28 October 2025

A long hiatus since I last posted. I had a major cancer operation at the beginning of May followed by a diagnosis of heart failure so in all many weeks in hospital followed by a lengthy convalescence. It also looks as though my hill walking days will be over or at least severely curtailed.

Anyway, my first trip away yesterday, to Aberfoyle. The objective was to follow up on the story (fable?) of the Rev Robert Kirk and the faeries. I think that I will be doing more trips like this in the future, visiting places of interest. I also intend to do more journeys by train and also to visit some more Scottish islands. So the blog will continue. The Rev Kirk story in summary:

Robert Kirk was the minister in Aberfoyle in the 17th century. He was also very interested in the habits of faeries who apparently were a concern at the time. In 1691, he published a book, "The Secret Commonwealth of Elves, Fauns and Fairies".

One evening, he failed to return from his usual evening walk. His body was found at the top of Doon Hill and the local populace concluded that the faeries had stolen him for revealing their secrets. They also believed that the faeries had captured his soul and imprisoned it inside a Scots Pine which still stands at the summit of the hill. The tree has gathered a huge collection of trinkets and messages over the years although last time I was on the hill they had all been removed on environmental grounds. There are obviously lots of folk who still believe in fairies!

Aberfoyle is a nice town on the edge of the highlands:

It is dominated by Craigmore, a Tump, which is a fabulous viewpoint:

Ben Lomond is also seen in the west:

On the edge of the village stands the old Aberfoyle graveyard and the remains of the old church and it was to there that I headed. The place is being tidied up, all the stones are numbered and there is a visitors book containing details of the folk who are buried there. Also various other bits of information. It looks as though visitors are going to be encouraged and it is well worth a visit. The graveyard and church with Doon Hill behind:

The supposed grave of Robert Kirk, there is some doubt as to whether he is actually buried here. Again, lots of gifts for the fairies have been left:

On this occasion I didn't go to Doon Hill, I have been there a few times before. But here is a photo of the summit pine tree taken on a previous visit; there are other photos and a description of the route elsewhere in the Blog.

A good day out taking advantage of late autumn sunshine.

Ben Gullipen

 6 February 2025

Where: Ben Gullipen, 414m/1,358', P 63m, Tump, OS 57, NN 596 044

I last climbed Ben Gullipen south of Callander in 2005 on the way to the Marilyn, Beinn Dearg. Didn't take any photos on that occasion so another visit was due.

Took a chance today that a forecast of lots of cloud might be wrong; it wasn't, but I hung around the top for long enough to claim a partial success. It was a clear blue sky when I left home but the cloud built as I drove north and the hills were clagged in when I got to the start point.

There was nothing to see when I reached the top but perseverance paid off and after about 20 minutes there was a partial clearance. On this occasion I didn't carry on to Beinn Dearg, the going in between the two hills is the worst of the worst although it looked as if there might now be a partial path between the tussocks.

The approach to the summit from half way up the path (taken on the way down)........

Misty at the top.....

Looking down on Loch Venachar.....

Lochan Balloch and Loch Venachar.....

Beinn Dearg above Lochan Balloch.....

Summit looking much clearer when I left.....

Ben Ledi still in cloud.....

Law Hill (Ochils)- Repeat visit

31 January 2024

Where: Law Hill (Ochils), 202m/663', P 36m, Tump, OS 58, NS 976 992

My first hill walk of 2025 after a pretty miserable start to the year weatherwise and a back problem. I think that I'll probably be concentrating on the more scenic small hills this year (with some new Tumps among them!) rather than charging about visiting odd patches of rough ground in search ao another "tick". Also concentrating more on photography.

Today I started by revisiting Law Hill which is east of Dollar on the south fringes of the Ochil Hills. It was a dull day when I was last here, not so today. If I can get more days like this I will be well pleased.

Law Hill from the north, the approach was from the Law Community woodland.....

A nice little copse of trees at the summit, glad to see that they survived the recent storm.....

Looking to King's Seat Hill, Tarmangie Hill and Whitewisp Hill.....

Looking west, the Campsie Fells can just be made out on the horizon.....

Looking to the east top from the summit.....

Looking south to the Craigluscar hills.....

I carried on the the east top which has the trig and from where there was a fine view back to the main summit with King's Seat Hill in the background.....

On the way back I had a walk through the woodland park.