Colpy to Gartly – Hill of Foudland

Date/Time

Date(s) - 15/03/2020
9:00 am - 5:30 pm

Walk Details

Pub Stop?: Yes
O/S Map Sheet No.: 29
Grid Ref. Start: 643325
Grid Ref. Finish 522323
Walk (Miles): 10
Walk Hours: 5
Bus Time to Walk:1.5 hrs
Bus Time from Walk: 1.5 hrs
Departure time from walk: 3:30 pm

Walk Notes

Bus departs Aberdeen at 9am
O.S.Map 29 Banff

Foundland Hill is the highest point on the ridge of hills in Central Aberdeenshire which separates the Garioch from Strathbogie.
Main walk
The walk commences near the hamlet of Colpy (NGR 643 325) on the A96 (Inverurie to Huntly road), where a minor unclassified road heads NorthWest past a row of houses and then Colpy Farm, before arriving at the farm of Jericho. This road was originally part of an old road from Insch to Huntly and, at Jericho, there was a distillery which produced a brand of whisky named after Bennachie, a hill prominent to the south. The road then climbs to a dip between Hill of Skares (329m) and Hill of Foundland (467m), passing through a gate on the way. Just before another is reached, leave the road and turn left up a track which climbs the hill West alongside a dyke at (NGR 623 338). Your track then passes through another gate on the hill, skirting a plantation of trees on the left and also passes several disused slate quarry workings on the right, before reaching the building and masts of the radio station on the hilltop. Continue West across the flat top for about a quarter mile to the trig point at the summit (467m) (NGR 603 332). From here, in good visibility, most of the NE corner of Aberdeenshire can be seen. From the summit at approx.. NGR 599 332 descend South West down the ridge to pick up a track heading in that direction. Follow this track until you reach NGR 593 324 (near Stony Hill) where a trail goes sharply off to the right and heads North West downhill bending round the base of Red Hill to reach the trees in the dip between Red Hill and Wishach Hill. A secondary road is reached skirting the trees at (NGR 580 327), just where a forest road branches off to the left through Gartly Moor (shorter alternative walk starts at this point). This forest road is taken and followed West over Malsach Moss before descending between Hill of Corskie and Knockandy Hill to the farm of Cults (NGR 534 310) from where the B9002 – Kennethmont/Huntly road is reached, turn right and follow this road which crosses the Water of Bogie and, the railway, to join the A97 Rhynie/Huntly road, turn right and about a half mile south of Gartly village, our bus will be parked (NGR 522 323).
Walking distance approx. 10 miles/16 km. Please note that the route download to your mobile device works on generic mapping systems, but you will see the full detail if you are accessing OS Maps at 1:50000 (eg through View Ranger)

Download file: Colpy to Gartly -Hill of Foudland.gpx
Shorter alternative
Take the bus to (NGR 580 327) at the start of Gartly Moor and follow the main walk route to the bus at (NGR 522 323)
Walking distance approx. 5 miles/8km

Bus departs Gartly for Aberdeen at 3.30pm
The above notes are for guidance only and are intended as an aid to be used along with a map and compass and/or a GPS device with OS maps.

In the event of an emergency arising, the person in charge today should be notified, if possible, before the emergency services are contacted on 999.
Committee member in charge Heather Eddie

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