📌 Sidlaw Hills, Angus
★★★
The Sidlaws are Dundee‘s local hills, rising to the mast-topped summit of Craigowl Hill at 455 metres above sea level. Somehow the metal structures don’t really detract from the views here, perhaps due to the proximity of urban streets anyway. Meanwhile, the numerous cows roaming the hill definitely enhance it! This is an excellent local stomping ground for Dundonians, but the hills are worth a visit from further afield too. If you have enough time, it’s worthwhile adding in the two lower hills further along the undulating ridge to the west, which are free of manmade structures and slightly quieter.
📷 Chronological photo guide
🌍 Location
📌 Start / finish at Balkello Woodland, off minor road 2 mi east of Kirkton of Auchterhouse
🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NO 365385
🛰️ GPS coordinates: 56.534213,-3.034081
🚌 Bus to start
🚗 Car park
📝 Key info
▶ 8 km / 5 mi | ▲ 330 m | ⌛ 2.5-3 hr
Features: △ Auchterhouse Hill (424 m); △ Balkello Hill (395 m); △ Craigowl Hill (455 m, sub-2000′ Marilyn)
⬤ Moderate | Varied paths and tracks on grass, mud and stones – steep ascents and descents in places. Multiple paths in places – it doesn’t really matter which you take, but map required.
Download file for GPS➡️ Clockwise circuit with extension to Auchterhouse Hill. Start – Auchterhouse Hill – return southeast then branch left to Balkello Hill – Craigowl Hill – Balluderton Hill – Linn of Balluderon – start
🥾 On our last visit
Wildlife: Cows grazing the slopes of Craigowl Hill (December).
Weather: Evening sunshine with a little thin cloud – warm enough not to need jackets (December).
December 2013
