Tuesday 14 May - Meall Ghaordaidh. Munro 1039m

It came as a bit of a shock when I realised that it was forty two years ago come 26 November when we first climbed Meall Ghaordaidh under blue skies and in perfect, crisp, snow conditions. It was a quick ascent but with time enough to sunbathe on the lower slopes too.

I don't remember starting at Duncoisk but that's where the obvious start is nowadays (large sign saying so and I am suspicious of this practice, but that's another story).

The route through the pastures on the west side of the Allt Dhuin Croisg, past some old shielings, is a beautiful one with Meall Ghaordaidh in full view. Thankfully, given the high temperatures, it was gentle, easy going most of the way and on the final, steeper slopes a good path winds its way through the outcrops of rock - the sort of ground I enjoy - to emerge at the large shelter with trig point inside. I only have vague memories of these upper slopes and summit environs in the snow. Should have kept a journal.

People were following us early on but we had left them well behind and after a leisurely lunch they still hadn't appeared at the top. Views were excellent, if a little hazy. Ben Lawers dominated with Vorlich, Stuc a' Chroin, Ben More and Stob Binnein most notable among the many other peaks.

We'd just descended to below the outcrops when two walkers appeared, a father and son up from Fife for the son's 32nd Munro. We had a grand conversation and when asked 'how many have you done', Lynne said we'd finished in 1991. "I wasn't even born then", he exclaimed. He was at Dundee University but not a member of the Mountaineering Club, worried in case that took over his time. I teased that St Andrews University had a better club anyway! As we got ready to leave, both he and his father shook our hands - something very common when I was young and met other folks in the hills, but hardly in evidence now. Among climbers on reaching the top, yes, but the walking community is too varied now for those traditions to survive. That's my experience anyway. More's the pity.

Our descent was leisurely with a stop at the old shielings for a last cup of tea and some photographs. I was looking forward to some cool Highland Spring sparkling water back at the car but alas Lynne thought I'd brought it and I thought she had. Not as serious as the time this happened with ice axes on Skye!

I have been suffering with a very painful left Achilles tendon but it seems to be recovering at last much to my relief.

In the meantime (16th) we are having coffee at the Kenmore Hotel sitting in sun. Hopefully a Graham tomorrow.

Monday 13 May - Corbett. Cnoc Coinnich 763.5m L56 NN233007

We were away relatively early for the forty mile drive to the the small carpark at Coilessan on Loch Long, our hill for the day being a Graham promoted to Corbett status in 2016. 

Military activity was taking place. Dutch soldiers, in full camouflage and armed, were everywhere and our hearts sank as we anticipated being turned away. One might argue with a landowner but...

Fortunately no such problems were encountered and we were off up the utterly ghastly forestry road. The Brack (Corbett) was in view most of the way up this road and lifted our spirits among the devastation of felled trees and heavy machinery constructing yet more tracks. This is the Cowal Way and perhaps only Scotland could create a route with such an unpleasant passage through otherwise grand surroundings. 

Cuckoos accompanied us all day and I cannot for the life of me understand why people find its call irritating. It is the sound of early spring and summer in the Highlands, here for a brief time only, and we both look forward to its arrival each year. 

Much relief was felt when we took the small woodland path which deposited us on the open hillside. White posts marked the Cowal Way 
and we followed them over boggy ground to reach the north ridge of our hill. Pathless to begin with, a faint line eventually appeared through the tussocks and led to the cairned top. Graham or Corbett it was a fine place to be. A hazy Jura, Loch Long, Gare Loch and the Firth of Clyde were all visible. To the NE, the Cobbler, Beinn Narnain and Beinn Ime prominent, Ben Lomond a bit too distant to be of note.

Shelter in a hollow below the summit for a snack then back to the car along the busy Loch Lomond road, Glens Falloch and Dochart to Killin. Another satisfying day. 









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Sunday 12 May - Meall a’ Mhuic 745m Graham. L42, NN579508

It’s a very long time since we were in Glen Lyon but it still felt familiar as did the drive over the narrow hill road by Lochan an Lairige. The Ben Lawers car park was a seething mass of humanity and nothing would have enticed us to set foot on those hills today.

By contrast were were alone setting out from Innerwick towards the The Kirk Road, otherwise known as The Lairige Ghallabhaich, on our way to Meall a’ Mhuic. The estate track was pretty ugly, as they all are, though I’ve seen worse, and fairly soon it gave way to an older, more mature grassy one which in turn petered out on a heathery and sometimes boggy expanse. It made for slow-ish going and it seemed to take a surprisingly long time to cover the ground. In fact the final short stroll over the dry, crisp, mossy summit slopes brought us to the cairn exactly on time according to the guidebook, despite a missed junction which involved short diversion to regain the route and stops for photographs. Tea and rolls were enjoyed, though the strong wind was a bit too cold for sitting around in the running shorts I had donned earlier in the walk. 

All day the best views had been to the south and we were forever stopping and looking back, but from the top it was Ben Nevis, the Mamores, the Glen Coe hills, the Loch Ericht hills, Schiehallion - too many to mention - which set ‘memories dancing’ (Hamish Brown, I think). The eastern hills above the A9 looked to be holding much snow.  This was not a long day - a mere 8km round trip - but was an enjoyable start to the holiday 

Back at Innerwick we visited the Telford church and War Memorial. An appropriately peaceful place for both.

I’ve limited the photos to three in the hope they’ll upload OK. 









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11 May - Arrived

A short journey from home with a pleasant stop by the side of Loch Earn for coffee then on to Killin. All the backpacking gear is with us but for the moment we have some hills to climb locally and further afield. As is usual these days we've brought the car as well as the motorvan which makes getting about that bit easier.

Tomorrow we have a Graham planned then later in the week a recently elevated Corbett.

Signal is good here so some posts should follow.

Thanks to A&D for looking after the house.

Photo is from our pitch across Loch Tay. Don't know how good it will be.

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Always catching up (Part 2) - Wednesday 9 January. Innderdownie and Whitewisp Hill. 11 January, Wether Hill

Another cold, beautiful day. 

Glenquey House

The narrow Water Board road which gives access to  Glenquey Reservoir as well as Glenquey House  provides a pleasant approach to Innerdownie Hill, though it seems the more popular way nowadays is from Glen Sherup carpark which enables a route round the head of that glen to be made. 

The track through the gate goes to Castle Campbell, a worthwhile walk, but today we were glad to turn right and follow the sunny track below Innerdownie. It is also possible to go straight up the hill from here and cut out a fair bit of walking, but we rarely do this now since it misses out a fine part of the ridge and a rather high gate has to be climbed.

Looking back towards Glenquey House (hidden)

Our direction of travel

Just before the path begins its descent to the hamlet of Burnfoot, we took to the steepish slopes after which the gently rising ridge goes straight to the fine summit cairn. Looking at the map one would think the walk is through dense woodland but this is far from the truth: this is Woodland Trust country and the native trees are well spaced as you would expect. The conifers seen in the picture below are another matter and provide dense cover on the Glen Sherup side though some harvesting has taken place recently.

At the start of the gently rising ridge. L is wearing Karrimor Lycra stretchy, warm fleecy leggings bought some 30 years ago when the Karrimor label meant something. I have a pair of black ones. Who needs new gear?

A superfluous sign if ever there was one. There's now a seat further up.

Foreground: Ben Shee above Glen Sherup

The summit gives good views north, uplifting spirits, inspiring future plans.

The Ochils for all their benign appearance should not be underestimated. We have been turned back from summits in atrocious winter weather, usually because of deep snow and severe winds.

We turned back a few meters from the top on this occasion, in January 2016. The photograph does not do justice to the fierce conditions. 

Access to Whitewisp Hill by this route is blocked by a high deer fence with an equally (obviously) high stile over which, many, many years ago, I had to carry our Border Collie. Long after she'd sadly gone, a dog access door appeared in the fence and today we discovered  a full size gate immediately to the right of stile. Quite a contrast with Sir Hugh's recent experiences at www.conradwalks.blogspot.com

Between Innerdownie and Whitewisp near Bentie Knowe

Descending Innerdownie on our way back two guys on mountain bikes came hurtling down behind us. They gave no warning - we just happened to hear them. We moved aside and they acknowledged the fact, but I feel sure that they regarded themselves as having right of way when they didn't. I find this increasingly irritating.

Note: I'm aware that this route has appeared several times on this blog but that's just how it is at this time of the year.

11 January. Wether Hill - some pictures

Lower Glen Devon Reservoir

Summit area of Wether Hill looking towards Innerdownie Hill

Looking north

St Mungo's Well from the drove road - water supply for Gleneagles Estate

Water purification building for St Mungo's Well water supply

Always catching up (Part 1) - Green Law, Sim's and John's Hill

At the gate leading to Borland Glen and Glen Devon

There's no correlation between activity on the hills and number of posts on this blog, the former far outweighing the latter. I usually have other things that must be done or that I'd rather do - like building model space vehicles such as the Saturn V, reading and so on. However, I sometimes get the urge to do a quick summary of walks, if only as a record for future reference.

2nd January

The car thermometer read -4C but if felt much, much colder than that out of the sun in Corb Glen, bone-shakingly cold, and it didn't feel any warmer at the point shown in the photograph at the top of the Cadgers' Yett while we paused to take this and the next picture.

Looking back from the gate

We proceeded quickly up to Green Law reflecting on just how much we love these quiet unassuming hills. Last summer we dropped south at the dip before Sim's Hill to examine the marked Stone Circle, rarely visited I imagine.

Descending to find the Stone Circle (I was too far left)

Stone Circle 

Today we were unsure as to whether to do both Sim's and John's Hill so stopped in a sunny spot on the lower slopes of  John's Hill for tea, but it didn't take long for the sun to dip below Sim's western slope and thus get us moving uphill again.

Descending to the track to Coulshill and Auchterarder 

A brief stop on the top then down to the path in the glen.

We thought the boggy ground just before regaining the track would be frozen but there were areas where wet feet were a possibility.

It was still achingly cold in Corb, at least for me. Lynne had sensibly donned her Paramo Cascada trousers and was snug enough. As always, a satisfying outing.

Wednesday 9 January - first snow on Ben Lawers

From Innerdownie Hill

31 December 2018 and 1 January 2019

The New Year got off to a good start with a short day out on West Craigs via the drove road from the head of Glen Eagles. We exchanged a 'Happy New Year' with a couple coming up the road just as we took to the slopes.

It was a winter wind on top but no sign of snow on the Crieff hills.

We'd planned a short day out so returned the way we'd come and were treated to a wonderful sight when a hare shot out of the bracken, streaked  down the slope and across the burn. We expected it to stop at the wall by the drove road, well away from any perceived danger from us, but no, over it went and continued across the fields until some gorse bushes provided cover. If ever there was a superlative demonstration of how to cover hill country, this was it.

West Craigs -  and in more common January conditions below 

January 2018

A short, but satisfying start to 2019.


31 December

As an end-of -year walk we also followed the drove road all the way through the beautiful oaks and past West Mains Farm where we turned left across a field at a waymark pointing in the opposite direction. Why we'd never been tempted to go this way before I can't say.

West Mains Farm and Eastbow Hill 

Pink-footed geese and the ever-present Ben Vorlich and Stuc a' Chroin

We watched the geese for a while before they took to the air as one, and flew to the next field.

Crossing a railway bridge brought us to an old house and former smiddy, Muiralehouse House, (red arrow on map) and the offer of some fresh eggs for £1. All very trusting.

We didn't buy any though

 The mobile phone mast remained undecorated for Christmas.

I assume that at some point this will have to be fixed

Past Peterhead Farm we stopped at our usual spot among a small stand of Scots Pines for some tea and a view up Gleneagles - our route back.

A view to East Craigs near the top of Glen Eagles from the Scots Pines halt (earlier this year)

Ossroad

I was sorry to learn via an automated email that Dave is leaving the blogging scene. I'll miss his fine writing and photographs, though he says in his final post that he may use Instagram for a sort of photography blog. I hope so.

All the best to you and your family Dave.