I’m ticking off a listing of Scottish mountains generally known as Corbetts. There are 222 Corbetts and they’re between 2500ft and 3000ft tall. This stroll took me to essentially the most easterly Corbett, Mount Battock, through Glen Dye and Clachnaben.

Mount Battock stroll from Glen Dye

There aren’t many Corbetts which have a well-defined path from begin to end. Most embody a variety of off-the-beaten monitor tramping and, ceaselessly, walkers are required to navigate a route for themselves. Mount Battock is a rarity as a result of it has a monitor all the best way to the summit.

I often stroll Corbetts with my pal Ben or my pal Rob, however the different weekend they had been each free and so we determined to stroll as a trio. It was their first assembly and from the second they met, they appeared to love one another and take to each other. Rob’s collie Storm permitted of Ben, too!

Between the three of us, we had so much to speak about together with our frequent curiosity of summit bagging. This contains Munros, Corbetts, Grahams (or Fionas!) and Donalds.

It turned out that having loads of dialog is beneficial when strolling the monitor to Mount Battock summit as a result of it’s a good distance and other than the stunning views there may be little else to distract.

First, although, the summit of Clachnaben

Our stroll began at a small automotive park in an previous quarry simply north of the settlement of Bridge of Dye, in Aberdeenshire. A path led us downhill at first and thru peaceable woodland with a mixture of timber, together with Scots pines, Douglas firs and larches.

The route levelled as we reached the bottom of the glen, the place we crossed a bridge and headed proper at a junction on a monitor into an open grassy space generally known as Miller’s Lavatory. The air was nonetheless and when the solar shone, it felt delightfully heat.

It was right here that we first glimpsed the nice tor that sits atop Clachnaben up forward. The view of the large rocky outcrop is dramatically breath-taking. Wanting like an unlimited ruined fortress or the darkened define of enchanted fortress, the jagged lump of granite rises steeply from near the summit above Glen Dye.

It’s a skyline sight that was gorgeous sufficient to halt our continuous chat and we stood inventory nonetheless to gaze upwards.

Folklore and truth of Clachnaben

It’s not troublesome to see why the existence of the enormous outcrop has grow to be the stuff of folklore legend. One fanciful story tells of two rival giants who’re stated to have been keen on throwing rocks at one another. The giants, Jock o’ Bennachie and Jock o’ North, who lived on completely different native hills, hurled a big boulder that landed on Clachnaben and that grew to become the tor.

In one other story, the tor is named “the satan’s chew” as a result of it was believed that when the satan took a chew out of the hillside, he discovered it to be too bitter and spat it on to Clachnaben summit. 

In reality, the tor is the results of pure erosion and weathering of rock, however even up shut it appears otherworldly. 

The phrase Clachnaben derives from the Gaelic, “Clach na Beinne”, which implies the Stone on the Hill.

Strolling onwards, Rob, ben and I wandered into the outer fringe of one other woodland. This time, the timber had been tall pines and the trail adopted alongside a fast-flowing stream.

Previous the plantation, the route turned left and we started the climb on Clachnaben. Granite steps aided the ascent in locations though the trail is steep at occasions and we had brief rests to catch our breath and consider the tor because it loomed ever greater above us.

Up shut, the granite has a mottled brown-grey hue and the rocks characteristic large folds and creases. Steep sides guard one aspect of the tor and so we adopted a tough path to the appropriate and across the again of the rocks.

It’s a brief and comparatively simple scramble to climb to the highest of the tor at 1932ft (588m) elevation, the place we stood and surveyed the fabulous huge views of the broader rolling panorama, together with the hills of Oxen Craig, Mither Faucet and Bennachie. We might additionally see the Munro of Lochnagar.

Slightly below, to the north-west, a trig marked a top of 1899ft (578m) and stretching additional west was a line of summits, together with Hill of Edendocher, Sandy Hill and Hill of Badymicks, that undulate in direction of a excessive level of 2552ft (778m) on Mount Battock.

Strolling on to Mount Battock

Our vacation spot was the summit of Mount Battock and after having fun with the views from Clachnaben, we headed in direction of the trig pillar after which continued on the very outlined and huge monitor.

The route undulates and steadily climbs over smaller hills – the Hill of Edendocher and the Hill of Badymicks – earlier than a remaining push for the summit of the Mount. The final part is steeper, though not as steep as many different mountains in Scotland.

A summit trig pillar sits beside a big double windshelter of stones.

Because of good climate – sunny however chilly – we might see for a lot of miles round. The panorama in southern Aberdeenshire is of rolling hills and mountains and we might spot the Munros of Driesh and Mayar, in addition to Mount Eager, essentially the most easterly of the Munros.

The return route is to comply with the trail and monitor again the best way you got here.

It could be doable to cycle this route on a mountain bike, however all of us agreed that it’s a nice stroll in good firm and on a day of superb climate.

Mount Battock stroll particulars

Begin/end: Clachnaben Quarry automotive park simply north of the Bridge of Dye

Distance: 25.5km

Complete ascent: 1075m

Route: Strava and OS Maps.

Corbetts bagged: 117

There may be an alternate shorter route from Glen Esk.