Tampie

About Tampie

Rising above the remote headwaters of the Water of Feugh, this expansive Mounth summit is defined by its wild, heathery character. Classified as a Tump, its position in the Forest of Birse offers a genuine sense of isolation, providing a stark contrast to the gentler farmlands of Deeside visible to the north.

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Did You Know?

• •The name Tampie is thought to be a corruption of the Gaelic 'An Tom Piogach', which translates as 'the peaked hill' or 'the magpie hill', though its broad, rounded profile suggests the name may have been applied more to its relative prominence than its actual shape.
• •The hill sits within the Forest of Birse, a historic 'commonty' where land rights were traditionally shared. This status led to over 400 years of complex legal battles and local feuds between lairds and inhabitants, making it one of the most litigious pieces of moorland in the Highlands.
• •Walkers often reach the summit via the Fungle Road, an ancient right of way and former drove road that served as a vital artery for cattle thieves and whisky smugglers traveling between Aboyne and Glen Esk.
• •The summit provides a clear perspective of the Eastern Mounth’s scale, with the distinctive granite tor of Clachnaben visible to the east and the massive, rounded bulk of Mount Battock dominating the skyline to the south.
• •While the 'Forest' of Birse suggests a dense canopy of trees, the climb to the summit reveals that the term is used in its medieval sense—referring to a hunting ground—meaning you are far more likely to find your boots in a peat hag than under a branch.