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!