Aberdeen Group

Current Programme

Invercauld & Lochnagar © Brian Allan

Increased Coach Prices

You will note that the cost per outing has risen to £9. This is to cover the rising costs of coach hire, mainly due to increased cost of fuel.

Programme

SUNDAY 30 MARCH 2008

KINCARDINE O’NEIL AREA (8SC)

Car Outing 9.30 a.m. start from central meeting point. Contributions: expenses - £1; lifts - min £2.

Once assembled please make you way to Village Hall Car Park in Kincardine O’Neil where the leader will meet you for an 11 a.m. start

A circular walk to include a visit to the Peel of Lumphanan.

Leader: Margaret Martin

SUNDAY 6 APRIL 2008

LINN OF QUOICH TO Keiloch (11.3SB)

Coach Outing OS Sheet 43 9.00 a.m. start Western Route Cost £9

Linn of Quoich to Invercauld Bridge, main walk via Glen Quoich and Glean an t-Slugain 11.3 miles 270 m ascent. Easier option same start and finish but walk along bank of River Dee 5.5 miles.

Leader: David Fenlon

SUNDAY 20 APRIL 2008

PANNANICH (9SB)

Coach Outing OS Sheet 44 9.00 a.m. start Cost £9

Starting from the Bridge of Muick we follow the right of way as far as Craig Vallich and then to Pannanich Hill. We traverse the ridge descending toward Ballaterach and then by good tracks to cross the Dee at Cambus O’ May.

Leader: Brian Allan

FRIDAY 2 – MONDAY 5 MAY 2008

SCOTTISH RAMBLERS’ GATHERING

The annual gathering will be based in Aviemore. There will be lead walks for 3 days and a ceilidh on Saturday evening. A booking form can be downloaded from the RA Scotland website. There is £10 registration fee. Booking of accommodation and travel is an individual responsibility.

SUNDAY 4 MAY 2008

TARFSIDE Circular (10.5SB)

Coach Outing OS Sheet 44 9.00 a.m. start Southern Route Cost £9

From Cairncross via Blackcraigs, Bennygray, Mount Een and Craig Soleas returning to Cairncross. 10.5 miles 400 m ascent. Easier option will be available.

Leader: Bob Forbes

SUNday 25 MAY 2008

GAIRN (9SB+)

Coach Outing OS Sheet 37 9.00 a.m. start Western Route Cost £9

Mainly on estate roads and tracks. Starting near Gairnshiel Lodge we walk to Tullochmacarrick, by Cnoc Chalmac and then to Blairglass, old military road, climbing to Geallaig Hill and ending at Braenaloin. Total ascent 280 ft. over a mile and 1025 feet over 3.5 miles. An easier walk is available which will follow the above to Blairglass and by the estate to Braenaloin.

Leaders: Aileen Roberts and Anne MacDonald

SUNday 29 JUNE 2008

GLEN FIDDICH (13SB+)

Coach Outing OS Sheet 28/37 9.00 a.m. start North West Route Cost £9

From Glacks of Ballach the route takes us to Glen Fiddich Lodge, along Morton’s Way to Corryhabbie Hill. The return is via Elf House to return to Glacks of Ballach.

Leader: Pat Grant

SUNDAY 13 JULY 2008

BIRSE CASTLE TO TARFSIDE PLUS BBQ (9SB)

Coach Outing OS Sheet 44 9.00 a.m. start Western Route Cost £9

From Birse Castle we follow the landrover track to Saint Colm’s Well, where we pick up the Firmounth Road, which takes us to Tampie, Shinfur and on to Tarfside. Height gain 424 m. For those wanting an easier alternative stay on the bus to Tarfside where a lower walk can be done. At Tarfside Hall there will be a barbeque (cost £3 approx.) and bar, similar to last year.

Leader: Bob Forbes

SUNDAY 27 JULY 2008

LITTLEMILL CIRCULAR (9SC)

Coach Outing OS Sheet 44 9.00 a.m. start Western Route Cost £9

A circular walk from Littlemill on the South Deeside Road just west of Ballater. We walk up Glen Girnock to Bovaglie and across to Khantore. We return looking down onto the Dee valley and Abergeldie Castle and skirt Creag Ghiubhais to rejoin the bus at Littlemill. The ascent is only 200 m but a shorter alternative will be available.

Leader: David Fenlon

SUNDAY 17 AUGUST 2008

CONACHCRAIG (2,838 FT) CIRCULAR WALK (9SB+)

Coach Outing OS Sheet 44 9.00 a.m. start Western Route Cost £9

From the Glenmuick car park we follow tracks to Allt-na-giubhsaich, above the rocky gorge of Clais Rathadan and leaving the Lochnagar track behind, we head left onto Conachcraig. For the return a broad ridge walk will take us to the boundary summit of Caisteal na Caillich and Carn an Daimh before returning to Allt-na-giubhsaich and the car park.

Leaders: Aileen Roberts and Anne MacDonald

SUNDAY 31 AUGUST 2008

BOULTENSTONE – TARLAND (11SB)

Coach Outing OS Sheet 37 9.00 a.m. start Western Route Cost £9

From near Rippachie we follow tracks to Lazy Well, Green Hill, Broomhill, Pressendye and then by Pittendreich to Tarland. Total ascent – 1,600 ft. There will be an alternative shorter walk in the Tarland area.

Leaders: Monica Gray and Anne Shepherd

SUNDAY 14 SEPTEMBER 2008

BACKWATER TO GLEN CLOVA (12SB+)

Coach Outing OS Sheet 44 9.00 a.m. start Southern Route Cost £9

From Backwater Reservoir we walk North Easterly on paths and tracks to skirt Hill of Strone and descend to Glen Prosen village from where we cross over to Glen Clova via the Ministers Path.

Leader: Brian Allan

SUNDAY 28 SEPTEMBER 2008

FOREST OF BIRSE AND FUNGLE (11SB)

Coach Outing OS Sheet 44 9.00 a.m. start Western Route Cost £9

Starting near Bridgend on the Aboyne Strachan road we head on good paths through Forest of Birse via Murley, around Lamahip to Ballochan to join the Fungle to go north to Aboyne. Ascent about 300 m. Those wanting an easier alternative stay on bus for a walk from Aboyne.

Leader: Alastair MacKenzie

NB Gradings are used to give an indication of the severity of the walk. Currently the gradings used are shown below, mileages are approximate.

Grade

Description

SA+ Severe

arduous walks for the experienced and very fit, involving all of these factors: on high ground with exposure, steep ascents and descents, at a brisk pace, distances over 15 miles. Standard grading for hill walking in winter conditions.

SA- Strenuous

for the fit, involving some or all of these factors: on high or rough ground, with steep ascents and descents, at a brisk pace, distances over 15 miles.

SB+ Between moderate and strenuous

for the reasonably fit. Standard grading for summits taken at a slower pace in summer conditions.

SB- Moderate

demanding a higher standards of fitness and stamina than SC+.

SC+ Easy to moderate

for those with improving fitness, offering some modest challenges.

SC- Easy

mainly on level ground and often on paths or tracks. Suitable for beginners.

Links to OS Landranger Map index, Streetmap and Multimap maps (enter nearest town or village name for map).