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Conachcraig (Quick) from Spittal fo Glenmuick

Start/Finish

Spittal of Glenmuick car park. From the centre of Ballater, drive towards Aboyne but leave the main road, on a left hand bend, just before leaving the village and cross the River Dee. Turn right and follow the road for about a mile to the Bridge of Muick. Do not cross the bridge but continue ahead, SE, on the east side of the River Muick, on a more minor road which ends, after about 8 miles at the car park where there are toilets.

Distance/Time

10 km.       About 3 -4 hours.

Peaks

Conachcraig, 865 m, NO 279 865.     OS sheet 44.

Introduction

Conachcraig is often ignored as it lies very much in the shadow of Lochnagar, only about 3 km away. It gives a short pleasant ascent and, obviously, has very good views of Lochnagar. The hill itself is fairly rounded and one can easily wander around on the summit plateau.

Route

(1) From the car park, locate the obvious track going north west. This crosses the river then meets another track by the Allt na-giubhsaich which is actually a building by a burn of the same name! Follow the path/track signed for Lochnagar which follows the burn, crossing it at one point. If there has been rain, this crossing may result in wet feet. In such conditions, many temporarily leave the track to find a drier crossing place slightly upstream. About 2 km after the building, a col is reached where the Lochnagar path goes off left. About 60 m further, there is a large boulder on the right of the track. Leave the track here and follow a peaty path up the SW flank which leads to the summit cairn of Conachcraig, 865 m. There are three slabby “tors” in the summit area, all about the same height. One of these tors contains the summit cairn which does not seem to be on the highest point of its tor.

(2) Return by the same route.

Notes

(a) This walk took place on 22^nd July, 2009, and was the author's final Corbett.