The day’s walk with Aberdeen Hill walking was back to the Coyles of Muick, a small hill near Ballater that I’d visited back in 2017.
With stiff legs from a tough race the previous evening, this was definitely going to be a leisurely stroll. The day started off wandering through woods
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Past the lovely mirrored calm of Loch Ullachie
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A gentle ascent through the woods eventually reaches the edge where the moorland comes into view, with distant more prominent hills
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Out from the trees the chilly breeze hit us, and I got out my new ebay purchase – helly hansen polar mitts. They’re a simple pertex/pile mitt that are easier than gloves to on/off a lot (which camera peeps like myself are tended to do)
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I took a detour to go and have a look for ‘Coyles cottage’ a small shelter on the shoulder of Meall Dubh
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It’s not a well known howff, and leafing back through the visitor’s logbook, I could still see my entry from 2017
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As I hustled across the heather to catch up the rest of the group, I noticed a figure standing on top of the cairn at the top of the hill ahead, I presumed it was gamekeepers scoping for deer.
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I caught up with the party, and it turned out the folk on top were firefighters from England who were testing out all-terrain vehicles.
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There’s some great views around from the top, but it was pretty chilly and was glad I’d taken a thick down jacket to stay warm when having a bit of lunch.
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We decided to descend south to the next part of our route
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This wasn’t a good choice as heading downhill towards the river was blocked by a deer-fenced enclosure and we had to head back north until the enclosure finished and we could head down through the woods
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The club’s plan involved a long return leg through forest fireroad and then busy roads, so a splinter group decided on a route heading across the River Muick to avoid road as much as possible before emerging at Ballater
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A track headed into lush woodland at West Lodge and this trail looked to be rarely used, but was a good choice
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There’s a dammed pond that appears to be used for fishing (though looks quite small and overgrown). nearby, a real grandfather huge conifer tree.
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As we bimbled down the track, an unexpected ruin peeped through the foliage and required investigation. It appears to be the remnant of an old church, the tower only remaining. Update: It was known as St. Nathalan’s and was built in 1875. How it looked originally can be seen on p46 of this PDF.
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Nearby what may be an old crypt entrance and a monument.
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Ballater came into sight, but we weren’t finished yet, heading along the path beside the road that then climbs through some woods
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Hidden in these woods are two small ponds glowing with autumn colours
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Down to the bridge and back in to town for a cafe stop to round off a lovely day out
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