Mount Keen. 8th November 2012

Vicks, Julie & Frost at the Queen's Well. 08/11/2012 (Photo: A J Thorley)

What a difference five days can have in the Highlands of Scotland? It is hard to imagine that only five days ago I was winter climbing on Beinn a' Chaorainn in the Creag Meagaidh area of the Highlands enjoying early season good winter conditions. Two days ago I was in the Arrochar Alps and was treated to horrendous thaw conditions with gale force winds, pouring rain and had to abandon trying to walk Beinn an Lochain a small isolated Corbett that sits right beside the road for fear of being blown off the hill. Yet yesterday I walked Mount Keen in almost summer like conditions!

Looking south east down Glen Mark. 08/11/2012 (Photo: A J Thorley)

Our day started at the car park at the head of Glen Esk near Auchronie farm (NO447804), from here we followed a 4x4 track north west to the Queens Well (NO419828) where we stopped off for a look see. The stone built monument was to commemorate a visit to the area in 1861 by Queen Victoria & Prince Albert. It is said that the Queen and her husband stopped at this location for a drink whilst staying at the Invermark Lodge before continuing their journey to Balmoral Castle in Royal Deeside.

Me at the summit of Mount Keen. 08/11/2012 (Photo: A J Thorley)

We continued to walk a long the well made 4x4 track passing Glenmark (NO419832) where the 4x4 track then starts to climb up hill towards Mount Keen. The 4x4 track, The Mounth Road continues in a northerly direction into Glen Tanner which is an alternative approach to Mount Keen. We kept right (NO405852) and followed the well made foot path to the summit of Mount Keen (NO409869). There was an icy cold wind blowing across the tops but we had excellent views of the pleasant rolling landscape in all directions.

The view from Braid Cairn looking south west, Mount Keen is on the right. 08/11/2012 (Photo: A J Thorley)

After enjoying lunch on the summit of Mount Keen we opted to continue our walk in a easterly direction to Braid Cairn, it seemed pointless to return the same way we had came as it was such a beautiful day. We 1st dropped down steep heathery slopes to a bealach (NO417867) and then ascended to the summit of Braid Cairn (NO426873), then descending again to another bealach (NO435872) before ascending to Naked Hill (NO439872) and then on to Hill of Gairney (NO448875). Our walk from Mount Keen to Hill of Gairney follows the line of the boundary. Some of the fence has been removed but the old boundary stones remain and as you approach Naked Hill the line fence posts are still there.

One of many boundary stones in the area. 08/11/2012 (Photo: A J Thorley)

Having stayed on Hill of Gairney to enjoy the views of the setting sun we then descended to another well made 4x4 track (NO452875), at 1st descending steep heathery slopes. The 4x4 track cannot be seen at 1st but it is there. Once on the 4X4 track we checked our direction of travel and then continued to walk out in darkness in a southerly direction back to where we had started the day.  

The setting sun as we walked out. 08/11/2012 (Photo: A J Thorley)