Wednesday 21 February - a perfect day

The Frandy Burn was low today so we easily stepped across the ice-free rocks at the usual place and headed out of the shadow and into the sun, eventually following our customary route upwards by the Inner Burn. Once on the broad, gently rising ridge leading to Mailer's Knowe a completely unnecessary sign points to Ben Shee. If you need this sign you probably should be walking in a park.

Someone studying their map and planning a trip here could be forgiven for thinking that there is dense tree cover on these slopes but it's mostly relatively new planting by the Woodland Trust which owns this part of the Ochils. The walking is open with unobstructed views, as you can see below.

The open slopes leading to Mailer's Knowe. Click to enlarge all photos

Despite having walked in these hills regulary for a huge chunk of our lives (I first climbed Ben Cleuch when nine) there are still many nooks and crannies that remain unknown to us. Often these are small glens striking only a few kilometres into the hillsides providing alternative, pathless, tussocky ways, rarely, if ever, used to reach the tops; sometimes no doubt they will prove to be nothing more than short diversions from the day's main objective but either way, I'm sure they will be of interest. They may even prove useful material for that rarest of things of late - a post on this blog.

I've a hankering to explore two of these 'unknown' places in the vicinity of today's walk. They are the two small glens whose burns cradle Middle Hill: Middlehill Burn and the unnamed burn below the western slopes of the hill. We have walked, both in ascent and descent, the third burn which meets this unnamed stream and whose source is just a few metres east of point 442m on the long broad ridge which leads from Skythorn Hill to the road near Backhills.

But back to today's walk.

At the boulder on Scad Hill we considered an ascent of Tarmangie Hill but rejected the idea in favour of Skythorn and a circuit back to the car. Seems to me that we often have this debate with the same outcome.

The final slopes to Scad Hill

The boulder with its frozen moat. A favourite place and favourite isolated boulder.

The walk from Scad Hill by Cairnmorris Hill (a mere bump and off picture). Andrew Gannel Hill ahead, Ben Cleuch distant

It was cold so we moved fast to get out of the wind - as you can see from the above photograph  there's no shelter here - but as we approached the stile and then Skythorn Hill (a minor rise in the picture above) things became more benign.

Tarmangie Hill from near the stile. Typical grassy terrain in the Ochils

We spotted two other walkers, a rare event, as we descended from Skythorn but they had vanished down to Backhills by the time we reached the point on the ridge near the source of unnamed burn mentioned earlier. We on the other hand stopped for lunch, enjoyed some Lapsang Souchong and the growing strength of the sun in our faces. But we had a final hill to cross so eventually stirred ourselves, somewhat reluctantly.

Now, Frandy Moss is a bog but a pleasant one if you know the route through it (and we do) so the last unmarked top of the day was quickly reached via the familiar ATV track. The 500m top is an excellent view point.

From near the 500m point looking to the slopes of Middle Hill (centre) and behind, the long broad ridge of Mailer's Knowe etc with Tarmangie peaking over it

A short distance above the track by the Frandy we enjoyed yet more time sitting in the sun finishing off our food before the lovely walk back to the car. Not a particulary long day (about 12km) but it was indeed a perfect one among our friendly hills.

The 1:50 000 map omits the names of many burns in the Ochils including Middlehill Burn. The route shown across Frandy Moss is not precise

Note: I expect I've posted about this walk before, perhaps more than once. Sorry if it's repetitive!

Tuesday 20 February - Some hills north of Glendevon

There was a time when Ben Trush (OS Thrush), Green Law, Sim's Hill and John's Hill could be approached easily by the Cadger's Path (Borland Glen), the Glendevon Youth Hostel's small car park providing a convenient starting point. A house now stands on the YH site and the small car park has been absorbed by its driveway. A walk down the busy A823 from Castlehill Reservoir's parking spot and then a loop via the quiet hamlet of Burnfoot is now one of two routes to the former YH start. Apart from the A832 bit it's a pleasant enough walk.

Today though we chose the second option, one which I never imagined walking even in my wildest nightmares: via the appalling Green Knowes Windfarm. Not only did we use the access road but passed under the massive turbines to drop down to the glen. The noise was horrendous, the whole place an abomination. Our intial intention was to cut over Ben Trush's south shoulder into Borland Glen but the turbines are almost as close when in the glen, the noise not much less (or so I thought) so I kept walking up the access road. Lynne was a bit behind watching some roe deer on the other side of Eastplace Burn so was not consulted!

I was wrong about the noise. It was almost unbearable: howling, screeching, whistling, whining, grinding. If you think this is 'green' then you're colourblind. I took a photograph of part of the once lovely route by the wall from Ben Trush's cairn and could have wept.

Passing between two turbines we gained the Cadger's quickly and were soon on the gentle slopes of Green Law, the change in our mood palpable, the feeling of well-being restored.

These are lonely hills, not often visited even from Corb Glen which is easily accessed from the Dunning road. We have been regular wanderers in this area for over thirty years and have watched the wreck shown below turn from a fairly intact turqoise-coloured vehicle to the present heap of rust. It has, as Lynne said, almost attained sculpture status, though it's as unwelcome here now as it was when it first was dumped. There's a second one near Sim's Hill which has been there for about twenty years I think. Why?

 

It's been a cold snowy winter up here, by recent standards at any rate, and although these modest heights had lost their snow cover, spring felt a long way away in the chill wind. After lunch on John's Hill's sunny slopes, where spring did not seem such a distant prospect, we quickly returned to the glen and the stroll down the grassy path.

A short climb through thick grasses led to a wall which we followed to the small cairn on Ben Trush. We turned to face south rather than look at the first of the turbines straight ahead. The higher Ochils were still holding snow and tomorrow we'd be crunching over it.

60m turbines. A peaceful place, full of memories, trashed.

Pleasant walking from Green Law to Sim's Hill and left John's Hill

Near the Cadger's Yett

Our hills for the following day

14 September - Pressendye Graham 619m NJ490089. Map 37

Generally, this September's holiday has been wet with thick mist often hiding the hills. The persistent rain has, however, provided a good test for my Mountain Equipment Lhotse jacket and Lynne's equivalent, ME Manaslu. Both have performed flawlessly keeping us bone dry, the Gore-Tex Pro fabric proving extremely breathable with no condensation. [I make no apologies for using the term 'breathable' despite some - can't remember where I read this - objecting to the term because it isn't actually the same as breathing in a living organism. As if any of us thought it was...]
On some days respite from the rain has been found in beautiful Glen Lui, in the Morrone Birkwood, the Nature Reserve at Dinnet and Braemar Mountain Sports - shop and The Bothy. Amazingly I've not bought a single piece of gear, though admittedly the holiday isn't over yet. Coffee? That's a different story.

Pressendye's isolated dome is clearly seen on the drive from Tarland and much to our relief the parking spot just off the B9119 at the start of the road to Pett farm was vacant. Cars are no longer allowed to park at the farm, so parking space really is limited.

Pressendye rises north of Tarland and the Howe of Cromar. From the parking spot we took the road, bordered by fields of oats and barley, to Pett. This gave fine, open and unfamiliar views across the farm lands of Cromar. In contrast, the track from Pett led us through glorious Scots Pines which were eventually replaced by Sitka Spruce as we reached a wider forestry track.
Breaking out of the trees, open slopes led to the trig point where we were met by a strong north wind. Pressendye, isolated as it is from other hills, gives superb views: Bennachie, The Buck of Cabrach, Morven, Tap o' Noth, Clachnaben, Mount Keen and Lochnagar.

The large shelter provided a welcome place for tea and rolls, the wind howling over our heads.
Pressendye is a fine hill and in calmer weather there are other tops to visit and enjoy.

Saturday 2 September- Braemar Gathering. Tuesday 5 September - Mona Gowan, Graham 749m, NJ335085. Map 37

It was a perfect day for the Gathering and we joined others following the Ballater and District Pipe Band through the village around 9am. We watched band after band as they marched to the games field, the whole village being completely taken over by this annual event.

As usual the Braemar MRT had their stand set up and we chatted to a couple of team members for a while and said 'hello' from Allison Todd a former member.

We'd met Allison and her SARDA collie Midge last March on Innerdownie in the Ochils and remembered reading about them both in the team's book 'Mostly Happy Returns'.

2017 has been a relatively quiet year for the team because of the lack of substantial snowfall, although the rescue of a climber who'd fallen and broken his pelvis while climbing on Shelter Stone Crag was a highly technical affair. This was a joint rescue effort - and what an effort - with the Cairngorm and Aberdeen MRTs. 

Tuesday 5 September.

Mona Gowan lies east of the A939 in the rolling hills between Glen Gairn and Strath Don. No sweeping slabs of granite or wild lochs here.

A sign told us that this was adder country. It is also grouse shooting country which we'd completely forgotten - thankfully. The guns we could hear seemed to be coming from the hills to the west of the road so we wasted no time setting off from the car in case other shooting parties arrived on our patch and ruined our day.

It's all easy walking using narrow tracks through the heather or on grass with Morven dominating the view. Our route went over Scraulac and Craigangour Hill, a Graham Top, and so to Mona Gowan's huge summit cairn erected in 1887 for Queen Victoria's Golden Jubiliee.

Cloud and rain threatened, Morven being briefly lost. We departed and walked towards sunnier skies with Lochnagar and Mount Keen, obscured by thick cloud all morning, eventually coming into view.We arrived back at the road in time for a drive to Corgarff and some photos of the castle. In 1998 we'd had the guided tour after an ascent of Brown Cow Hill. Time flies.

Photos:

Mona Gowan; Morven in distance; descending from Scraulac.

Friday 1 September - an old friend

The 360 degree view from the summit of Morrone was one of the best we've ever had on this fine hill. In particular, Lochnagar held the eye, even though its impressive cliffs aren't visible from here.

The approach through the Birks is always a memorable part of the walk but today it was a beautifully silent place. I felt it would be a shame to break this peace by talking, but paradoxically said so to Lynne...

Some German walkers arrived at the top with their children but otherwise we had the place to ourselves - or so we thought. Fluttering, bright yellow canopies apparently rising out of the heathery slopes a few metres away revealed the presence of parapenters. Soon they were airborne.

We took our seats by the mountain rescue hut and enjoyed the sun, a rare treat this year. The despoilation of the top with masts and buildings didn't detract from our sense of happiness at being back among our beloved highland hills.

It was a very different story this time last year. I arrived at the windy summit wet, my brand new Montane Air Jacket in Pertex Shield AP fabric proving useless. I was irritated, understandably. Much worse, I was tired from an easy ascent and didn't know why. Altogether I was less than happy.

Today I was feeling good, stronger than I have done for a very long time and relishing the day out in such perfect weather.

Click to enlarge Lynne's photo 































Sent from my iPhone











Sent from my iPhone

Thursday 31 August - Hoping for better

With summer and most of spring spent recovering and two holidays pretty well ruined, I'm hoping that this one will be different. We are in Braemar (as usual at this time of year) and have settled in at the site here - beautifully kept and we'll run my Emily and Dean. It's busy, but will quieten down after Saturday when the Gathering is over.

Over recent months I've not really felt like blogging, though I have read all my 'regulars' - without commenting very often it has to be said. I usually make it a rule to comment on posts, even if only briefly and reply to comments on my own posts. I don't see the point of blogging otherwise, but that's just my take on it of course.

I'm now pretty well mended with only a trip to Perth Royal Infirmary for a brief follow-up on Monday. We've brought the car with us to make the parking at the hospital a bit easier and also to make parking for some Grahams here in Aberdeenshire and in Moray less of a hassle. Even our relatively small motor caravan is a nuisance when there is 'limited parking', as guide books like to say.

So, hopefully there will be a few posts about new hills trodden as well as about our usual favourites in the Braemar area - if I can find something interesting and fresh to say about them.

Thanks to D & A for house watching.

Edit. This was posted using Blog Manager and it appears that clicking to enlarge the photo doesn't work - at least on my iPhone. 

Sunday - 2 July. A struggle

With a recent blood test showing little progress on the haemoglobin front I expected to feel less than my usual self on the fells. But I didn't expect to struggle on an ascent of - wait for it - Walla Crag. Yes, Walla Crag. It was of little comfort to pass a few walkers who were clearly unfit. No comfort at all.

I felt better at the summit - I was stationary there - so we continued along the path and down to Ashness Bridge where a few midges appeared to have followed us south. The re-ascent was easy enough and with the weather improving we headed for Blaeberry Fell. 

I thought the final steep-ish slopes would be a trial but they weren't, perhaps because of a ten minute halt to talk with a couple from Kendal descending from the very windy summit.

The shelter provided none, so we set off downwards stopping at the sheepfold to enjoy the much needed warmth of sun. A stream of walkers passed by so intent on looking at the path that they didn't notice us only feet away.

Since last Sunday, we've been on eight familiar summits so perhaps more of that later.

Travels once more

Unfortunately the weather is exactly the opposite of that shown in the above picture. Never mind, it's bound to improve and at least there are no midges.

Thanks to D & A for house watching.

Was this coffee shop preparing me for a shock?

The cost of the cake was conveniently hidden.

Wednesday 31 May - Fiarach 652m Graham

Unfortunately the posts are few and far between at the moment having no signal for most of the time.

The car park at Dalrigh was almost full and we just managed to get a slot for the motorvan. Nearly everyone there would be heading for the Munros we guessed, primarily Ben Lui, Beinn Dubhchraig and Ben Oss. We, however, would be on our own and so it was except for two folk on our Gleann Auchreoch track who'd mistaken it for the WHW. A quick confab and they were retracing their steps. 

After passing stands of Scots pines the forest edge was reached and we took to the hill. We stopped often to take in the fabulous scenery recalling the many days spent here, in another life, it seemed. In due course Lochan Fiarach revealed itself along with many other smaller pools not shown on the map and after some squelchy walking following a fence - wire everywhere Conrad, barbed and otherwise - the small summit cairn, sitting on the dolerite wall, was reached. We dropped down to have a look and couldn't resist an easy scramble back to the top.

A long lunch in the sun viewing the views, back along the broad ridge then down into the hot glen.

Note: I'm grabbing any signal I can get so these posts are brief.