Graham · Cairngorms
Pressendye
Pressendye (619m) is the great pudding-shaped hill above Tarland in the NJ40 square, on the northern edge of mid-Deeside. A huge wind shelter sits on the summit, big enough to give comfortable cover for several walkers. The view takes in Lochnagar, the Buck of Cabrach and the line of the Deeside hills, with the Moray Firth a silver line on the horizon on the clearest days.
Quick facts
- Height
- 619.1m/ 2031ft
- Distance
- 12 km
- Ascent
- 464 m
- Time
- 3–5 hrs
- Grid ref
- NJ490089
- Parking
- NJ421083
- Nearest city
- Aberdeen
- Dogs
- Dogs on lead required near livestockDog-friendly guide ↗
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Standard route
heather moorland 65% · grass slopes 25% · rocky summit 10%
From the parking spot at NJ421083 above Tarland, take the estate track climbing north onto the heather moor. The track gives a steady ascent almost to the summit; the wind shelter and trig point are reached after a final stretch on quad track. About three hours up and back. Return on the ascent track or extend east toward Mona Gowan for a longer round.
Terrain
A well-maintained estate track gives most of the route on firm ground. The upper hill is managed grouse moor with short heather and bilberry around the wind shelter. There are several heather burns to step over but no significant boggy sections.
In winter
Aberdeenshire heather moor catches the east-coast cold snaps and the wind shelter is often the only thing breaking the wind at the top. Snow can drift across the track in shallow ground-blizzards. The hill is a fine choice for a short midwinter day, with the descent track manageable even in poor visibility.
This hill is in the Northern Cairngorms SAIS forecast area. Check SAIS forecasts in winter (December–April).
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow3h 15m
- Edinburgh3h 55m
OS maps: OS Landranger 37
Mobile signal: Good signal on summit; EE reliable. Prominent Aberdeenshire viewpoint above Tarland.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 04:26
- Sunset
- 21:52
- Civil dawn
- 03:24
- Civil dusk
- 22:54
NOAA Solar Calculator · 31 May 2026
Around Pressendye on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Getting there: Stonehaven station
Dunnottar Castle; Aberdeenshire coast; Mearns walking country
45km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TripSCOTBase yourself in Ballater
Eastern Cairngorms / Royal Deeside
18km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TasteSCOTAfter the hill: Royal Lochnagar
Balmoral — Queen Victoria's favourite; eastern Cairngorms setting
28km from the hill
tastescot.co.uk
Pressendye — common questions
- How hard is Pressendye?
- Pressendye is rated 3/5 (moderately challenging) on the OutdoorSCOT scale. The standard route covers about 12km with 464m of ascent and takes most walkers 3-5 hours. Terrain: A well-maintained estate track gives most of the route on firm ground.
- Where do I park for Pressendye?
- Standard parking is at NJ421083 near Aberdeen. Check the parking grid reference on an OS map before travel; informal laybys can fill on summer weekends.
- When is the best time to climb Pressendye?
- The standard good-weather months for Pressendye are March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November. Outside those months, expect winter conditions on the high ground — full mountain kit, navigation skills, and a check of the SAIS avalanche forecast for the relevant region.
- Can I bring my dog up Pressendye?
- Yes, but dogs must be kept on a lead — there is livestock or ground-nesting bird interest on the route.
- Is there mobile signal on Pressendye?
- Good signal on summit; EE reliable. Prominent Aberdeenshire viewpoint above Tarland.
- Is Pressendye safe in winter?
- Aberdeenshire heather moor catches the east-coast cold snaps and the wind shelter is often the only thing breaking the wind at the top. Snow can drift across the track in shallow ground-blizzards. The hill is a fine choice for a short midwinter day, with the descent track manageable even in poor visibility.