Tap O'Noth
Tap O’Noth, Rhynie. Section 21A.
Height – 563 metres. Map – OS Landranger 37.
Climbed - 14 July 2011. Time taken – 1.5 hours.
Distance – 5 kilometres. Ascent – 300 metres.
Trip Report Details:
Earlier in the day I was in Duftown climbing The Convals with a plan to return via Rynie to add the Sub 2000 Marilyn, Tap O’Noth, to my day’s tally.
As I approached Rhynie, on the A941 Dufftown Road, an obvious sign indicated the route to the car park, which was up a narrow road. On leaving my vehicle I continued along this track which soon came to an end just beyond a stile. A short section of grassy path, which was a bit overgrown, was followed before I reached a new deer fence with appropriate gates. Beyond, the hillside was a bit of a mess as the gorse had been cut down but I later realised the reason for this was that tree planting was in progress and this accounted for the new fencing and gates.
I walked along the hard packed muddy vehicle track, which ran alongside this new fence, until I came to a second set of gates where I changed direction and followed another vehicle track uphill, still within the confines of the fenced off area. This led to a further set of gates and beyond the open hillside.
The ground steepened but a vehicle track, which had been improved in sections, led up the hillside then round the south side of the hill, just below the summit. From here I could see Rhynie and across the Aberdeenshire farmland to Bennachie. As the track swung round to the east side of Tap O’Noth I had views of the Hill of Noth and the town of Huntly. It was at this point that I entered the summit area, an old fort. I followed a path to the trig point and onto the actual summit, located beside a concrete plinth.
I returned to the trig point to eat my lunch. While seated there, looking out over the surrounding countryside, I was contemplating what an ideal location it was for a fort with its extensive views in all directions.