Abbey Craig (Wallace Monument)

 22 October 2021

Participants: Just me

Where: Abbey Craig, 111m/364', P 83m, Tump, OS 57, NS 809

The weather had been overcast on my previous visit to this well known hill. Today it was one of those very clear autumn days that you get before winter descends so I decided to pay a return visit to see the view properly and get some better photos. The hill is, of course crowned by the Wallace Monument and there were a lot of visitors about. The monument from the car park.....

The views to the east were mostly obscured by the trees that cover the hill but it was the ring of higher hills to the west that I had come to see. The Gargunnock hills with Ben Lomond distant....

The Gargunnock Hills to Ben Ledi.....

Ben Ledi from the foot of the monument.....

Panorama, Ben Lomond to Ben Vorlich.....

Ben Ledi, Stobinian and Ben More beyond, Stuc a'Chroin and Ben Vorlich.....

Mission accomplished!

Cort-ma Law (Campsie Fells)

 15 October 2021

Participants: Just me

Where: Cort ma-Law, 531m/1,742'

In all the time I had lived in Kirkintilloch, I had never climbed Cort-ma Law, a hill that I can see from the house. So a visit was overdue. I took the bus to Clachan of Campsie and started the walk from there. It was a steep climb up a good path to the car park on the Crow Road and another steep ascent up the west ridge to get on to the plateau. The start of the ridge from Clachan of Campsie and Clachan of Campsie from the ridge.....

Looking back as I climbed the ridge.....

The first real top on the ridge was Lairs, this is looking towards it.....

The best of the views from this part of the Fells is to the east, south and west, there are really only glimpses of the higher hills to the north, particularly Ben Ledi, Stuc a'Chroin and Ben Vorlich.....

The area between Lairs and Cort-ma Law is fairly boggy in places. Approaching Cort ma-Law.....

There were  lots of folk about and it was particularly busy at the summit trig which is rather decrepit.....

Looking east to Meikle Bin.....

I had taken a direct route from Lairs to Cort-ma Law but it was very wet and the path was not distinct. There was a much better path heading to a large cairn on the edge of the escarpment before turning back to Lairs and I decided to go that way on my return. The cairn was also a great viewpoint....

The views east and south from the cairn, Edinburgh and the Pentland Hills round to Tinto.....

The view west with the Arran hills on the horizon (centre of photo).....

Back at Lairs it was just a case of following the outward route back to the road and then down to Clachan of Campsie. It was a long walk for me and my arthritis was playing up in my legs and knee on the final steep descents. But that certainly didn't spoil what was another great day out. 

Lochan Hill and Dunoon

 5 October 2021

Participants: Just me

Where: Lochan Hill, 95m/312', P 54m, Tump, OS 63, NS 174 789

Brilliant sunshine in the west of Scotland, rain in the east so a no brainer to go west. Lochan Hill was unbagged and a trip across the Clyde is always a good day out so that was the target. I got the train to Gourock, bus to McInroy's Point and the Western Ferries service to Hunters' Quay.....

On the ferry approaching Hunter's Quay.....

The west slopes of Lochan Hill are part of the Cowal Golf Course and the easiest way to the summit was to follow the edges of the fairways. There were only a few golfers about and nobody seemed to be worried by my presence.  The summit was a short way above the 8th tee and there were some views down to the Clyde.....

I decided to add to the day by walking along the promenade into Dunoon and catching the Cal Mac ferry back to Gourock......

There is a small viewpoint above the ferry terminal and for minimum effort you get a great view up and down the river.....

Looking over Dunoon towards Hunter's Quay.....

The old ferry terminal looking up river.....

The wooded hills to the west of Dunoon, there are a few Tumps among them.....

Down the Clyde.....

The ferry arriving.....

Leaving Dunoon.....

Looking down the Clyde from the ferry, the hills of Arran distant. I could also see Ailsa Craig......

This was probably the best days walk of the year.

 

Back to Edinburgh- Salisbury Crags and Calton Hill

28 September 2021

Participants: Just me

Where: Salisbury Crags, 174m/571', P 65m, Tump, OS 66, NT 267 731 and Calton Hill, 106m/348', P 49m, Tump, OS 66, NT 263 741

It was a beautiful early autumn day with the best of the weather forecast for the east. I had been up Salisbury Crags a few times but didn't have any digital photographs from it so decided to correct that omission. I got the train to Waverley and walked down the Royal Mile and into the park past the Scottish Parliament building.....

There were a lot of tourists about but most were heading for Arthur's Seat with only a few taking the path to the top of the Crags. The views soon opened out. Holyrood Palace, Royalty must have been in residence as the Royal Standard was flying....

Edinburgh castle.....

It was a steady pull up to the summit rocks situated at the very edge of the cliffs.....

The views to the west extended over the city to the distant Forth bridges.....

Looking to the Pentland hills.....

Arthur's Seat had a lot of visitors....

I carried on to the end of the Crags and descended to the col between them and Arthur's Seat before taking the path back to the start via Hunter's Bog.....

I then made my way to Calton Hill, primarily to get a photo of the Crags.....

But of course I had to go to the top! There are a lot of interesting buildings here- the National Monument, a monument to Lord Nelson, a Monument to Burns, a Monument to Dugald Stewart and the City Observatory and it is another excellent viewpoint for the city and the Forth estuary as far as North Berwick Law....

There is even a trig point....

although it is not at the highest point which is here.....

Another excellent day out.