Cairnsaigh Hill

 20 May 2024

Where:Cairnsaigh Hill, 288m/945', P 50m, Tump, OS 71, NS 609 361

It was cloudy when I got up but started to brighton up around noon. The temperature was also down a few degrees on recent values and there was a cooling breeze. And the forecast was for turning wet the rest of the week. So I made a late decision to go hillwalking again. I headed for the South Lanarkshire- East Ayrshire boundary to do Cairnsaigh Hill, which involved only a short walk. It turned into another beautiful day and it was a pleasant wee hill with good views. 

I parked on a minor road to the east just before a bridge over the Avon Water and walked back up the road to the start of a windfarm track. It said "No Entry" so I jumped a gate into a field and walked up parallel to the track for a bit before crossing an old wall into another field and then on to the open hill. There were gates in all of the right places and the terrain was mainly short grass so easy peasy.

Looking to Loudoun Hill from the start and from near the summit.....

Some of the views. There was a communications hut and mast on top but they didn't detract.....

Scabbet Hill (Melrose)

 18 May 2024

Where: Scabbet Hill, 281m/922', P43m, Tump, OS 73, NT 544 371

A hot day today, temperature reached 24 degrees lower down although there was a welcome breeze at the summit and avenues of trees provided some shade. I took the train to Edinburgh and another to Tweedbank (the Borders Railway). From the station, I joined the Southern Upland Way and followed it for 2-3 miles before crossing sheepy fields to reach the trig at the summit of Scabbet Hill. There were good views of the Eildons from hre. I returned the same way.

The first part of the route follows the river Tweed and crosses the road bridge near Gattonside.....

The SUW then reverts to a track.....

It is a bit shut in but there were some views, this is looking west towards Galashiels.....

The route crosses a minor road; there was a good view to the Eildon Hills from here.....

After going through an avenue of trees, the SUW enters a field and the tump summit comes into view.....

Eildons from the summit field.....

Galashiels from the summit field.....

The actual summit and trig is behind a small quarry under some electricity lines; I could still see the Eildon Hills in the background.....

Starting back,,,,,

Another excellent day out, more so because I didn't have to drive.

 10 May 2024.

Where: Meall Reamhar, 669m/2,195', P 61m, Tump, OS 52, NN 877 326

A Perthshire Tump/Sim - Meall Reamhar north of the Sma Glen. A fine viewpoint. I parked opposite the start of the track leaving the A822 at the 298m point and followed the track to its end. A new track continues north round the hill to a much higher point but I chose to continue over grass and heather straight up. I used the new track on the way down; if I was doing this hill again I would go up the new track. Views were a bit hazy.

A view of the hill from the parking area in the Sma' Glen.....

On the path up and the junction of the old and new tracks.....

It was a mix of grass and heather once I had left the path up.....

There was both a trig and a small cairn about 20 metres apart, the cairn is the high point.....

The view down to the Sma' Glen.....

Starting down on the new track and a view north-east.....

Me at the trig.....

A pleasant walk, curlews calling lower down, lots of grouse.

Tumping around Oban-4 (Isle of Kerrera)

 24 April 2024

Where: Barr Dubh, 114m/374', P 48m, Tump, OS 49, NM 828 293 and Barr nan Cadhag, 114m/374', P 40m, Tump, OS 49, NM 823 295

My final day of the short trip and I was up early to get the first ferry to Kerrera, a five minute journey from Gallanach......

From the ferry terminal on the island I headed straight inland on a good track. Just before reaching Balliemore farm, I headed north over grassy sheep pastures with Barr Dubh now in view..... 

There were a couple of burn and fence crossings but with bridges and gates just where they were needed and I was soon on the slopes of the hill. Looking across the valley to my next objective, Barr nan Cadhag with Mull beyond.....

Looking north.....

Looking south to Carn Breugach, the highest hill on Kerrera which I had done a couple of times before.....

I dropped back down to rejoin the main track which I followed for a bit until it forked and then picked up other tracks which took me to Barr nan Cadhag. The approach.....

Me on the summit of Barr nan Cadhag with the Mull mountains beyond.....

Looking north to the Ardgour and Etive mountains.....

Mull......

There was no shortage of tracks hereabouts so I crossed country back to the main track where I came across this local craft shop which relies on honesty box payments.....

Then it was back to the ferry terminal where I sat around for awhile in the sunshine watching the ferry crossing to and from the mainland.....

An excellent short day, there were a lot of visitors to the island but I had these two hills to myself. Still two Tumps to do on Kerrera, one each at the north and south ends of the island so a reason to come back. I certainly recommend a trip to Kerrera!

Tumping around Oban-3 (Craignure, Mull)

 23 April 2024

Where: Druim Mor (Craignure), 81m/266', P 40m, Tump, OS 49, NM 727 359.

This was a tourism day with a Tump thrown in. It was a beautiful calm sunny day and the sail was great. Druim Mor was to the south of the terminal overlooking the sound of Mull. I walked up the road past the garage- 200 yards or so further on I took the signposted track to Torosay castle. Where it forked, I took the right hand branch into a grassy field which led to a communications station, the summit was just beyond. After the Tump, I wandered around Craignure and the coastal paths and visited the excellent coffee shop before another lovely sail back to Oban.

Tump summit and view of Craignure.....

Craignure coastal path view.....

Eilean Musdile lighthouse at the south end of Lismore.....

Leaving Mull.....

Arriving in Oban.....