Last updated: 10/12/15

Thirteen members attended the October 2015 day meet which took the form a traverse from Loch Lee to Loch Muick. On a day where showers merged to give (almost) constant rain this meet was surprisingly enjoyable and no fewer than three bothies were visited on our trip across the hills to Glen Muick.

At Loch Lee trout rose for late summer flies on the loch's surface whilst way off in the distance red deer could be heard roaring.

In Glen Lee the first building encountered is a rather rough old shieling which I believe is known locally as Johnny Gordon's Bothy? We stopped here for a cuppa. This building does offer some shelter and has a rude fireplace and earthen floor. It is a very basic bothy.

Lower Glen Lee

Johnny Gordon's Bothy

The Stables of Lee however is far better maintained and on approaching it we were asked to “catch that horse” by the pony-man who had arrived just a few minutes ahead of us. Turns out that “Stan” the horse has a mind of his own and doesn't like bridges or doing what he's told. The pony-man was readying things for some stalking on Monday and asked us to keep on paths as much as we could. He had a cracking dog along with him today, it was a Shorthaired German Pointer, and is used when wounded deer need to be tracked for long distances over the moor (after poor shooting I imagine!).

Stables of Lee

Life in Glen Lee (Stan the horse,left)

From the Stables of Lee we ascended Muckle Cairn before descending to and fording the Water of Mark. We seemed to arrive at the Shieling of Mark in no time.

Sheilin of Mark

Inside the bothy

This was my first visit and the place did not disappoint. It just about managed to accommodate all 13 of us. After tea and sandwiches (and a dram or two) we set forth again for Glen Muick and our coach. Departure from Loch Muick was at 3pm and a refreshment stop at the Boat Inn, Aboyne rounded off a most enjoyable day though the high cost of a pint of real ale it may be some time before many venture back.

On the hill distance covered was circa 10 miles and travel time 6hours 15mins.