Scotland
Wester Balloch
805M
2642FT
About Wester Balloch
Rising above the remote head of Glen Muick near Ballater, this expansive Tump offers a rugged, heathery experience typical of the Mounth plateau. Often overlooked in favour of nearby Mount Keen, its high position provides a quiet, unhurried vantage point overlooking the wild depths of the Shielin of Mark.
Key Statistics
Rank
71st Highest in Region
Parent Range
Lochaber
Prominence
?
62.9m
Nearest Town
Angus
Geology
Wester Balloch is formed from the Tarfside Psammite. These rocks began as mud and sand, transformed by intense heat and pressure into the tough, layered foundation beneath your feet.
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NO341790
Latitude
56.8976°N
Longitude
3.0835°W
Did You Know?
- •The name is derived from the Scottish Gaelic bealach, meaning a pass. It likely refers to the hill's proximity to the historic high-level routes that link the Mounth plateau to the glens of Angus.
- •It is often bypassed by walkers heading straight for the Munro of Mount Keen, yet it provides an essential perspective on the remote Shielin of Mark, a lonely mountain bothy nestled in the valley below.
- •The summit offers a commanding view of the great granite bulk of Lochnagar to the west, while to the south, the deep trench of Glen Mark cuts a dramatic line through the rolling moorland.
- •The terrain is notoriously heathery and peat-haggish; if you manage to find a firm, dry line to the top, you have likely strayed onto a deer track by mistake.