So lucky to have Ben Rinnes on my doorstep. The Wellington Crash and The Friends of Ben Rinnes.

Always a great views.

Ben Rinnes ; 841 m (2,759 ft) · 512 m (1,680 ft) · Corbett, Marilyn.

Elevation: 841 m (2,759 ft)

Parent range: Grampian Mountains

Ben Rinnes is a cracking mountain on my doorstep. It’s a short drive from home and the phone rang with my friend Babs asking if I fancied a short day out. We met early the wee car park was quiet. Babs loves this hill as we all day if never disappoints and is always a bit of fun. As our poet Laureate of our Mountaineering Club-she is great craic on the hill.

The weather was superb and it was great to have a light bag and my hill running trainers on. Babs wanted to test her injury out. As always we were overtaken by a few faster folks but we had a stop and enjoyed the hill. I love coming off the path near the summit and looking towards the Cairngorms we could see so many hills. It’s lovely granite and has a few outcrops or tors. The view on the other side of Moray and the fields is always exciting. Sometimes the weather on the final ridge which is so open can be wild and despite its lowly height. Today it was warm and we stopped on the summit for our lunch.

From here we had a wander over to the tors (granite outcrops ) along the ridge. There pretty iconic and are worth a visit. There is a bit of scrambling on the Tors. The feel of the granite and the warm rock hopefully is a sign of summer.

Granite Tors . – A hard, mineral encrusted igneous substance, older than the hills themselves showing the scars from eons of weathering. Stood next to some rocks.

I wanted to visit the Wellington Crash that few visit it’s not far from the summit. There is little wreckage left.

Grid ref of crash

Ben Rinnes was the scene of a terrible plane crash on 14th November 1943.
A Wellington Bomber HF746 of No20 Operational Training Unit, based at Lossiemouth, crashed into Ben Rinnes whilst on a navigational exercise. Both the crew were killed.
A former member of the ground crew who went to the site on the hill shortly after the crash described it as “the most complete burn-out he had ever seen”.
The outline of this crash site is still clearly visible from the north side of the Ben where the ground was scarred so badly that nothing will grow there even today.

Babs on one of our favourite hills.

“A Wellington Bomber crash in 1943 John has dropped us an email giving his recollections of that event. John and his family lived in Edinvillie at the time of the crash, he still has relatives living in Edinvillie today.

The wreckage.

We always see a few hares on this side of the hill away from the path. It’s a lovely place yet sad to think of the crash here. I always try to visit the ground is so soft with moss. It’s lovely walking and when the cloudberry is out it’s a sea of colour. We had another break in the sun then wandered back to the main path by the highest fir trees.

By now the hill was busy lots of families with kids making there way up, they all seemed to be enjoying it and great to see. We were soon back down at the cars and off home.

Todays tip – it was hot ensure you have water with you. Use sunscreen to stop skin damage and beware of ticks they are about. Thanks Bab for the call it was worth it and as always Ben Rinnes did not disappoint.

If you climb Ben Rinnes there is a wee collection box on the gate next to the start of the path.

About The Friends of Ben Rinnes

The Friends of Ben Rinnes is a registered charity (No SC 034370) which works to care for the paths and environment of Ben Rinnes and to promote responsible enjoyment of the hill by walkers. Its members are all volunteers who share these aims and who wish to support them.

The increasing popularity of the hill with walkers of all abilities has resulted in major erosion and widening of the existing paths, particularly on the upper slopes. Worst affected is the most popular route to the summit leading from the car park at Glack Harnes on the Edinvillie to Glen Rinnes road over Roy’s Hill and up the north eastern ridge. The resultant scarring on the summit cone is unsightly, unpleasant under foot and, worst of all, damaging to the fragile environment. Please donate if you park this will help with the upkeep of the path.

Thank you: as always comments welcome .