Banchory Veterans' Hill-walkers

From http://bvhill-walkers.blogspot.com/ What a glorious morning we chose for our first "training" walk of 2011 - a beautiful warm, sunny and still day as we made our way to Back of Bennachie to start our walk through the forest paths and up the Mither Tap Quarry Trail, taking in 3 of the peaks of Bennachie in a round trip. Dan was a late withdrawal but Ken, Dave, Colin, Ian and I all congregated at the golf club at 8 am and drove north. By the time we were all togged up - and after a slight overshoot by Ken in his Volvo - it was 8:55 am before we started walking. The paths are well manicured and signposted - the start is through forests before opening out on to the open hills:  After a short climb we were soon out in the open: The first peak was Oxen Craig, which is actually 10 metres higher than the better known Mither Tap: We came down from that peak and walked over towards Mither Tap, which is the site of a Pictish fort: The traditional team photo at the top...

From http://bvhill-walkers.blogspot.com/ Dave is heading there directly from Potarch on Sunday and has suggested we Banchory-ites travel together. Ken has volunteered to drive and his car is big enough for the five of us - and it's a fairly short journey. I suggest, in the view of the fact that it is Easter Sunday and most folk will want to get back fairly promptly, that we go on route 3 - the Mither Tap Quarry Trail. It's a circular route that is described as follows: "The longest route to the Mither Tap, this trail leads through the forest up onto the hill. It climbs Little Oxen Craig where the remains of a nineteenthcentury granite quarry still stand, and continues over Bennachie’s highest peak, Oxen Craig." The walk is 5.5 miles and is estimated to take 3.5 hours. It starts at the Back of Bennachie, just off the B9002 ( not the Bennachie Visitor Centre which is south east of where we start).

From http://bvhill-walkers.blogspot.com/ Just a reminder that the first walk of the year is next Sunday. At the last count, we had 6 of us available - Colin, Dave, Dan, Ian, Ken and I. Jack arrives back from Oz on Saturday but I don't know if he'll want to go up Bennachie just the day after? Ian has asked that we're back home early afternoon, so I suggest we leave Banchory about 8 am, which will allow us to start walking before 9 am. We'll need 2 cars - any volunteers?

From http://bvhill-walkers.blogspot.com/ It looks like Sunday 24th April is the preferred day. Gordon and John can't make it but Dave, Ian, Ken and I are all available then - haven't heard from CK yet? Perhaps Dan might join us too? A suggestion - what about trying Bennachie? There's a number of walks there - check  http://www.forestry.gov.uk/pdf/BennachieLeafletMap.pdf/$FILE/BennachieLeafletMap.pdf  or: Click on image to enlarge (and rotate!).

From http://bvhill-walkers.blogspot.com/ Apologies - Dave is here next weekend but not the one after that, so the proposal is we go walking on either 10th or 24th April. I can do both dates, as can Dave and possibly Gordon. How's everyone else fixed then?

From http://bvhill-walkers.blogspot.com/ It's now April and if we're to complete our planned 5 walks (one per month) before the Lake District trip in September, we need to get organised quickly. Dave is not here next weekend, but he is here the next two weekends so Sunday 17th or Sunday 24th April could be days when we could walk. Let's pick the one when most would be available. I'm OK on both dates - please reply asap to indicate your availability.