Kaim Hill and Cumbrae

 28 September 2022

Participants: Just me

Where: Kaim Hill, 387m/1,270', P 80m, Tump, OS 63, NS 227 534

I decided to approach this hill from Knockendon bridge on the back road between Fairlie and Dalry. This gave the advantage of a high start, a parking area and as I found, an excellent track all the way to the summit. The track was particularly welcome as the ground is rough hereabouts. The view from the high point, which is close by but not at the trig, is good, especially to the peaks of Arran. You can also see Cumbrae  and up the Clyde estuary to Dunoon and the sea lochs. A pictorial record of the climb, a hill that is well worth the little effort required.....

It was a short walk so I decided to head int Largs, get the ferry to Cumbrae, a favourite island, and the bus to it's main town, Millport......

Millport harbour.....

Millport beach.....

Ailsa Craig on the horizon.....

Across the Clyde to Kaim Hill.....

Back to Largs.....

Another brilliant day out. September weather has been kind.

Buachailean

 24 September 2022

Participants: Just me

Where: Buachailean, 346m/1,135', P 63m, Tump, OS 63, NS 122 702

I had had my eye on this hill south of Dunoon for some time, waiting for a good weather day to bag it. Standing above Loch Striven and facing a number of islands in the Clyde estuary, it had to be an ace viewpoint. And so it was. I drove to Greenock and the ferry terminal at McInroy's Point. On the ferry heading to Dunoon.....

I headed south out of Dunoon and stopped at Ardyne Point to get a photograph of my objective (the hill on the right).....

There is a good Forestry car park at Ardyne, lots of spaces but only a couple of other cars in it today. The forestry isn't thick; indeed most of the mature trees have been cut down although they have been replaced with more conifers. I followed yellow marker posts initially, they took me to where the path reached a forestry road. A couple of hundred metres to the left and I arrived at the start of a narrower path which led all of the way to the summit trig. I was now out of the trees and there were views back; there was a large cruise ship moored in Rothesay Bay.....

 The views were exceptional. Best were those seaward, over Bute to Arran and Kintyre with Ailsa Craig visible on the horizon.....

The Wemyss Bay to Rothesay ferries crossing the Clyde estuary.....

Looking down to Loch Striven.....

Looking over Bute to Kintyre.....

I spent a fair bit of time at the summit but eventually dragged myself away and started down the way I had come up.....

There was time to wander about Dunoon before catching the ferry back to Gourock and the drive home.....

One of the best hill expedition days of the year.

Pentland Hills- Cock Rig and Lead Law

 21 September 2022

Participants: Just me

Where: Cock Rig, 355m/1,165', P51m, Tump, OS 65/72. NT 146 541 and Lead Law, 347m/1,138', P 45m, Tump, OS 65/72, NT 146 530

These are two of the less well known of the main Pentland Hills. I parked beside the park in West Linton, walked through the village, crossed the A702 and walked up the lane between houses; this carried on as a public right of way to Carlops following the line of firstly a Roman road and then a drove road. I decided to climb Cock Rig first. From the track looking to Mount Maw with the much smaller Cock Rig in front of it, framed by trees on this side.....

The high point was in a field but here I encountered one of my pet hates, frisky cows. I decided therefore to see if there was a route through the trees, surprisingly, there was. This brought me out into a higher field separated from the herd by a fence so I was able to reach the top without hindrance. There was a steep descent to the north and Mount Maw, not seen from here and from the high point, a view of the eastern more popular hills.....

I returned the same way and made my way back towards Lead Law by the track. There was an excellent view of Mendick Hill in the distance (the slopes of Lead Law are on the left).....

and of King Seat and Byrehope Mount - both still to do- to the north 

and of Lead Law ahead.....

The ascent of Lead Law was through another field, empty of animals on this occasion, over a fence at the top, and through some well spaced trees. On the way up there was another view of King Seat and Byrehope Mount and the hills around Biggar to the west.....

But the high point itself had no view.....

This was another enjoyable walk in a much less populated area of the Pentlands. I will be back for the bigger hills in the area.

Benarty Hill and Mulla Craig

 16 September 2022

Participants: Just me

Where: Benarty Hill, 356m/1,168', P228m, Marilyn, OS 58, NT 153 978 and Mulla Craig, 327m/1,073', P 33m, Tump, OS 58, NT 142 977

This was my 5th visit to Benarty Hill, which sits above the south shores of Loch Leven in Fife, but the first time that I had extended the walk to its western top, Mulla Craig, which has Tump status. I parked in the usual spot to the south of the hill from where the hill path is signposted. The path was much improved from the last time that I was here; work was still going on laying stone steps at the steepest points. The view soon opens out, this is looking south over Lochore Country Park to the distant Pentland Hills.....

The trig on Benarty Hill soon comes into view.....

It is a good viewpoint. A few steps past the trig brings you to the edge of the steep northern slopes and a view of Loch Leven and Bishop Hill.....

Looking west the eye is drawn along Castle Craig ridge to the Ochil Hills.....

The bagging part of the trip was of course Mulla Craig, reached by traversing Castle Craig which was surprisingly narrow although there was a clear and well used path.....

Looking back at Benarty Hill from Castle Craig.....

Mulla Craig turned out to be a bit of a grassy lump with, of course, some ups and downs to get there.....

It was, if anything, a better viewpoint than Benarty Hill. The Ochil Hills and then Loch Leven and Bishop Hill.....

It is well worth doing the ridge walk. Excellent hills, on the to do again list.