The Winter Solstice 2021 on its way

This year has moved so quickly...and its nearly over. All of us are getting older but not that much wiser!. I was hoping to get back to the hills this year with, maybe, a return visit to one of my favourites. Alas, due to various health concerns, it was not to be. Now, thankfully, they are subsiding into the great loch of time.....Let's see if we can make Creag Choinnich for this years Solstice.  

Time passes like a shadow 2021

 Time goes by so quickly these days and since the pandemic life has become somewhat restricted and complicated. However, not to be beaten, I've managed to get out and walk  the very local hills. ..just without company; apart from my new canine companion who has replaced my old pal who sadly died at the end of 2019.  

New walking 
companion

Red Deer Braemar

I must say, as we all do? I miss the company of like minded people and look forward to the day when we can get back together, as a group, to revisit some of the old paths and maybe find new ones.

We are lucky living in such a rural and isolated community which hasn't been affected as much as the larger villages and towns dotted along the more Eastern part of the River Dee. Let us hope that the vaccination program reaches us all, this year, and we can return to some kind of 'normality'...The hills are still here and will be, long after we are gone. To me, they always reflect our brief existence in the grand scheme of life on earth.

Approach Tom Anton

    

    

Morning Walk South of Braemar village

Morrone sunrise 25 January 2019

Morning Walk along the Dee January 2019

River Dee 07:50 22 January 2019

Morning January 22 2019

Winter Solstice 2018 Creag Choinnich

Moon Rise Solstice 2018

Loch Callater Saturday 11 March

A social stroll down to the Loch, Lunch at the Bothy then return in time for the Calcutta Cup 
England 61-Scotland 21...We should have gone to Lochnegar instead.!
A good, short walk with great views.

Loch Callater from the Jubilee Cairn

The start

Jubilee Cairn

Bothy on the right

The Group

The dog never misses a trick

Auchtavan Saturday 18 February 2017

The weather was on our side and it was madness not to take a quick stroll to the Historic site of Auchtavan and a lost way of life. The Cottage with the hanging lum is kept locked but the Horse Mill provided a scenic lunch stop. 
It was great to get out and have an easy walk with good company.

A pose in front of the Horse Mill

The approach to Auchtavan

Walking Update

Hi All,
A year has passed since my last entry...For those that don't know;I had an argument with a Pick-Up truck in November last year(the Pick-Up won!) and as a result have been unable to persue my passion for the hills and tracks of Mar.
However,I'm now on the mend and getting fitter by the day and it won't be long before the next walk,which will probably be  slightly less adventurous and definitely slower until full fitness returns. In the meantime,watch this space.

Loch Callater 9 October 2015

 A misty day on Carn an t-Sagairt Mor 9 October 2015

Summer Solstice 20th June 2016

A quick walk to the top of Creag Choinnich Monday 20th June to pay our respects to the longest day. The sun will rise at 4.45am and sunset will happen at 22:34 (10.34pm.)

Please bring something to celebrate the occasion and a torch.

Dress for weather conditions.

Meet at the Creag Chonnich gate 20:45 (8:45 pm)

Yours Aye

Richard

Creag Choinnich Summer solstice 2016

WALK 77 (B) 28 August 2015 AN SOCACH



ASCENT 

RAIN WHAT RAIN? 

The Baddoch



Looking back down the Baddoch

An Socach looking over Glen Ey

Descent

Balmoral Cairns walk 76

Prince Alberts Cairn

A steady stroll around the most accessesable  pyramid cairns and

John Brown..of course.

John Brown..don't look up!!

Walk 75 Morrone Circular

What a shame that more people could not share this old favourite.
The weather was good and the paths easy and with a couple of pints of 'Trade Winds'at the Moorfield it rounded off a perfect day.

Braemar Walkers Update 2014

Dear All,
 It's been a long time since I've been able to muster the time and energy to start a walking program again. Hopefully, over the next couple of months, I'll be able to re-kindle a few mountain days before we have to dust off our snow shoes and winter woollies. 
Part of the reason for my lack of presence on the walking scene has been the loss of my faithful old Collie who was featured in so many of my photographs posted on this Blog. I never appreciated how hard it was to lose a walking buddy like him.
However,as is often quoted,'life is for the living' and to that end I will be circulating a couple of old favourites,over the next couple of days, to get back into the swing and  encourage a good attendance?
Watch out for e-mails and this space..
Yours Aye
Richard

Winter Solstice 2013 December 22 2013 Creag Choinnich

It had to be done..We couldn't make the shortest day on 21st  So did the morning after.
What's 3 seconds between friends?

Dec 21, 2013	8:46 AM	3:27 PM	6h 40m 30s	− 06s	12:07 PM	9.5°	91.448
Dec 22, 2013	8:47 AM	3:27 PM	6h 40m 33s	+ 02s	12:07 PM	9.5°	91.443

It blew some cobwebs away and hopefully,has re-kindled our flame!!


Ascent from the South side



They are real smiles!

Here's wishing all our readers a very Happy & Healthy 2014

Keep on Walking!

 

5 Day Challenge Glen Derry to Keiloch via Glen Avon

"The best laid plans etc."  The weather had been punishing Braemar for most of the winter and we (the royal we) had assumed that by the 1st May things would have improved enough to enable us to complete the challenge as intended................ It was not to be.

We set off from Braemar at 11:00ish on 1 May and made it to Glen Derry to our first scheduled campsite at 039957. The late sun was warm making conditions comfortable for that time of year.

Day 2

Early rise and during my morning stroll I was entertained by a lek of black grouse displaying their white tails and dancing around each other..the fist time I had seen this performance in the wild, a great show but no camera!

Ascent to Loch Etchachan

We headed off  towards  the shores of Loch Etchacan,to camp,unfortunately the weather had other ideas.
The original plan was to climb Ben Macdui and, if time allowed,Beinn Mhedhoin then descend to the Shelter Stone...All quite do-able in good conditions. However ,the conditions & snowfall were not good forcing us to use our foul Weather Alternative and stay in the Hutchinson Bothy  for the night.Just as we had spread ourselves out not expecting any visitors a lone walker turned up.He had walked over from Carrour Bothy,no mean feat,given the conditions,ahh to be 30 years younger!
Day 3
The weather was still against us with a mixture of rain & snow falling constantly all backed up by a North Easterly wind. Assessing the situation we decided to descend to the Larig & Lui and cross the Avon at the fords, which were still banked with snow on both sides.We then picked up the path on the north bank of the Avon and headed East towards Findouran Lodge arriving there cold and wet and a wee bit frayed at the edges!
The Lodge was a part ruin but afforded us much needed shelter for the night.
Day 4
The weather had improved somewhat and now there was a hint of blue in the sky. The wind had dropped and although there was a light sugar coating of snow on the ground it was a welcome change. As we drew level with the sneck pass we realised that the snow was too deep and trecherous to risk ascending so we carried on along the Avon to the Linn of Avon and the Builg Burn following the Builg Burn down to Loch Builg and our final camp. The rain and wind had altered direction and was now driving into us from the South East ..ah well at least it was slightly warmer! The Builg burn was full and needed us to wade it twice ....enjoyable?! TBC

Coir Etchachan burn

On Loch Etchachan

Ptarmagen having a conversation about the weather

The shelter at the Fords of Avon

Findouran Lodge

Looking back along the Avon

Ben Avon & Beinn a Bhuird

Walk 70 Sron nan Gabhar - Creag nan Gabhar

This is a great walk..in the Summer. From Auchallater we turned immediatly right inside the gate and look the deer path ascending to Sron Dubh.The weather started to deteriorate as we left Sron Dubh walking South west to the summit of Sron nan Ghabar (nose of the Goat)then continued climbing south along the ridge to Creag nan Ghabar

The Clunie on its way to Braemar

The descent through the old grouse butts to the Old Shielings and Loch Callater was easier than the Summer enabling a more direct route on the frozen snow. We enjoyed our lunch at the Callater Bothy then returned along the main LR track to Auchallater. A good day out even though the weather was against us!  

Distance: approx 9 miles (14.5 Km)

Ascent to Sron Dubh

arrival at Sron nan Gabhar

Ascent to Creag nan Gabhar

Descent from Creag nan Gabhar

Loch Callater

Loch Callater Bothy