Stuc a' Chroin and Ben Vorich

Stuc a' Chroin and Ben Vorich

Wednesday 19 December 2012

Two short winter days

(1) - Tuesday 11 December


Everywhere being solid ice, Kahtoolas were needed straight from the car but we made quick progress along the drove road before beginning our ascent of this lovely unnamed prominence west of, and overlooking, Glen Eagles. Off with the microspikes then through the tussocky grass, avoiding the ice in the hollows between, picking up sheep trods, stopping to view distant Ben Chonzie (Ben-y-Hone), aiming for the highest sunlit snow patch.

Distant Ben y Hone above Crieff from the drove road
It's all familiar ground, and being creatures of habit we sat in our usual lofty spot drinking Lapsang Souchong enjoying what warmth the sun could muster before climbing the last few feet to the cairnless top.  Time being short, the heathery expanse westwards to Wether Hill was not for us today so we dropped down to St Mungo's Farm and the drove road - a useful route for ancient drovers who wanted to avoid paying at Gleneagles Toll.

As a result of walking the Ochils drove roads, A R B Haldane of Cloan House near Auchterarder became interested in "this droving traffic, the routes by which it reached the Lowlands, its ultimate destination and the methods of the men whose work it was". His excellent 'The Drove Roads of Scotland' makes fascinating reading.


The car could have done with its own set of crampons
Just a  simple, satisfying few hours in the 'verdant Downs the Ochil Hills', a few miles from home. What more could you ask?









13 comments:

Laura said...

Just bought Haldane's book - I love walking where there's history. Looks a nice walk for short days. I would vote Microspikes one of the best bits of gear I've ever bought.

afootinthehills said...

Hi Laura

I agree, the Microspikes are on my best buy list. I'm sure you'll enjoy Haldane's book and 'New ways through the Hills' is worth a look too. All the best for Christmas and New Year.

Laura said...

Thanks! Enjoy Christmas and have a good New Year!

Phil Ross said...

You are lucky to have such a walk and views on your doorstep, very nice indeed.
Merry Christmas.

Sir Hugh said...

Good to see you out and about. Is your knee ok now? I am still trying to keep on the flat, so confined to canals and valley bottoms, but at least I am getting out more.

afootinthehills said...

Hi Phil

It's very quiet as well but with two wind farms already established and extensions proposed, these gentle hills are seriously under threat.

Merry Christmas!

afootinthehills said...


Thanks for asking about my knee Conrad which is OK, although not back to normal yet. I still get some discomfort few days after being out on the hills but not while I am actually walking, up or down. Is there any sign of your knee being up to a day on the hill in the near future? I think we'll all miss your canal and valley posts when you return to the heights. I'll email you re the disc asap.

Merry Christmas to you and your family and best wishes for the New Year.

Anonymous said...

There`s a lot more to the Ochils than most folk think,isn`t there ?
Nice festive header pic you have.!

Tried for ages last night to comment without success.

Anonymous said...

Hells Bells :)

Used Opera and it worked this time.

afootinthehills said...

Climbed Ben Cleuch when I was nine and Raeburn's Gully on Dumyat was my first rock climb, so they're quite special to me Alex. Blogger and Wordpress don't appear to like each other sometimes Alex.

Happy Christmas!

afootinthehills said...

Sorry! 'New ways through the Glens'

AlanR said...

Good day out G and L. I hope you made the Lapsang fresh. I will head for that book after the expense of Christmas is over. Thanks once again. I have lent out the last wolf book to so many people now. It's brilliant.

afootinthehills said...

Sorry Alan, the Lapsong was from a flask! The Last Wolf is superb isn't it? Enjoy Haldane.