Walks Blog – Apr 2021 – The Mack Walks

Wintry Weather Returns …!
Don’t let the photos fool you – it’s been a cold and, sometimes, wintry week …
Alison’s Facebook post: bit.ly/2S8NRxo , 30th April, 2021

(147) Lumphanan-Cairnbeathie-Hillhead Loop (Aberdeenshire)
This is a very enjoyable hike in delightful rural surroundings, taking in a gentle ascent onto the hillside between Lumphanan and Kincardine O’Neil, mostly walking between old stone field dykes on an old road used by cattle drovers and later part of the 18thC military road network. In the early stages you look down on the attractive St Finan’s Church and Manse, and the Peel of Lumphanan, the impressive earthwork remains of an important 13thC fortification. As you climb a little higher, fine open views to the west open up, where you can readily identify prominent hilltops such as Mount Keen, Lochnagar, and Morven …
John’s Facebook post: bit.ly/3dRqaSR , 26th April, 2021

On Old Military Manoeuvres …!
Beautiful countryside and a beautiful day walking near Lumphanan on the Old Military Road …
Alison’s Facebook post: bit.ly/3gA1hN4 , 24th April, 2021

Haughton Park Birdsong …
Bright and sunny in the park this morning. And, the birds were in fine voice …
Alison’s Facebook post: bit.ly/32CzeEx , 21st April, 2021

(146) Crovie-Gamrie-St John’s Kirk Circuit (Aberdeenshire)
This is an exhilarating rollercoaster of a walk with a clutch of steep ascents and descents along one of the grandest and most picturesque coastlines in the NE of Scotland. Deep valleys (or “dens”) break up the coastal landscape, with high cliff-tops punctuated by former fisher villages clinging to tiny strips of land, constantly threatened by the sea. On a clear day you can see the northern tip of Scotland across the Moray Firth …
John’s Facebook post: bit.ly/3tCqdHy , 19th April, 2021

St John’s Kirk Walk – Taking In Crovie And Gamrie …
A rollercoaster walk today, up and down the cliffs surrounding Crovie and Gardenstown …
Alison’s Facebook post: bit.ly/2QzuP2F , 17th April, 2021

At Potarch Bridge And Kincardine O’Neil Today …
Daffodils and the Dee at Kinker and Potarch this afternoon …
Alison’s Facebook post: bit.ly/3g6YLOd , 13th April, 2021

(145) Tarland-The Petts Circuit (Aberdeenshire)
This is a very enjoyable route with a stiff ascent, taking in farmland and forest in the Howe of Cromar, well known for its beautiful rolling patchwork of fields and woodlands set against a breathtaking mountain backdrop to the West …
John’s Facebook post: bit.ly/3wQt6X8 , 12th April, 2021

Topping Weather At Tarland …
Today, we left behind a snow-covered Howe of Alford and were pleasantly surprised to encounter much more benign conditions in the Howe of Cromar, only a few miles away, on a leg-stretching hike that took us to a high point above the village of Tarland …
John’s Facebook post: bit.ly/3dViuh0 , 10th April, 2021

Seaton Park Sortie …
A work related trip to the city gave us the opportunity to visit an old haunt this afternoon …
Alison’s Facebook post: bit.ly/3t90Aha , 9th April, 2021

Wall Flowers …
Colourful blooms in the walled garden [at Seaton Park] …
Alison’s Facebook post: bit.ly/2QeSDZa , 9th April, 2021

Toughing Out The Teuchat Storm …!
Winter’s back for now. My dad used to talk of this as the “Tuechat storm” – a few days of cold, icy, weather in Spring coinciding with lambing time and the lapwings (Teuchats) return …
Alison’s Facebook post: bit.ly/3rOWh9u , 6th April, 2021

(144) Cairnbulg-Whitelinks Bay-St Combs Circuit (Aberdeenshire)
This is an enjoyable circuit along the airy coast between Cairnbulg and St Combs, on the “Knuckle of North East Scotland”, where the coastline turns west from the more exposed North Sea to the increasingly more sheltered Moray Firth. Typical of the area, the combined former fisher villages of Cairnbulg and Inverallochy have their houses set in neat rows, gable end to the sea to minimise the effect of stormy weather. Noteworthy features of the walk include: the “Lost At Sea Memorial” representing a fisherman’s wife and child looking out to sea; “Maggie’s Hoosie” a restored traditional fisher’s cottage; the wide crescent-shaped beach backed by sand dunes at Whitelinks Bay; and the remains of the medieval church of St Columba, which was abandoned in 1608 …
John’s Facebook post: bit.ly/2Q190sc , 5th April, 2021

Freedom To Roam (“Stay Local” though!) …
Making the most of some relaxation of travel restrictions, we visited the furthest corner of Aberdeenshire today – walking the Cairnbulg, Inverallochy, St Combs coastline …
Alison’s Facebook post: bit.ly/3rLBnrV , 2nd April, 2021