The Bin of Cullen – The Moray Coast's Own Hill
A few hours.
The route
The Bin of Cullen is the round, wooded dome you see from almost everywhere on the Moray coast, 320 metres high and made of the same pale quartzite as Bow Fiddle Rock.
A forest track climbs steadily through Scots pine to a short, stony pull up to the summit cairn, with picnic benches and a wide view over the Moray Firth. A good short hill for families with walking children, and lovely in autumn.
Before you go
Book accommodation nearby
If you are staying over: here are ours nearest where the day starts and ends.
The day
Deskford
Up through the pines beside the Badentarget Burn and out onto the open top for the view, then back down the same way. Bring a flask for the benches.
About two and a half hours
The Bin of Cullen
The walk starts at a small, unsigned gravel parking place at a Seafield Estate gate in the forest on the Hill of Maud road, north-west of Deskford, between Cullen and Buckie. From Cullen, the way is out on the A98, then the B9018 by Lintmill, and right where it's signed Hill of Maud; the start is on the right along that very straight minor road. There's room for about six cars either side of the gate, which must be kept clear for forestry vehicles, and no toilets: the nearest are in Cullen or Buckie. From the gate, wide forest tracks cross the Badentarget Burn and climb steadily through the pines, barely signed, to a steeper, stony last pitch onto the top, with a trig point, a cairn and two picnic benches. It's about 5.5 km there and back with about 250 metres of climbing: allow two to three hours. Mountain bikers use the tracks, and dogs are welcome under close control. The top is exposed and the tracks can be icy in winter; from November to February, set off by 11am.
If it rains
The forest track is sheltered, but the top is exposed and the view goes in low cloud: on a wet day keep to the pines and turn back before the last climb, or leave it for a clearer day.
Photographs by Shannon M and Pamela “Scottish_quine” Esson via Google