.

Driesh and Mayar can be climbed from here also a walk over to Glen Clova using the Ministers heritage way. Graham Cat Law (671m) is also a possibility.