Saturday, 11 November 2023

The Inneans (Cleish Hills)

 10 November 2023

Where: The Inneans, 336m/1,102', P 43m, Tump, OS 58, NT 088964

It was thick mist when I got up in the morning and I wondered if I should continue with my plan to go walking. However, the forecast was good and a look at some on-line webcams showed that the sun was already out in the area of the Cleish Hills so I set off. I parked at the end of the track to Loch Glow and walked down to the fishery buildings. The Inneans from the fishery buildings, there are 3 tops of which the central one is the Tump.....

There were lots of paths; I started by following one below the dam wall and on to the open hillside. This skirted the east shore of the loch from where there were fine views of Knock Hill, Georgeton Hills and Dumglow.....

The view to the east opened up as I climbed the slopes of the first of the Inneans.....

From it's top, I could see the route to the Marilyn, Dumglow, done many years ago and not on todays agenda.....

The best view however was to the east, towards Loch Leven and the Lomond Hills, what a fantastic view it was in the clear conditions.....

The Tump top was next, looked steep but turned out to be easy when approached from the east side.....

There was still a lot of fog to the south, over the Forth but I could just make out the Pentland Hills beyond.....

The Tump summit with the Lomond Hills distant.....

The final top to the north which I didn't bother visiting.....

I returned more or less by the same route, but missing out the first top. What a perfect walk it had been!



Wednesday, 1 November 2023

Muckle Knock (Pentland Hills)

 31 October 2023

Where: Muckle Knock, 465m/1,526', P 52m, Tump, OS 65/72, NT 117563

I took advantage of a rare good weather day to get out again to the Pentland Hills, this time to bag Muckle Knock from West Linton. I parked at Badinsgill Farm and followed the Thieves Road, an old drove road that goes through the range. Leaving the track, I climbed the west slopes of Muckle Knock. It had been cool in the valley but on top there was a strong east wind blowing and it was baltic! I wouldn't have liked to have been on a higher hill today. This is a very short walk to a lesser visited Pentland hill and with the autumn colours still on the trees, a perfect day to do it.

Autumn colours around Badinsgill.....



On the Thieves Road approaching Muckle Knock.....

Looking to Mount Maw and Badinsgill reservoir from the slopes of Muckle Knock.....

East Cairn Hill.....

The Kips appear in the far distance.....

The summit.....