Whiteash Hill

The walk to Whiteash Hill is relatively unremarkable, but the rewards at the summit are spectacular.

A forestry path splits through enormously high trees of the Whiteash Hill Wood, so you don’t get much of a view until you reach the pyramid.

However, they do shelter you from the wind, and peeks through the undergrowth highlight the moss-covered hummocks that has been sheltered by the huge conifers for decades..

The walk is around 4km (there and back) with a shallow ascent, and is fairly easy. As you approach the cairn, the view opens out over lower plains of Speyside over Gordon Castle and Estate towards Spey Bay and the Moray Firth.

From here, it’s clear why this was the chosen spot for the 6th Duke of Richmond to build a memorial to his wife, Frances Harriet.

The cairn is huge, and built into a pyramid shape with seating around the base. The surrounding forestry plantation has hidden it from view unless you walk right up to it, however, prior to the growing tees that surround it, the monument was visible for miles around.

The inscription on the south-west facing side, reads: “This cairn is erected in memory of Frances Harriet, Duchess of Richmond, 1887”

Directions

From Fochabers: Take the A96 east towards Aberdeen. After about 4 km (2.5 miles), turn left towards Braes of Enzie.

From Keith: Take the A96 wet towards Elgin and Inverness. After about 4 km (2.5 miles), turn right towards Braes of Enzie.

Parking: After about 1 km, you’ll see a place to park on the left or right of the road. There are no markings for the car park or which track to take.

The walk: Of the two paths into the forest, the one on the left is most direct route. As you near the summit, the track forks, and you can see the pyramid through the trees. For the return route, you can follow the track that goes towards the view, and turn right after 100 metres. This will loop back to the original track.