About Ben Rinnes

The beautiful and distinctive outline of Ben Rinnes (840m, 2775ft) is one of the best loved landmarks in Banffshire. Its broad ridges offer fine walking on high moorland and granite reminiscent of its nearby relatives, the Cairngorms. From the granite tors of its summit one can see eight counties (Aberdeenshire, Banffshire, Moray, Nairnshire, Inverness-shire, Ross and Cromarty, Sutherland and Caithness) and on a clear day even the Moray coast, the views in all directions are superb, ranging far over the Moray Firth to the hills of Sutherland and Caithness in the north and Lochnagar, the Cairngorms and Monadhliath in the south and west.

Some of the lower slopes have been afforested, but higher up the land has been managed for grouse. At different levels, roe deer, red deer and mountain hare are to be seen and a colony of ptarmigan live in the summit area.

There was a battle fought on the steep slopes of Ben Rinnes on 3rd October 1594. This Battle is also known as the Battle of Glenlivet or of Balrinnes and also of Strathaven. You can read more about this Battle on the Tales From The Ben page

The hill is not steeped in history, but the name Baby’s Hill (2436ft) known locally as Babbie’s Moss, comes from the burial of a local lass in less tolerant times. Like so many Scottish hills, Ben Rinnes is the site of a second world war plane crash. (or possibly two crashes)

Legend has it that it was once the haunt of whisky smugglers and fearsome outlaws and the site of several illicit stills, although no evidence to support this theory has come to light...yet!.

The small cairn which appeared about 200yds below the summit is apparently the work of a school group from King Edward (near Banff) who climbed the Ben every June.
Read more on the Tales from the Ben page or click Here