SCO-069-Terpersie-Manabattock-Lord Arthur's Hill

Waypoints

(1) Start walk at the access road to Dubston Farm(57.26901; -2.75051)Start the walk at the access road to Dubston Farm, which is approximately 1.5 km from the turn-off at Tullynessle Church. The other road at the farm junction leads to Terpersie Castle*. Walk up the accesss road to Dubston Farm. Just after you cross the bridge over the Esset Burn, look to your right to gain a fleeting glimpse of Terpersie Castle. Now follow the rough road that eventually leads towards trees, bending to the right past the large open Dubston Farm outhouse (byre) below you on your right, and a farm (now holiday) cottage above you on your left. Soon you will arrive at a gate. Please ensure you secure it properly after passing through it. Keep walking on the rough road between trees.

*Note: Pink-walled Terpersie Castle is a small z-plan manor house was constructed in 1561 by the Gordon family. In 1665 it was restored after being burnt down just before the Battle of Alford in 1645. It is now a private residence. 

(2) After 1.2 km go sharp left to follow a grassy former forest road uphill, reversing your prior direction. Now you have conifer trees on your left and open hillside where the woodland has been felled. on your right. (1.2 km)

(3) Veer steeply uphill by field gate(57.26870; -2.75766)In 700 m, when the forest road meets a farm gate on your left (looking down on Dubston Farm, that you passed earlier), go right and steeply uphill on a track, through the mature trees, heading towards a deer fence gate at the top.  (1.9 km)

(4) In 200 m you will have arrived at the deer fence and large gate. When we first did the walk, there was chicken netting at the bottom of the gate which was held down with stones, so rather than disturb that we climbed the 'ladder' to the right of the gate. On a more recent visit the chicken wire was no longer held down  so the gate can readily be opened. Please ensure that you close and secure it properly after opening.  (2.1 km)

(5) Go a little right to find old road going uphill(57.26781; -2.76028)Immediately on climbing over the 'ladder' go right a few metres to find the old road going uphill and veering slightly left. As you climb the old road becomes a narrow path. Keep going uphill past old grouse butts as the direction gradually swings around to the west. Be aware that young trees (larch) have been planted in this area. Take care not to stand on them or damage them when they are close to the path.  Eventually the path becomes a rough road again as you enter the mature trees on the top of Manabattock Hill. Continue through the trees.  (2.1 km)

(6) Through deer fence gate(57.26480; -2.77355)After 1 km, uphill and through the Manabattock woodland, the rough road takes you to another section of the deer fence. Here, you can go through the gate, ensuring that you secure it properly afterwards. Go left for a few metres, looking for a rough road on your right. (3.1 km)

(7) Go a little left then right onto rough road(57.26462; -2.77362)After a few metres on the track that heads downhill from the deer fence gate, go right onto an old rough road that heads over the moorland in a westerly direction. (3.1 km)

(8) Right and uphill onto hill access road(57.26333; -2.78303)In 700 m, the rough road over the moorland drops down a little to meet a better defined hill road beside some conifer trees. Go right here as this road heads uphill. (3.8 km)

(9) Veer left and keep left at y-junction(57.26458; -2.78627)In 200 m, at a y-junction, take the left fork. Almost immediately there is another y-junction. Again, take the left fork. (4.0 km)

(10) Old stone shelter(57.26593; -2.80736)After climbing gradually for 1.5 km you will have arrived at the ruined stone shelter on the summit area of Lord Arthur's Hill*. There are superlative views all around. Many distant hilltops are visible on a good day. Looking to your left, and working clock-wise around the vista, are: the Bennachie and Menaway Hills; Hill of Fare; Clachnaben; Morven; Mount Keen; Lochnagar; Ben Avon; Cairngorm (?); Buck of Cabrach; Ben Rinnes; Tap o' Noth; The Knock; Hills of Foudland and Tillymorgan. When you are ready head for the trig point about 60 m away to the NW. (5.5 km)

*Note: From old parish records, the name of Lord Arthur’s Hill arises from an incident in 1571 when the body of Lord Arthur Forbes (the 6th Lord’s youngest son), called 'Black Arthur' because of his dark complexion, was being carried over the hill for burial in Auchindoir church yard. During an unseasonable snow storm, the coffin bearers rested near the summit (there is now a ruined stone shelter there, "The Summer House", believed to be built on a much older cairn). ‘Black Arthur’ was killed at the Battle of Tillieangus, near Clatt, during the Marian civil war in which the Catholic Gordons supported the abdicated Mary, Queen of Scots, and the Forbes family supported her infant son, James VI of Scotland.

(11) Trig point(57.26619; -2.80826)At the trig point you gain another perspective on the surrounding countryside and hilltops. When you are ready, re-trace your footsteps back to the rough road near to the ruined stone shelter and start heading back, downhill and north-easterly, in the direction of Tullynessle. (5.6 km)

(12) Veer left for Fouchie Shank path downhill(57.26654; -2.80620)In 100 m, or so, from the trig point, after passing the stone shelter on your right, take the left fork at a y-junction as the rough road heads downhill on the so-called "Fouchie Shank", an old right-of-way connecting Lumsden and Tullynessle. (5.7 km)

(13) Site of Hut Circle(57.27088; -2.77920)After 1.9 km walking downhill, and nearing the valley bottom, you may want to check out the site of an ancient hut circle on the sheltered hillside. The buried (now) stone foundations are all that remains of a prehistoric wooden structure, probably a roundhouse with a conical roof. It is marked on the OS map as just off the Fouchie Shank path on your right as you descend. All that remains to the un-practiced eye is a low mound amongst the heathery tussocks. Return to the path and continue downhill, crossing a burn and following the rough road back to your start-point through woodland before passing by Dubston Farm again. (7.6 km)

(14) Finish walk back at Terpersie-Dubston Farm junction(57.26905; -2.75059)In 2 km from the site of the hut circle you will have arrived back at your start-point. Near to the end, just before you cross the bridge over the Esset Burn, look to your left to gain a fleeting glimpse of Terpersie Castle. (9.6 km)