East

We've escaped the influence of the western weather by driving to St Andrews, a fairly regular haunt, where it's a sunny, invigorating day.

I love the place and spent some of the happiest years of my life here as a student.

We are now at the Museum of the University of St Andrews where there is, among many other things of interest, a cast of the head of Pedro de Luna, Pope Benedict XIII who granted the Charter of Incorporation to the University in 1413.Preparations are well underway to celebrate the 600 year anniversary.

From the viewing gallery I can see The Bell Rock Lighthouse built 1807 - 1811, 11 miles off the Angus coast. This is our first visit to MUSA and we'll be back - there is so much to see and learn.
Some coffee now then home after an interesting day out.

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Friday 17 February - The Covenanters’ Glen and West Lomond Hill

West Lomond Hill

The traverse of the three Lomond Hills, West and East Lomond plus Bishop Hill gives a good day out, the Cairngorms being visible on a clear day. The group is easily accessed from various locations and today we took the minor road from Balgeddie to the small car park a short distance from the start of the walk. 

Ahead on the left lies the sandstone outcrop known as John Knox’s Pulpit. It is said that local people in favour of the Reformation (Covenanters) gathered here in secret and that an angel with a drawn sword appeared above the Pulpit to protect the minister.

The protection needed today was from large blocks of sandstone precariously balanced on top of the outcrop and there were many signs of rockfall. I just had to have a look so made my way up and onto the platform.

The loose rocks can be seen at the top

John Knox's Pulpit

Shattered rock above the Pulpit

The rock was too greasy to risk going into the Pulpit.

Probably freeze-thaw action has caused the rocks to shear from the hillside. The same fate no doubt awaited the short rock wall I was standing next to, perhaps not imminently, but nonetheless I beat a hasty retreat.

Glen Vale is an attractive valley with its minature waterfalls, rock pools and white calciferous sandstone outcrops.

 

The Devil's Burdens

It's an easy climb from here to West Lomond's 522m summit passing the Devil's Burdens. The Devil's Burden Relay Race involving 34km and 1250 m of ascent takes place every winter (12 January this year) the record time for men being : 2:22:57 and for women 2:50:36 (both in 2011).

Lynne beside one of  the Devil's Burdens

 As we arrived at the cairn in the mist and rain so did a solitary walker from the Falkland side, the most popular approach. We exchanged greetings and while he took advantage of what little shelter there was available, we sought lower ground for our lunch.

..and on the summit

Here's the route and some numbers.

SSE plan £800m Hydro Scheme

Quick post before dashing out.. SSE want to build a hydro Scheme at Loch a' Choire Ghlais NN 228 951 near Kilfinnan. No decision on go-ahead from Scottish government until 2014 - interesting date.

See here

Perth

As I write,Lynne is taking part in a BBC Radio Scotland programme about Beatrix Potter. It's one of a series called ' Amazing Libraries', today's programme being recorded at the A K Bell Library, Perth.

So here I am in Perth with time on my hands. I hate shops so am off to Perth Museum and Art Gallery to see the 'Strathmore Meteorite'. The fragment of meteorite is one of four that were found along a five mile line from Corston near Coupar Angus (about 7km SE of Blairgowrie) to Essendy in Perthshire, when it broke up over the Sidlaw Hills on 3 December 1917. The fragment in PMAG was found at Corston Farm and it made a 6" deep hole in the lawn.

Other than this little excursion and a visit to Morrison's to buy some English beer, I shall be obeying the Third of T Ratcliffe Barnett's Ten Commandments (of Walking) - Thou shalt have no programme'!

Well, the museum was closed (!) for building works so I had a pleasant walk on the South Inche in warm sunshine instead. Yesterday Strathallan was the warmest place in the UK and even warmer than North Africa. We certainly enjoyed soaking it up when we had lunch at 366m near the Upper Glen Devon reservoir after escaping the strong cold NW wind on the hills above it. Unfortunately the descent took us close to the Burnfoot turbines but luckily my hat and two hoods at least meant I couldn't hear them!

Coffee I think and then that beer !

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