Blaeloch Hill

25 February 2013

Participants - Just me
Where - Blaeloch Hill, 407m/1,335', Sub-2k Marilyn, Map 63, NS 243553

Last time that I climbed Blaeloch Hill,in 2009, it was just an area of barren moorland. On that occasion, I approached it from Fairlie on the Ayrshire coast, up the Fairy Glen and on to some pretty rough and boggy terrain. In the interim, they have built a wind farm, one of a number in this area.  The wind farm access is from the north, from the Kilbirnie to Largs road and there is therefore now a rather wide track up that side of the hill.The track suited me today however as it starts at a high point on the road just before the descent into Largs and it winds its way gently upwards across the hillside to within a few hundred yards of the summit. Ideal for the next stage in my recuperation! It is a bloody big scar on the hillside nonetheless.....

The wind farm company welcome visitors and have provided a car park at the start and information boards at various points on the track. There is not a lot to say about the walk up; it was just a case of putting one foot in front of the other until I emerged onto the plateau at the site of the first turbine where I left the track for the moor, thankfully frozen ground today. There was nothing to indicate the highest point. The key to this one, if you don't have a gps, is to find the Blae Loch; the highest point is somewhere on the grassy ridge above it.....

I had been looking forward to getting a good view towards Arran but unfortunately it was very hazy towards the coast, This is looking in the general direction.....

There was a flock of golden plovers near the summit- my favourite hill bird. They didn't seem bothered by the turbines, which stretched out behind me.....

Not far from the summit lie the remains of a crashed aircraft, a Fairey Firefly that crashed just feet below the highest point of the hill in October 1944. Both the pilot and co-pilot, who were on a radio navigation training exercise, were killed. This pic was taken on my previous visit....

Although it was a glorious sunny day, it was a bit windy and cold and there was no handy cairn to shelter behind so I didn't spend too long looking around. I returned by the same route.....

Although this is an easy walk by this route, I was quite tired by the time that I got back to the car. This was by far the longest walk that I have tried - c.5 miles - since I came out of hospital.  It was great to be back on the hills though!

We're back! The Knock of Crieff

18 February 2013

Participants - Neil, Steven and Ben
Where - The Knock of Crieff, 279m/915', Sub-2k Marilyn, Map 52 NN 873233

I'm making good progress following my surgery although it will be many weeks yet before I'm able to put in a long shift on the hills. I've had very little exercise over the last 3 months, the longest walk that I've been able to manage has been to the paper shop and back, a total distance of about 1.5 miles. That particular walk is getting easier as the days go by so today I felt that it was time to push myself a little harder. Also, there's only so much reading about hills and looking at hill walking websites that a guy can do without cracking up, so, with the better weather arriving, I decided to try a little uphill walking. What I needed was a low hill, with a gradual gradient and a good path, one that was not too long a drive from home, and of course was a Marilyn so I could get my 2013 list started. The Knock of Crieff which I've done a number of times before met all those criteria. It would also be a new hill for Steven and Ben. I've got a new camera and this was its first outing. So, as if I needed it, I had another excuse to take it slowly and and stop often!

Not only is The Knock a low hill but it has a high starting point- a car park at the back of the Hydro hotel. The first part of the walk was through deciduous woodland.....

 and there were glimpses through the trees of the high hills to the north.....

It actually felt warm especially so when we emerged from the shelter of the trees into the sunshine at the viewpoint at the top of the first part of the hill. The sun was still quite low and there was also a bit of a haze so the best of the views were to the north, towards the hills around Glen Turret.....

Then it was on towards the true summit of the Knock.....

Although there has been some felling, the summit is still surrounded by dense conifers. The path drops down a bit, then crosses a cleared area which for some reason is fenced.....

before entering the forest proper. This is another look at the Glenturret hills before we entered the forest.....

Unlike some hills that we've done in the not too distant past- Drummond Hill and Cademuir Hill come to mind- the cairn on the Knock is easily found being right at the side of the path.....

We decided to return by the same route. Although the Knock is more of a woodland walk than a hill, I really enjoyed my day out, it was good to get the boots on again. Now to scour the maps for some easy Marilyns that I haven't done yet!