Route Summary
A short and relatively easy hill-walk in mixed countryside, near Tarland, to a low moorland hill-top where panoramic views can be enjoyed. There are 3 man-made commemorative stone features on the route that provide further interest and stimulation.
Duration: 1.5 hours.
Route Overview
Duration: 1.5 hours.
Transport/Parking: No public transport nearby. A small area of hard-standing by the roadside at the walk start point. See Waypoint 1 for guidance on getting there.
Length: 5.130 km / 3.21 mi
Height Gain: 186 meter. Height Loss: 186 meter.
Max Height: 467 meter. Min Height: 308 meter.
Surface: Moderate. All on grassy land-rover tracks and rough forest/access roads.
Difficulty: Medium.
Child Friendly: Yes, if children are used to walks of this distance and overall ascent.
Dog Friendly: Yes, dogs on lead on public roads and near farm animals (evidence of sheep being grazed on Baderonoch Hill).
Refreshments: Options in Tarland.
Description
This short walk to a relatively low heathery hilltop nevertheless provides a pleasing mix of environments, stunning viewpoints of the Howe of Cromar at numerous points along the route, and a wonderful long-distance 360° panorama from the summit of Baderonoch Hill. Unusually, the route, all on Tillypronie Estate land, incorporates three man-made stone creations along the way: a verse-inscribed stone; a monumental sculpture of human heads; and, a conical stone-built summit cairn. We understand that all three were put there by the long-time (but no longer) owners of the estate, the Astor family. See http://bit.ly/3vEGX2E . In the early part of the ascent to Overlook Loch, sitting above the grand mansion of Tillypronie House (not visible), look out for an inscribed stone sitting amongst the bracken and grass under a cover of mature conifers. The inscription shows the evocative last verse of the song, ‘Joy of Living’, by Ewan MacColl, and starts with the lines – “Take me to some high place of heather, rock and ling, Scatter my dust and ashes, feed me to the wind”. A little further on, by the side of little Overlook Loch, sits an astonishing bulk of sculpted grey granite, representing four monumental portrait heads. It was created by the celebrated Scottish artist, Ronald Rae, as a lament for the people of St. Kilda who became dispossessed of their ancestral home when they could no longer survive on their remote island off the west coast of Scotland. The views from the loch-side over the Howe of Cromar are impressive, but become increasingly breathtaking on the short but steep ascent to the top of Baderonoch Hill. On the summit there is a well-constructed cairn in memory of Gavin Astor, one of the former owners of Tillypronie and, on the scenic descent, there is a nice little detour to the highest of the Lazy Well lochans.
Links:
Photos from Walk
Download Route Guide (PDF with illustrated Waypoints)
Download GPX file (GPS Exchange Format)
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Access the Walk on OutdoorActive
Access Walk on OSMaps
Access Walk on Wikiloc
The Mack Walks 