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| 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.
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| The loose rocks can be seen at the top |
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| John Knox's Pulpit |
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| 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.
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| 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).
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| 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.
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| ..and on the summit |
Here's the route and some numbers.
