📌 Glen Esk, Angus
★★★
Hill of Wirren is the highest point of a vast area of heather and peat hags between two of the Angus Glens: Glen Lethnot and Glen Esk. Positioned south of the main spine of the east Cairngorms, it sometimes has better weather than the higher summits to the north and west. A maze of quiet hill tracks allows ascents from several directions, with this approach from Dalbog north of Edzell sticking mainly to broad ridges. There are wide views both into the heart of the range and across flat Strathmore and Howe of the Mearns, with Montrose Basin and the North Sea visible on a clear day.
📷 Chronological photo guide
Track to Cornescorn 
Cornescorn 
Sturdy Hill from Cornescorn 
View up the Burn of Forbie 
Track above Shanno Castle 
Foot of Glen Esk from below Red Craig 
Re-crossing the Burn of Forbie below Red Craig 
View back from the ascent of Craigangower 
Maze of tracks below Craigangower 
View northwest from Craigangower 
Hill of Wirren summit 
Peat hags around the summit 
East Wirren from Hill of Wirren 
Crook of Mooran 
East Wirren trig point 
Descent from East Wirren 
View back to East Wirren from Green Hill 
Most of the circuit seen from below Hill of Corathro 
The Crannel summit 
Rest of the walk seen from The Crannel 
Descent from The Crannel, looking up Glen Esk 
Foot of Glen Esk 
View up the glen from near Torrantipper
🌍 Location
📌 Start / finish at public minor road end 0.5 mi north of Dalbog, 2.5 mi north of Edzell
🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NO 587724
🛰️ GPS coordinates: 56.840910,-2.679061
❌ No public transport within 1 mi
🚗 Car park before gate
📝 Key info
▶ 19 km / 12 mi | ▲ 680 m | ⌛ 5-5.5 hr
Features: △ Hill of Wirren (678 m, “Torbett”); △ East Wirren (639 m)
⬤ Tough | Excellent tracks almost throughout. Area around Hill of Wirren summit often pathless with boggy peat hags. Optional short detour to The Crannel summit is on pathless heather.
Download file for GPS➡️ Anticlockwise circuit: start – Cornescorn – Shanno Castle – Craigangower – Hill of Wirren – East Wirren – Hill of Corathro – The Crannel – start
🥾 On our last visit
Wildlife: Cows & calves, lots of sheep, rabbits. Several red kites, buzzards, red grouse, pheasants. Puffball fungi.
Weather: Sunny, some cloud building over high Cairngorms. Strong westerly winds, temperature reaching low teens at base.
October 2022
