Green Hill

Rising above the remote settlement of Auchernach in the upper reaches of Strathdon, this quiet Aberdeenshire summit offers a classic northeast moorland experience. Categorised as a Hump, its broad, heathery slopes provide a straightforward ascent with an expansive outlook over the ladder of hills surrounding the Water of Nochty.

• •The name is a literal English description of the hill's grazing quality; in the peat-heavy landscape of the northeast Grampians, a 'Green Hill' traditionally marked a patch of better ground for sheep or deer compared to the surrounding 'black' heather moors.
• •The summit provides an excellent vantage point for viewing the nearby Ladder Hills to the west and the distinctive, bulky profile of Morven of Greenland to the southeast.
• •This hill sits in the historic heartland of the Lonach Highlanders; while the famous Lonach Gathering takes place in the strath below, the summit remains a largely overlooked spot for those seeking solitude away from the main glen.
• •Navigators should pay close attention to their map and grid references; with dozens of 'Green Hills' scattered across the Scottish Highlands, it is remarkably easy to tell your friends you have climbed the wrong one.