Our local distillery is the grandly titled Royal Lochnagar and it's near neighbours happen to own 50,000 acres of scottish moorland all around Loch Muick. On that land stands the grand old man of Lochnagar which is a wonderful looking munro (height 1155m) that has a commanding stance over the corrie and looking east over Deeside.
I happened to have bought a special bottle of said distillery product as a present for my brother, and it seemed a fitting challenge to take it to the summit of the Lochnagar mountain before actually wrapping it up and passing it on. The weather fluctuated into autumn so picking a suitable day was tricky but in the end, Sunday looked good. A bit cooler now but mainly dry and the biting wind had died off for a day.
Quick start from Spittal of Glen Muick and up through Allt na Gubhsaich, past Meikle Pap and on up to the shoulder. A tremendous view down in to the corrie opens up here. Four other lads were on the ascent route including one dressed as "Thor" (complete with mighty hammer). The boulder field makes going difficult and I'm glad I've never tried to bring my mountain bike this way.
Anyway, up to the summit and some time to chinwag with Thor and others. Sun was out some of the time so quite pleasant but still gusty. Challenge over as a splendid new/unopened bottle of single malt had made it to the summit.
Back down the waterfall path and eyeing up the rock slides there for some of my nuttier kayaking buddies who just might run them. Geese overhead flying in formation and the odd black grouse squawking out of the heather were the only wildlife to see. Beautiful colours though in the grasses and the moorland.
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