Cortes Stag and Mormond Station

Grey Granite walked along the Line from Cortes to Mormond Station, all the way under the shadow of Mormond Hill, although cuttings block the hill in may places. There are several well preserved wooden linesmen's  huts along this stretch, giving a good indication of their original frequency and of the labour intensity of track maintenance. 

For much of the walk the outline of the Cortes stag could be very clearly seen on the lower slope of the hill. Later in the year, as the hill vegetation grows, it becomes less distinct and difficult to spot. The stag, emblem of Clan Fraser,  was cut into  the hillside in November 1870 to commemorate the wedding of the Laird.  The stag was cut either by  estate workers or by volunteers each of whom was  given a commemorative medal, alas there no longer  appear to be any of these in existence. The stag   consists of an outline filled with quartz stones and is about 80 metres long, covering  about  an acre. It is possible that  originally  the stag was in outline only and that infilling with small quartz stones took place later. Between periodic cleanings, as now,  the centre of the stag quickly becomes overgrown with heather  so that the figure again appears just to be an outline, how clearly it may be seen depends on when the last clearing took place.  The surrounding forestry trees can also make it difficult to see the stag clearly. During the second World War the stag was camouflaged by having brushwood and heather laid over it but this was burned during  a moorland fire in 1944. In the summer of 1946 a group of internees from Stuartfield POW camp was given the task of cleaning the stag. 

The Cortes Stag, seen from the Line near  Whiteside Farm. 

The 1st Edition of the 25" OS  map (1872)  indicates that St Edderan's Slack, where St Edderan, or Etheran a Pictish hermit and follower of St Columba, had his cell was on the hill to the right of the the stag, below the level of the radio masts.  St Edderan brought Christianity to the area and Rathen church is dedicated to him. He died on 2nd December 668, 'amid the rigours of winter cold'

The single, long platform at Mormond Station remains, complete with lamp holder and the station name posts. The scattered farms and the nearest hamlet of New Leeds generated very trade for the station.

The two storey station house was built around 1890 when the refusal of the owner of the original station house to renew the lease caused the railway company to consider closing the station. The station was closed for goods traffic on 1st June 1940 but remained open for passengers until the closure of the Line in 1965

The bridge carrying a farm road over the Line by the station. The area is now a centre for egg production.

The original station yard gate post, now painted sliver, the Cortes stag can be seen on Mormond Hill between the gateposts.

Primroses growing by the Line at the station, they look like the native variety but are probably cultivated. These were the only flowers in bloom between Cortes and Mormond. In places in the cuttings there were still small patches of lingering snow.