Ben Rinnes, a Corbett in Aberdeenshire, had been on my thoughts for months however the route appeared too quick for the drive of some 80 minutes to achieve the hill. Nevertheless, a day of unsettled climate in lots of areas of Scotland and the choice to do an extended circuit to go to some spectacular granite tors, due to this fact made the hike appear extra worthwhile.

My buddy Victoria, who’s new to Scotland and eager to get out and about at each alternative, wanted little persuading to affix me and we headed off on a moist Sunday morning from Inverness.

As we drove east, we had been delighted to search out the climate enhancing with sunshine and fewer clouds. 

2 stroll choices of Ben Rinnes

There’s a stroll of round 7.5km (return) from the east to achieve the summit of Ben Rinnes at 840m elevation. In the meantime, our various route prolonged to 11.5km and began at Benrinnes Distillery automotive park.

A monitor headed south and upwards, largely at a gentle and pretty light incline, till we reached an abrupt finish at a financial institution of peat and heather. From right here, the trail grew to become a lot fainter and we adopted bits and items of slender trod by means of the thick vegetation.

At no level was the gradient that steep, nonetheless, and we loved the ever extra expansive views over picturesque rolling countryside. 

At round 730m elevation, we reached a small hill plateau, marked with a cairn, from the place we headed south-easterly to realize extra top by means of heathery moors. 

Our first goal was a sequence of enormous tors, that are landforms created by the erosion and weathering of rock, at a excessive level referred to as Scurran of Morinsh.

I confess my sights grew to become extra targeted on a whippet, which was accompanied by two walkers, reasonably than the good tors at first. I’ve lengthy been drawn to whippets and espsecially after our  Wispa Whippet died final yr.

After an prolonged pat and cuddle with Wally Whippet, plus a chat with the 2 ladies who had been taking care of the canine for a buddy, I explored the fabulous tors, that are big and deeply lined and grooved, then joined Victoria as we surveyed the very good views throughout. 

We left the tors to move easterly after which, south-easterly, to achieve extra tors and likewise the summit correct of Ben Rinnes, named Scurran of Lochterlandoch on the OS Map.

Do you know?: The Gaelic phrase “scurran” means a peak or pinnacle on a hill, particularly of Ben Rinnes. In the meantime, Rinnes means “sharp level – and refers back to the granite tors. 

The highest is marked by a trig pillar however we didn’t hold round as a result of the midges had been out in drive even at this top. Heat situations and little or no breeze had created the proper local weather for the irritating biting bugs.

Return through extra tors

Our return to the beginning noticed us detour to a extra easterly path to go to essentially the most spectacular tors of the route at Scurran of Nicely.

The remainder of the stroll headed downhill, first on a trod by means of heather after which to rejoin the monitor at first of the stroll, which returned us to the distillery.

The stroll provides an amazing half-day outing and brings my whole of Corbett’s bagged to 130. 

• See route of 11.6km and 665m whole ascent on Strava.