Walk: From glen to Clachnaben

📌 Glen Dye, Aberdeenshire
★★★

Clachnaben (Rock of the Hill) is second only to Bennachie as Aberdeen‘s most interesting nearby hill. The huge granite tor decorating the summit is so distinctive that ships in the North Sea once used it along with Bennachie to take bearings. The tor is popular with rock climbers, but you can creep around the back to avoid resorting to hands. The easiest (and probably most scenic) approach path is up Glen Dye from a car park on the Cairn o’ Mount road, and there is scope to vary the descent slightly by following the steep-sided Slack of Dye (other, longer options are available but we haven’t tried them). Taken on a rather murky day, our photos don’t really do the excellent views justice.

📷 Chronological photo guide

🌍 Location

📌 Start / finish on the B974 5 mi south of Strachan

🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NO 649869

🛰️ GPS coordinates: 56.971777,-2.579078

❌ No public transport within 1 mi

🚗 Car park

📝 Key info

▶ 10 km / 6 mi | ▲ 500 m | ⌛ 3 hr

Features: △ Clachnaben (589 m)

⬤ Moderate | Good paths & tracks for ascent. Optional descent variant has some rougher sections of path.

➡️ Out-and-back walk with variant for part of return: start – Miller’s Bog – south side of Black Hillocks – Clachnaben by main path – Slack of Dye – north side of Black Hillocks – start by outward route

Download file for GPS

🥾 On our last visit

Wildlife: Sheep and small birds.

Weather: Cloudy but dry, fairly light winds.

October 2011