Culter Hillwalking Club

03/11/2026

Sunday 1st November 2026 Walk Report
Gannoch, Tampie and Mudlee Bracks Circuit

Ten of us gathered at the Forest of Birse car-park for the walk after a glorious drive in the early morning light with the trees in full autumn colours. Setting off towards Gannoch, we soon picked up the steep track upwards. The climb was well worth it as the views back down the valley and then towards Morven and beyond soon opened up in the clear sunny conditions.
Shortly before the top we halted for a brief refreshment stop where despite ducking down we couldn’t avoid the sharp cold northerly breeze – the only drawback of the day. We soon warmed up as we continued up Gannoch, the highest point of the day and then across to Tampie, that is only marginally less in height. Descending Tampie, the views into Glen Esk opened up including billowing smoke from muir burn. The wind was fortunately blowing this away from us so in a way, it was quite atmospheric. Leaving the track, we took a shortcut ATV track down to the top of the Fungle road and started up Mudlee Bracks on the steep peaty track. Reaching the top, we rejoined the main track and after a short descent stopped for lunch at a set of stones that made for good seating but little shelter from the cool breeze.
Soon we were back walking and after the short climb to Hill of Cammie we left the track for the cross country stretch across to C**k Hill. This was aided by a series of ATV tracks. Here we startled several red deer that made off promptly for quieter pastures. Reaching the track at C**k Hill we made good progress to White Hill and then downhill. By this time the low afternoon light was casting spectacular shadows on the hillsides and gorge in front of us, so there was a communal photo stop to capture the effects. Shortly after this we reached the small river crossing and regained the road back to the car park. All in all, around 20km in just over 6 hours. Who would have thought that one of our best weather walks would be in November!
Thanks to David and Catherine for driving.

Alison Paterson

03/11/2026

Saunter Report Inverbervie Nov 1st 2026.

Bervie beach was basking in the warm November sunshine when the 18 Saunters arrived and also when they left such was the glorious autumn weather; the sea blue with scarcely a ripple disturbing the surface as we made our way along the old railway.

It was on November 1st 161 years ago that the Montrose to Inverbervie railway opened for business but was never a commercial success carrying few passengers and insufficient freight and it must have been no surprise when it appeared on the list of lines to be closed in 1966. Now more people probably walk and cycle on the route than ever travelled on the railway where only a few low walls remain to remind passers by of its existence.

A short walk by the shore and we turn off steeply up a well made stepped footpath, complete with handrail and walk through a shelter belt of mature trees just to the south of the last houses in Inverbervie, the sycamore leaves thick on the ground before turning to the fields of Sillyflatt farm. Large fields now planted with winter barley may have in the past grown flax for the mills that were the mainstay of Bervie’s livelihood for much of the twentieth century. Now the farm has diversified into retailing, catering and events as well as commercial agriculture.

Our route is on the other side of the A92 on a much older road that served the same purpose, namely connecting Montrose to towns further north by stage coach. It must have been slow going up the steep slope of Gourdon Hill and a very careful descent from the 300ft high point down to virtually sea level. No wonder the horses were changed at Inverbervie. The track known as the Lang Rig now has a good but overgrown surface, a bit muddy in places and just as steep now as it was for the horses in the past and with the warm weather overdressed Saunterers had to stop to shed a layer. Downhill the track is just as straight and meets the road at the Den of Benholm a leafy gorge with Benholm Castle to the north and the Mill nestled downstream.

After a short walk on the road a sign on a gate announces our arrival at the start of footpaths leading to the Mill of Benholm. The grassy path soon meets the restored mill lade and evidence in the form of new bridges of all the extensive work that has been done to ensure that this unique cluster of buildings might see its collection of ancient water powered machinery turning again. While the mill is quiet the cosy cafe is not, busy serving visitors teas, coffees and fine pieces and we stop here some Saunterers add to their lunch from the cafe.

After lunch its uphill to go downhill as the new path over the burn carries us up the bank to higher ground surrounded by autumn colours in this well wooded glen. The path connects with the car park just after crossing the old stone bridge that carried the road over the Benholm Burn, that job is now done by a 1930’s concrete one and after crossing the A92, we continue our on our way to the sea shore through another wood on a path that delivers us to the shore between Johnshaven and our next destination, Gourdon.

Gourdon still has a commercial harbour with several fishing boats tied up although there are more vessels laid up ashore than afloat. Lobster pots are stacked on the piers and a sport fishing boat makes ready with anglers off to try their luck and by the looks of thing the Harbour Bar is having a busy afternoon but as none of the Saunterers are in need of refreshment we make our way through to Inverbervie on the old railway line to the conclusion of another interesting Saunter.

23/10/2026

Sunday Walk Report October 2026
The Buck o the Cabrach (721m)
The Buck is really quite a shapely hill, standing proudly on its own, and often with its own winds swirling madly around its rocky summit. And, despite these strong winds, we climbed it from Lumsden in good style, enjoying the views, and the sight of the rutting stags crossing the skyline.
The descent south was greatly enlivened (and made considerably easier) by the amount of peatland restoration taking place over miles of moorland, creating pools and dams and empty lochans awaiting the floods of winter. From Glenlaff Hill, we could see and hear 3 JCBs hard at their terraforming work – and on a Sunday too…
The final leg of this A-B walk crossed both arms of Glen Kindie, past the lovely burn, and the amazing bothy, all set up with its bunkbeds, and then a beautiful balcony trail thru the old conifers. The very final steep descent rewarded with its long views up Glen Buchat.
A great day out, a day to remember, and with great company - thank you to all the walkers, who kept together admirably well, and made life so much easier for the organiser.
Catherine Lacy

23/10/2026

Monday Walk Report October 2026 Ben Aigan (471m)
Living in Culter, I have much to thank the AWPR for, and this is a fine example of a hill I would never have climbed on a daywalk from here. It’s a great little summit seemingly far far away (tho not quite in another galaxy) but brought within easy reach by a new road.
This turned out to be an easy walk with a fair amount of hard track, some lovely ex-mountain bike trails and a cute little path down the side of a quarry. The Speyside Way offered wonderful views over the strath. It also offered the excitement of walking past the red traffic lights which warn the shooting club is in action, but you really couldn’t miss the volley of shots ringing out. We moved very smartly past.
Once out of the forest, the bare summit, with its thin covering of heather and scattering of young pines also offered wonderful views not only of Speyside with its countless distilleries, and distant Sutherland on the horizon but also at least six windfarms to remind us of Scotland’s future as electricity supplier to the world…or did I say this last month too?
As always, a thank you to the walkers who were happy to enjoy a small hill, and thank you to the drivers Sue, David, Graham and Andy. And The Gathering in Charlestown of Aberlour has fabulous cakes.
Catherine Lacy

21/10/2026

19/10/2026

At the 2026 Club Weekend on Arran a few members walked this path, now skilfully repaired by NTS's in-house Mountain Path team.

24/09/2026

Monday Walk Report September 2026 Mount of Haddoch
Well, the original plan of an A-B walk was kyboshed when a certain blue BMW refused to leave the Tap o Noth carpark, so Andy sacrificed his day to await rescue, while the rest of us piled into Sue’s car for a circular route highlighting Mount of Haddoch.
We had great fun with the navigating-by-numbers set up for the cross-country skiers, giving a varied choice of routes thru lovely old forest, complete with more mushrooms than I’ve seen for some years, before we found the old lodge and headed into serious plantation territory, enlivened by passing a small henge (a prehistoric circular or oval earthen enclosure dating around 3000-2000 BC)(yes, I had to look this up). It’s charmingly named Wormy Hillock Henge, after the dragon’s co**se reputedly buried underneath.
Next treat of the day was the shock sight of an extreme terraformed landscape – the earthworks required for Clashindarroch windfarm’s new neighbour, Clashindarroch 2. What a shame we can’t yet export all the electricity these farms generate…
However, Mount of Haddoch was finally climbed, with rewarding views of Dorenell windfarm, plus some hills too! And we wended our way back to the start via more of those lovely numbered junctions all efficiently supplied with their corresponding maps. A good day out despite missing the Tap, thank you to all for coping with the very last minute change of plan.
Catherine Lacy

24/09/2026

Sunday Saunter 6th September Glen Kindie

From the parking spot at the disused quarry, 15 of us set off back down the road we had come for about a mile to a holiday cottage called Glencuie. We all agreed that doing the road part at the start of the walk to get it out of the way was a good idea. From Glencuie we turned left and followed the edge of the field to an obvious path across the hill. This was probably a drover path back in the day. We arrived at a T junction and turned left to follow a better path. At this junction we admired the new cattle grid and fencing along the path. There has been a considerable amount of money spent on the estate quite recently.
A fallen tree provided a suitable seating area for our coffee stop. I spotted a small lizard but was not quick enough to get a photo. Continuing along the path we could see some wind turbines in the distance. As we approached we could see some shapes in the distance. These turned out to be diggers on top of a neighbouring hill, probably there for more wind turbine installation. We stopped on the path to allow a large heard of red deer to cross the path from the valley below and seek sanctuary in the higher ground above us.
We then bore left again to start the descent back to cars. We stopped for a lunch break in some shelter but the wind was increasing and the wind chill became significant. After lunch we set off again, heading down hill along a substantial path. We crossed a small burn by a rickety bridge and continued to a dilapidated cottage. Passing the cottage we continue along the path crossing another new cattle grid. The wind decreased a little as we reached lower ground and we continued along the path back to the car park. The weather stayed dry all day despite considerable cloud cover.

09/09/2026

Culter Hillwalking Club Long Walk Sept 2026
“Not from Glen Prosen and no Dreish”
A group of 4 members took on this second attempt at climbing Dreish and Mayar from
Glen Prosen.
Yet again the weather gods decided to disrupt the plan one more time..
Strong southerly winds were driving orographic relief rainfall up the South side of our
proposed ridge…low cloud was all around us..
It was therefore agreed to attack the ridge from the North side, the leeward side, meaning
a drive up Glen Clova and into Glen Doll. Safely parked we donned wet weather gear
expecting the worst as we followed the path up into Corrie Fee.
Being a Sunday there were a number of other groups of walkers having a similar idea..
Corrie Fee was atmospheric and spectacular with low cloud all around and very damp
humid air..The waterfall at the top was in full flow and added to the experience. Any form
of Wildlife was largely absent and we saw nothing all day..
Being clearly in the lee of the weather and climbing, it wasn’t long before we heated up
and considered removing all the extra gear..
Fortunately, we didn’t as when we reached the top of Mayar, 928m, we received the full
blast of the wind and the rainfall was now decidedly very wet…
We then walked East along the ridge in low visibility and debated whether to also take in
Dreish.. As we had all done these Munro’s before it didn’t take long to agree to head back
North East down the Shank of Drumfollow and leave Dreish for another day. Lunch was
finally taken once we were well out of the wind and the rainfall had now had subsided…
The rest of the walk was straightforward, leaving plenty of time to explore the delights of
the Glen Clova hotel, where the weather was already considerably better with even a hint
of sunshine..
Dreish and Mayar from Glen Prosen now waits for a third attempt - 2027?

09/09/2026

Sunday Short Walk Report September 2026 Ben Tirran & the Aircraft Wreckage
After due cautioning by MWIS of gales, it was slightly disconcerting to fight off the midges happily sailing around the carpark in 0mph air movement. However, we left them behind as we strode into the lowest level clag I’ve seen for quite a while. Up and up, then down, then more up, no sign of Loch Wharral, no sign of life – it was a relief to reach a visible object, the first deer fence, and stile no.1.
The old drove road, now a narrow dent in the grass and heather, was hard to pick out in these conditions, but they’d had this issue in the past, and marked the way with (occasional) stones – though we’d have been happier with more! Again, after a long time (all times seem stretched when you can see nothing) deer fence and stile no. 2. Now not too far to go, plunging offpath into the gloom to find the amazing Wellington wreckage still present after 80 years, the largest site I have ever seen, and very atmospheric: you could imagine the lone survivor wondering how anyone would find him…
Back we headed towards stile no.3, a backup stile, as the original no.3 was now inaccessible due to overenthusiastic refencing. The final uphill pull to the Goet and Ben Tirran, then descent, and, astoundingly, just as we came down to the loch, the cloud finally began to swirl and lift above the waters: a fantastic sight!
Greatest thanks to Sue for keeping us on the route – a lot of concentration is needed in these conditions – a good decision to stick with the plan - it was an excellent day out, as well as an even better test of gear waterproofness….