Day 4

It was much cooler than when I camped two nights before. I wore more clothes in bed and slept well to wake early to the dawn chorus. I got up and after breakfast and packing up, I then headed up Glen Esk.

After 9 miles up the read I got to Tarfside. There was a camping field and toilets but I preferred the Rocks of Solitude and it would have been too far for yesterday.

Then it was time to head up the Fungle road, and old drovers and smugglers route, to a pass at 1952 ft.

There was a stream beside the track before it started to get steeper.

Near the top there were some patches of burned heather with bands around them that looked like bicycle tube patches!

There is still snow on the top of the mountains.

I had something to eat at the top looking down to Deeside.

The ride down was fantastic.

At the bottom I got to the forest of Birse. As a child, I loved playing in the stream near here.

After another smaller hill and another great descent I got to Deeside at Aboyne.

I then followed the Deeside way along the old railway line. I passed Dinner where I used to play on the line after it closed but before they took the tracks up.

I then passed the Cambus O'May bridge over the Dee.

Finally I reached Ballater with a view of Lochnagar.

Time for a curry before checking in to a fabulous hostel. I have the hostel to myself complete with a drying room. Time to wash some clothes!