Bennachie, Scotland 6 Miles

East Aquhorthies Stone Circle- Bennachie in the far far right corner

 Once picked up from John o'Groats I was driven back down to Aberdeen and the wonderful house of my Auntie Jackie. My knees were in a lot of discomfort and I was shattered, that said the only thing which eased the joints was walking. Jakie is a ranger and incredibly knowledgeable on the natural world around her. In the three days I stayed there I learned a wonderful amount about Scotland and the different animals around the place.

  On one of these outings we made the climb through Bennachie and

From the top of Mither Tap

Mither Tap. At 528 meters (1733 feet) it was a good afternoon climb, with a few stops before hand to observe the stone circles which were dotted around the place. The summit itself holds the ruins of a Roman ford, or so they suspect, the walls still thick around the top, stone rubble cascading down the place. Its unknown whether there was an actual settlement inside the wall but the wind is harsh and its easy to understand why they might have stayed away. The lands around the place used to be common property before the lords decided to divide it up between them and charge rent. Here and there are signs giving
a brief history of the place.

Auntie Jackie on the top of Mithers Tap

  The car park was already packed when we arrived and the Maiden's Causeway up to the slopes was full of families on outings making the pace slow. Miaden Causeway is part of another folks tale. A maiden is approached by a handsome gentleman who claims he can build a path all the way up to Mithers Tap overnight to help her brothers on their farm land, she doesn't believe him and they agree to barter her hand in marriage or possibly simply her maiden hood. He comes back the next day with the path built but as he transforms into the Devil she turns and runs. He grabs her and carried her away. There is the Maiden Stone lower down the slopes with a bit missing where the poor girl was grabbed and then turned to stone. 

Mither Tap from Creighnathunter

  Soon enough we overtook most and had a clear view up to the summit. Without a backpack I thought I'd manage the walk easily but I  hadn't reckoned on Jackie's pace and struggled a little, my pride preventing me from asking her to slow down. We made it to the top in double quick time to spend a very enjoyable half hour with a pair of very expensive binoculars. We walked down the steeper slopes of Bennachie into Creignathunter Forest and round over Maiden Castle back to the car park. In all it took us around three hours but that's with a lot of stopping and relaxing along the way. By the time I got back my joints felts eased and I enjoyed a long bath- a luxury not allowed along the trail.

Here is a song centered around the area:

Lang Johnny Moir

Lang Johnny Moir

 There lives a man in Rhynie's land and another in Auchendore,
 But the bravest lad amang them a' was lang Johnny Moir.
 Young Johnny was an airy blade, fu' sturdy, stout and strang,
 And the sword that hung fae Johnny's side was just full ten feet lang.
 Ha-diddle-da, ha-diddle-da-da, ha-diddle-da, ha-diddle-day.

 Young Johnny's gane tae London toon in the springtime o' the year,
 And there he's met and fa'en in love wi' the king's ain daughter dear,
 And word has gone tae the king himsel' and an angry man was he.
 We'll pit her in a prison, strang high hangit he will be.
 Ha-diddle-da, ha-diddle-da-da, ha-diddle-da, ha-diddle-day.

 The English dogs were cunning rogues and about him they did creep,
 And they gave him drops of laudamy that laid him fast asleep.
 And when Johnny awakened frae his sleep, a sorry heart had he,
 Wi' his twa hands in iron bands and his feet in fetters three.
 Ha-diddle-da, ha-diddle-da-da, ha-diddle-da, ha-diddle-day.

 And he has got a little wee boy would work for meat and fee.
 "Gae rin tae my auld uncle there at the fit o' Bennachie."
 When the wee boy came tae Bennachie, he did neither chap nor call,
 But he went straight tae auld Johnny there, three feet abune them a'.

 Auld Johnny 's read the letter then sealed wi' Johnny's faith and troth,
 And he's cried fae the tap o' Bennachie for his kinsman Jock o' North.
 Then on the plain these champions met, twa grisly sights tae see.
 There were three feet between their brows, their shoulders were yards three.
 Ha-diddle-da, ha-diddle-da-da, ha-diddle-da, ha-diddle-day.

 And when they came tae London toon, the yetts were locked wi' bands,
 And guarded weel wi' armed men wi' broadswords in their hands.
 "Ye'll open the yetts" says Jock o' North "Ye'll open them at my call",
 And wi' his fit he has drave in three brave yards o' the wall.

 And then they gaed doon by Drury lane and doon by the town ha',
 And they have freed young Johnny Moir and for the king did call.
 "Bri
 Ha-diddle-da, ha-diddle-da-da, ha-diddle-da, ha-diddle-day.

 Then they have gaen before the king wi' courage bold and free,
 Their armour bright cast such a light, it almost dimmed his e'e.
 "Now where's the lady" cries Jock o' North "for fain I would her see,
 For we are come tae her weddin' fae the fit o' Bennachie."
 Ha-diddle-da, ha-diddle-da-da, ha-diddle-da, ha-diddle-day.

 "Oh tak' the lady" says the king "The boy too shall go free".
 "A priest, a priest" then Johnny cries "tae join my love and me."
 Then they've ta'en the lady by the hand and they've set her prison free,
 And wi' drums beatin' and fifes playin', they've spent the night wi' glee.
 Ha-diddle-da, ha-diddle-da-da, ha-diddle-da, ha-diddle-day.

 The auld Johnny Moir, and young Johnny Muir and Jock o' North, all three,
 The English lady and the little wee boy went a' tae Bennachie.
 Ha-diddle-da, ha-diddle-da-da, ha-diddle-da, ha-diddle-day.