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!