Bennachie Hills, Aberdeenshire

Bennachie Hills, Aberdeenshire

Bennachie is a range of low hills south of the road from Inverurie to Insh. Despite their low height (the tallest hill, Oxen Craig, is only about 1,700 feet high) the Bennachie hills are a local landmark, and they can be seen from as far as 20 miles away on the outskirts of Aberdeen.

The most prominent hill is Mither Tap (1698 feet high), which is topped by a stone fort. The fort is fully 700 feet in circumference, and the walls encircling the summit are 15 feet thick in places.

What to See

Bennachie has been eulogized by numerous poets, including Charles Murray, author of Hamewith. The hills are best accessed from minor roads near Glenton, to the south of the hills, or to the east, from the road south of Chapel of Garioch.

There are several prehistoric monuments close to Bennachie, including the 'Maiden Stone', Easter Aquhorthies Stone Circle, and the Brandsbutt Symbol Stone. Four miles away is Monymusk church, a 12th-century church with remains of an Augustinian monastery.