Walk: Littlemill's ice-cool legacy

[Littlemill eskers - the snake-like mounds heading away from the foreground]

The partly-wooded countryside at Littlemill, Strathnairn is a glaciologist's paradise. The glen used to be under the belly of a huge glacier, which left several tell-tale signs after it retreated. Esker ridges - snake-like mounds of earth deposited by meltwater channels underneath the ice - litter the landscape, with paths along their crests making exploration easy. There are also numerous kettleholes: water-filled depressions left over when blocks of ice melted in situ. From higher parts of the route there are some good views of the surrounding hills too, but this is a circuit which will appeal more to ice geeks.

[Kettlehole]

📌 Walk: Littlemill's ice-cool legacy ★★★☆☆
▶ 5 km / 3 miles | ▲ 50 metres | ⌚ Short walk
Points of interest: Littlemill eskers & kettleholes
Start / finish: Car park on B851 2 miles southwest of the A9 junction, G.R.: NH 701365 ///vines.duos.hello

Route: Car park - path junction at G.R.: NH 702365 - edge of Littlemill quarry at G.R. NH 706368 - gravel pit at G.R.: NH 701354 - first path junction - start. Route combines blue & red routes on map here (no. 5) with further extension to south, though marked only intermittently on the ground.
Terrain: Clear, sometimes narrow paths, some tracks.
Wildlife today: Butterflies, woodland birds, hares.
Weather today: About 20°C with sunny intervals, some large clouds around.

[Esker in the forest]

Route map


Route credit: Forestry and Land Scotland (modified)

More photos

[Esker]

[Loch / flooded quarry]

[The biggest kettlehole]

[Good views from the higher parts of the eskers]

[Esker]

[Woodland track at the south end of the loop]

[Esker]

[Esker]

[Moth]

[Down by the largest of the kettleholes]

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Carn Liath

Image
Carn Liath is a 2,000+ year old broch beautifully situated overlooking Sutherland coastline close to busier Dunrobin Castle. Although ruined, the thick walls, entrance passage and inner chamber are still impressive and fun to explore, and its immediate surroundings have traces of an ancient settlement clustered around the broch. Unfortunately reaching the site normally involves taking your life in your hands by crossing the busy A9. A much better alternative is to reach it by the coast path as part of a longer walk.


📌Carn Liath★★★☆☆
Location: A9 3 miles east of Golspie, G.R.: NC 870014 ///hurricane.demoted.animated
Open: Always
Cost: Free

Read more

Loup of Fintry

Image
Winding through gently scenic nowhere land between the Campsie Fells and Fintry Hills, the Endrick Water unexpectedly takes an almighty 94-foot plunge into a side-on gorge. This is one of the most spectacular waterfalls in the Scottish Lowlands (although Corra Linn and Grey Mare's Tail both come close), so why it's not better known is something of a mystery. Perhaps it's because the Carron Valley Reservoir upstream blocks much of the burn's catchment area, so waiting until after a period of local heavy rain is even more important than with other waterfalls. Nevertheless, this awesome cataract should be right at the top of your list.


📌Loup of Fintry ★★★★☆
Location: B818 a mile east of Carron Valley Reservoir dam, G.R.: NS 662862 ///breezy.operation.survived
Anything else? There are informal laybys on both sides of the road near Gallows Knowe with space for about 5 cars in total. Follow the signposted, muddy footpath about 300 metres to the top of the waterfall, with good…
Read more

Campsie Glen

Image
In bygone years a path used to snake up the narrow gorge north of Clachan of Campsie. Rockfalls and warning signs now block the middle section, but short linear walks into the gorge from each end are still well worth it. A quick stroll from the bottom car park leads to the lower section of rapids. The upper car park on Crow Road is reached by a steep, 300 metre walk or a winding, three mile drive. Heading downhill from here (instead of uphill towards Cort-ma Law) accesses the middle one of three more waterfalls. All are worth a visit following wet weather if you don't mind a bit of scrambling, but the lower of the three deserves special praise - as you can walk behind it!


📌 Campsie Glen (lower waterfalls) ★★★☆☆
Description: Secluded bowl surrounded by cascades from the Kirk Burn and its tributaries, best seen in spate.
Location: Kirk Burn, immediately north of Clachan of Campsie, G.R.: NS 610798 ///exploring.pirates.clipped
Anything else? From the large car park at G.R.: NS 611796 …
Read more