Pressendye

Rising as a broad, heathery dome above the Howe of Cromar, this Marilyn offers an accessible but rewarding ascent. Its rounded character typifies the Grampian foothills, providing a grandstand view where the fertile lowlands of Aberdeenshire meet the high granite tors of the eastern Cairngorms, with Lochnagar standing prominently to the southwest.

• •The name likely stems from the Gaelic Preas an t-Sìthe, meaning 'bush of the fairies,' a nod to the local folklore that populates many of the hills on the eastern edge of the Highlands.
• •The summit is a key component of the 'Queen's View' near Tarland; Queen Victoria was a frequent admirer of this particular skyline, which looks across the Howe towards the snowy corries of the Mounth.
• •As a Graham, the hill is part of a specific group of Scottish peaks between 2,000 and 2,500 feet, and its isolated position makes it one of the most prominent landmarks in the region.
• •On a clear day, the vista to the east is remarkably far-reaching, extending past the Bennachie range and over the agricultural plains of the Garioch all the way to the North Sea.
• •While its height only just qualifies it for Graham status, the unrelenting wind across the exposed summit plateau usually does a convincing job of pretending you are standing on a much higher mountain.