Hill of Rothmaise, Aberdeenshire.

Hill of Rothmaise

Hill of Rothmaise, Aberdeenshire. Section J6.
Height – 261 metres. Map – OS Landranger 29.
Climbed - 22 May 2011. Time taken – 1 hour.
Distance – 2.5 kilometres. Ascent – 125 metres.
Trip Report Details:

On planning my ascents of the Marilyns, Hills of Foudland and Tillymorgan I discovered that Hill of Rothmaise, located to the east of Hill of Tillymorgan, was a HuMP. However on studying my map there was no obvious route to the summit.

After ascending Hill of Tillymorgan I drove east from Culsalmond, on the A920, then along some minor roads looking for a suitable route to Hill of Rothmaise. I observed that the summit was surrounded by trees, as was the south side of the hill, this not being shown on my map. I was about to have a second look at a westerly approach when I spotted a car parked just off the main road, around 250 metres east of the junction with the B992 road to Auchterless. (NJ682328) On investigation I discovered a small car park and a directional sign for the hill.

A heavy shower prevented me from setting off immediately and as the rain eased a man, his two children and a dog, all looking rather bedraggled, returned to their car. He was local, so I enquired about a route to the summit and was advised there were several.

I took one of his recommended routes, which was slightly west of the car park and followed a wide fire break through, as a result of the rain shower, wet grass. The fire break swung round to an easterly direction and at NJ684332 I walked up a narrower fire break where there were traces of a path. Further along this break the trees were rather close together and I had to push my way through them. This narrow fire break will not be possible in future years as the trees mature.

The fire break led to the edge of the forest which I followed uphill before re-entering the trees and walking along another wide fire break to the summit trig point. Here I sat and had lunch with views south towards Bennachie. Views in other directions were restricted due to the fir trees.

After lunch my descent was by a slightly different route as I followed wide fire breaks until they rejoined the upward route at NJ684332.

Photos taken on walk.

Meall Dearg, Assynt.

Meall Dearg

Meall Dearg, Assynt. Region B1.
Height – 163 metres. Map – OS Landranger 15.
Climbed - 3 May 2011. Time – 45 minutes.
Distance – 1.5 kilometres. Ascent – 120 metres.
Trip Report Details:

We were staying at the new camp site at Altandhu, north of Achiltibuie, and in the evening, to catch the sunset, decided to climb the nearby HuMP, Meall Dearg. I wasn’t aware of it’s classification until I checked my More Relative Hills of Britain book so this was another incentive to get up this hill. There was insufficient time to walk from the campsite so we made the short drive round to the Old Dornie single track road, located to the north of the HuMP.

On leaving my vehicle we crossed an area of ground that would normally be boggy but wasn’t a problem due to the recent spell of dry weather, before climbing through heather and dead bracken towards the rocks higher up. They were easily avoided and we soon appeared on the undulating, rough summit area with views over the Marilyn, Meall an Fheadain to Cul Mor, which was still on fire, and Stac Pollaidh, which we had climbed earlier that day.

There were a couple of cairns in the vicinity of the North Top, as was the case with the true summit further south. Here we had fantastic views of Achiltibuie, the majority of the Summer Isles and the sun dropping towards The Minch. The only downside was the unexpected chilly wind.

After taking several photographs we returned by the ascent route as the sun set.

Photos taken on walk.