Mount Keen - Saturday 5 October 2024
Route
Invermark - House of Mark - Queen's Well - Easter Burn - Glenmark - Ladder Burn - Mount Keen - Ladder Burn - Easter Burn - Glenmark - House of Mark - Invermark
Parking
Car Park at the western end of Glen Esk at Invermark (Free). The Grid Reference is NO 44665 80372 and the nearest postcode is DD9 7YZ.
Mileage
11.2 miles
Terrain
Good mountain paths throughout
Weather
Overcast with good visibility apart from on the summit where the cloud base shifted in and out because of strong winds.
Time Taken
5hrs 35mins
Total Ascent
2550ft (777m)
Map
OL54 Glen Esk & Glen Tanar
Walkers
Dave & Angie
Invermark - House of Mark - Queen's Well - Easter Burn - Glenmark - Ladder Burn - Mount Keen - Ladder Burn - Easter Burn - Glenmark - House of Mark - Invermark
Parking
Car Park at the western end of Glen Esk at Invermark (Free). The Grid Reference is NO 44665 80372 and the nearest postcode is DD9 7YZ.
Mileage
11.2 miles
Terrain
Good mountain paths throughout
Weather
Overcast with good visibility apart from on the summit where the cloud base shifted in and out because of strong winds.
Time Taken
5hrs 35mins
Total Ascent
2550ft (777m)
Map
OL54 Glen Esk & Glen Tanar
Walkers
Dave & Angie
GPX File
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Route Map
The large parking area at the start. Invermark sits at the head of Glen Esk and the start of Glen Mark. Mount Keen is the most easterly Munro and has been on our radar for quite a while - Keen also happens to be Angie's maiden name.
The start of the walk at the entrance to the Invermark Estate (the sheep isn't real by the way)
Passing the entrance to Lochlee Kirk
The church dates from 1803 and much of the building material was produced by demolishing the outbuildings of nearby Invermark Castle, while many of the slates for the church roof came from there also.
The church dates from 1803 and much of the building material was produced by demolishing the outbuildings of nearby Invermark Castle, while many of the slates for the church roof came from there also.
Turning right off the road the route heads along the access track to the House of Mark
We would be following the Mounth Road until a mile before Mount Keen. It is possible to climb Mount Keen and rejoin the Mounth Road half a mile to the north of the summit should a linear walk to Ballater be your itinerary.
At the entrance to the House of Mark a sign points the way left
The House of Mark - the property is a former Manse and up until recently traded as a B&B
Heading along the Water of Mark
The path passes through a metal gate to continue onwards towards the Queen's Well
The route handrails the Water of Mark as a path cuts its way through the heather
The track becomes wider and flattens out as it continues to handrail the Water of Mark. Hard Hill & Gilfumman are to the left with Couternach in the centre.
The Queen's Well
This unusual crown shaped monument was built over a natural spring in 1861 in honour of Queen Victoria by Lord Dalhousie. Queen Victoria and her consort Prince Albert purchased Balmoral Castle and delighted in travelling the mountain routes around their estate. In 1861 they rode the 15 miles (24 km) from Balmoral to Glen Mark and met with Lord Dalhousie beside an artesian well. Here they were refreshed by the spring water before continuing to Invermark Lodge where they stayed overnight. To commemorate the visit, Lord Dalhousie erected a monument in the shape of a royal crown over the well.
This unusual crown shaped monument was built over a natural spring in 1861 in honour of Queen Victoria by Lord Dalhousie. Queen Victoria and her consort Prince Albert purchased Balmoral Castle and delighted in travelling the mountain routes around their estate. In 1861 they rode the 15 miles (24 km) from Balmoral to Glen Mark and met with Lord Dalhousie beside an artesian well. Here they were refreshed by the spring water before continuing to Invermark Lodge where they stayed overnight. To commemorate the visit, Lord Dalhousie erected a monument in the shape of a royal crown over the well.
The Queen's Well - I don't think we will bother having a refreshing slurp out of that thanks very much. The inscription around the edge of the well reads:
"Rest traveller on this lonely green and drink and pray for Scotland's Queen."
"Rest traveller on this lonely green and drink and pray for Scotland's Queen."
The commemorative stone at The Queen's Well. The inscription reads:
'Her Majesty, Queen Victoria, and his Royal Highness the Prince Consort, visited this well and drank of its refreshing waters, on the 20th September, 1861, the year of Her Majesty's great sorrow.'
Since Albert had been ill for at least two years, maybe having a drink from the well was a tad misplaced? Less than three months later he died from typhoid or some other unknown intestinal complaint, hence the reason for "the great sorrow".
'Her Majesty, Queen Victoria, and his Royal Highness the Prince Consort, visited this well and drank of its refreshing waters, on the 20th September, 1861, the year of Her Majesty's great sorrow.'
Since Albert had been ill for at least two years, maybe having a drink from the well was a tad misplaced? Less than three months later he died from typhoid or some other unknown intestinal complaint, hence the reason for "the great sorrow".
Clearly Munro Baggers who have ridden along the track to make their ascent of Mount Keen a tad shorter and easier
The Queen's Well looking to Round Hill
Leaving the Queen's Well, the route heads back to the main path
The cairn at the entrance to Glenmark Cottage
Glenmark Cottage with Pandewen to the rear - the cottage is owned by the Dalhousie Estate
After passing Glenmark Cottage the path starts to climb along the lower eastern flank of Couternach
The first of two burn crossings in the space of 200 yards - firstly Easter Burn...............
......... and secondly the Ladder Burn
Climbing steadily along the eastern side of Couternach looking back to Glenmark
Above Ladder Burn
At the top of the rise the route zig zags
This was an extremely good track as we continue to the right of the Knowe of Crippley
At Grid Reference NO 40520 85217 the path splits. We would continue on to the right - the path going left runs out after half a mile.
Another path fork, this time at Grid Reference NO 40533 85551. The Mounth Road continues on to the left whilst the path to the summit of Mount Keen heads to the right.
The cloud comes in as we approach the summit of Mount Keen
Looking back down our descent just below Mount Keen
The path passes a small boundary stone a few yards from the summit
The summit of Mount Keen - accessing the Trig Point is by way of a short rocky scramble
The former Angie Keen reaching the summit of her namesake
Angie on the summit of Mount Keen
Just a pity we did not have the visibility today
Gaps open up in the cloud to reveal Glen Tanar
Time to head back now after one last look at the summit - nope, still cloudy
The boundary stone we passed earlier - despite extensive research I couldn't say for definite what the "B" stands for.
Still a bit wispy as we descend from whence we came
Dropping back down to the buildings at Glenmark
Nearing Glenmark - despite the poor visibility at the top, down in the valley was fine
Crossing the Easter Burn once more..................
......... and passing the Queen's Well
And the prize for the most signs on a gate goes to.....................