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WALK 2

Badandun Hill

Start/Finish	Forestry Commission car park at Freuchies, 2km east of Kirkton of Glenisla on minor road signed for Glenmarkie Lodge (NO 224 608)
Distance	22km (13¾ miles)
Time	6hr
Height gain	708m (2325ft)
Maps	OS 1:50,000 Landranger 43 and 44; OS 1:25,000 Explorer 381 and 388

To truly appreciate the lie of the land in Glen Isla, a hike over Badandun Hill is highly recommended. The summit offers fine vistas across both the fertile lower section of the valley and the wilder upper reaches of the glen, where high peaks cut across the skyline.

Starting from the car park at Freuchies, the route approaches Badandun Hill from the south, crossing green pastures before venturing on to rougher grouse moor. Tracks and paths are generally very good, although accurate navigation is required if visibility is poor on the summit. Underfoot the terrain is good with only occasional boggy patches of ground and some peat hags to negotiate on the summit approach. Dogs should be kept under close control due to the presence of grazing sheep and cattle and ground-nesting birds.

On the north side of the car park, go left and follow a forest road signed for ‘Glen Prosen and Glen Clova by Kilbo Path’. The track rises gently through a plantation of pine and larch trees where, during the summer, flowering broom bushes add a generous splash of yellow to the proceedings.

Follow the track for 1km to reach a wooden gate on the left. Go through this and pass through another gate a few metres further on. The route crosses a wooden bridge spanning the outflow of Loch Shandra and strikes across the embankment at the southern end of this reservoir. Head for a corrugated iron boathouse at the far end of the embankment, savouring views north towards Badandun Hill.

Badandun Hill mirrored in the calm waters of Loch Shandra

Behind the boathouse the embankment path meets a track. Turn right and follow this along the west side of the loch. Approaching the north end of Loch Shandra, where small pockets of woodland hug the shoreline, look out for heron, swans and wildfowl in the reeds.

Leaving the loch behind, the track fords a tiny stream and arrives at a junction with a Cateran Trail marker post. Bear right here, off the marked trail, and follow a grassy track round to a gate. Go though and a rough trail crosses a muddy stream gully before rising over grazing land. Over to the right are the ruins of Craignity, an abandoned farm, while to the left there is a good view of Mount Blair.

At the top of the field, the track passes through a metal gate and continues across a second field. As it approaches a wall and fence, it swings right and rises to a pair of wooden gates at the top left-hand corner of the field. Go through the right-hand gate and a track leads to a derelict farmhouse and outbuildings at Craighead.