Mormond Stag

The section of line from Cortes (Smithyhillock to Mormond Halt) passes close to the East side of Mormond Hill and gives relatively good views of the, once white, stag cut into the white quartz of the hillside. The stag is currently very overgrown and is just visible on the right of the picture between the gorse and heather. The stag was cut  in 1870 at the behest of Mr F W Cordiner of Cortes Estate to commemorate his wedding and to rival the Strichen horse. Part of  a track is just discernible crossing this section of the hill, is this part of the old Strichen to Rathen corpse road?

The pond by the line just West of Smithyhillock was home to two families of water hens as we passed. In the cutting  near Knockiemore Bridge there are several conspicuous clumps of orpine growing on the shaded bank.

Orpine (Sedum telephium)