Two Arran Humps: Clauchland Hills and Torr Righ Mor

 27 November 2023

Where: Clauchland Hills, 259m/851', P 145m, Hump, OS 69, NS 033 338

A short break in Arran coincided with a spell of great weather, ideal for a couple of hill walks with Harvey. First one was Clauchland Hills, situated just south of Brodick. There was a Forestry car park at the start, a track to start with followed by a good path through the forest on to open land at the highest points. Harvey on the path.....

There was a big cairn and a memorial bench at the high point and a fantastic view of Brodick, the Bay, and Ben Nuis and Goatfell. Harvey enjoyed the view as well!

The southern view was to Holy Island, the cloud making it look like a small volcano.....

An excellent short day!

28 November 2023

Where: Torr Righ Mor, 137m/449', P 110m, Hump, OS 69, NR 888 310

Over to the west side of the Island for todays walk. I parked in the car park for the path to King's Cave and followed the path clockwise through the forest. When level with a small loch that I could just see through trees, we cut up easily through the conifers. Getting out of the trees at the top was a different matter, the small (Christmas?) trees were thick and it was a bit of a struggle for me getting through. Harvey had no difficulty though! There was then a fence to get over; I found a spot where the barbed wire had been removed and got over there, Harvey however had to stay tied to the fence post while I visited the trig 10 or so yards away.....

The view was to Kintyre, I could see as far south as the Mull.....

After returning the same way, I headed north and found a place to stop by a small beach that provided a great view of the hill I had just climbed plus the Kintyre peninsula..... 

Blacklaw Hill and Blacklaw Hill West Top (Dundee)

 26 November 2023

Where: Blacklaw Hill, 284m/932', P 52m, Tump, OS 53, NO 289 344 and Blacklaw Hill West Top, 273m/896', P 34m, Tump, OS 53, NO 275 349

On my way home from DMFF. It was a bit cloudy and misty but still not bad for the time of year. These two Tumps are part of the Sidlaw Hills and lie just to the north of Dundee, west of the Dundee/Couper Angus road. There is lots of parking at Piperdam and a good track follows the north shore of the loch of the same name, turning into a path once past the loch. The top can just be seen from the loch shore, above some trees.....

The path wends gently up the hill and easily reaches the trig at the top. There is also a memorial seat, and a couple of large cairns..... 

The view back to Piperdam.....

The view to Dundee and the Tay.....

There are a lot of paths on these hills but the one to the West top was obvious. Approaching the West top.....

The summit is marked by a couple of boulders and the view from there looking west is to King's Seat, the highest hill in the range. Unfortunately, mostly cloud covered today.....

I retraced the outward route over Blacklaw Hill to Piperdam.....

A nice walk, I would do these again on a better day.

Craig Roman (Blairgowrie)

 24 November 2023

Where: Craig Roman, 210m/689', P 42m, Tump, OS 53, NO 163 457

It was time for the annual Dundee Mountain Film Festival. Weather permitting, I do a hill on the Friday going to Dundee and another on the Sunday when I am making my way back down. This year, I diverted to go to Blairgowrie to take in Craig Roman, a Tump just to the north of the town. I managed to find a place to park well up the hill, at the start of a track which was actually the route of the Catteran Trail. The lower part of Craig Roman is called Knockie Hill and it was signposted from the track. I followed the path to The Knockie viewpoint which provides a fine view over Dundee to the Sidlaw Hills.....

The Tump summit is slightly above and further west, the whole area is planted with a crop. However, it was all stubble today and the farmer was out collecting the bales. So I was able to venture about 40m into the field to what I judged to be the highest point.

Follow the tram lines to the summit.....

Summit.....

Looking west.....

Looking east.....