Hill of Wirren from Glen Lethnot

North of Brechin, a network of narrow roads winds through farmland and forestry under the foothills of the Angus Glens. Bridgend sits on these roads, a few miles west of Edzell.

From Bridgend, take the minor road signposted to 'Hunthill', also marked with a dead-end sign, heading north-west towards Glen Lethnot, one of the five Angus Glens.

Around 6km along this road, it crosses the West Water over a narrow and very humpbacked bridge in a patch of woodland beside the house of Stoneyford. Just beyond is another bridge followed by a gate and cattle grid, where there is space for a vehicle or two to park without obstructing the gate.

From the cattle grid, ignore the route heading uphill to the left, marked by a right-of-way sign and, rather unusually, another sign prohibiting gold panning. Instead, cross back over the cattle grid and bridge, then turn uphill onto a tarred road beside some bins.

The road climbs towards a mast and the farm buildings and house at Auchowrie. A grassy track provides a short cut and is rather more pleasant underfoot. By the mast, pass through a gate 1 and continue northwards on a good track.

The track dips to cross the Burn of Auchowrie in a small patch of woodland, then begins climbing again beside a line of grouse butts. On reaching the shoulder of West Craig, just north of its cairn, come to a junction 2.

Turn right and follow the track gently uphill, passing more grouse butts and crossing a minor unnamed summit to meet a fence line.

With West Wirren in view ahead, keep to the track on the south side of the fence, with another track running roughly parallel on its northern side. Follow it east and then north-east uphill until, near its end, a gate 3 allows passage through the fence. Go through this and pick up the track on the northern side, following it to the summit of West Wirren 4. A small pile of stones close to the track marks the highest point.

Hill of Wirren's broad, flat crest dominates the view, with its trig point just visible.

From West Wirren, turn south-east and follow the track and fence line down through a shallow dip before climbing onto the broad western shoulder of Hill of Wirren.

On reaching the crest, turn east and follow the fence, noting a gate 5 passed on the way. Just after passing a cairn, the track begins to veer north-east 6 away from the summit. Leave it here, cross the fence and follow a newer, sturdier fence line heading directly towards the trig point. The fence needs to be crossed once more onto its southern side to reach the trig point itself 7.

The summit is an odd place, with grass amongst strangely deformed peat hags and the trig point standing on a plinth that looks decidedly shoogly. Views are fine, with Clachnaben, Mount Battock and Lochnagar among the easiest hills to identify, while the other rolling Angus hills are rather harder to pick out.

Retrace your steps along the fence and track to the gate 5 noted on the outward route. Pass through this onto the open hillside and continue westwards along the crest for a short distance. Turn south-west to begin descending Hill of Wirren's broad south-western shoulder.

After losing a little height, pick up a set of grassy ATV tracks twisting and turning downhill, passing a couple of cairns on the way. These gradually develop into a very rough track 8, which steadily improves as height is lost.

The track eventually returns to Auchowrie. Pass through a gate 9 and between the buildings, then regain the road and grassy track by the mast and follow these back down to the start.