Tomtain

22 January 2016

Participants: Neil and Ben
Where: Tomtain, 453m/1,486', Tump, NS 721 814

It was raining heavily this morning but cleared up about noon so I drove to the high car park above Kilsyth and walked up Tomtain, a minor top in the Campsie's. Lots of water on the path as the snow had melted overnight. There was still rain about so didn't go any further. But it got me out.

Approaching the top.....

Ben at the trig looking east.....

Meikle Bin in the distance, the shapeliest of the Campsies.....

Meikle Bin and the Carron Valley Reservoir.....

Duncryne

15 January 2015

Participants: Neil and Ben
Where: Duncryne above Gartocharn at the foot of Loch Lomond.

Another cracker of a day. Re-visited a great viewpoint for Loch Lomond, the Luss hills, and the Campsies.

Castle Hill and Croy Hill

13 and 14 January 2016

Participants: Neil and Ben
Where: Castle Hill and Croy Hill near Kilsyth

The least said about the weather since the end of October the better! But it looked as though the uniform grey skies and endless rain were relenting, at least for a few days. I was desperate to get out. Even a small hill walk would do and given the short days at this time of year, I decided to start with those two only a few miles from home.

Yesterday was a bit grey- but, hey, dry- so I did Castle Hill, here's Ben at the trig.....

It snowed a bit overnight, first of the winter in this part of the country, and I woke to a clear blue sky and bright sunlight. I hadn't been on Croy Hill before, like Castle Hill it is on the line of the Antonine Wall.....

Here are the rest of my photos. The Campsies from the summit area.....

Looking back with Castle Hill centre (Ben wandered in to the picture as I was taking it).....

Approaching the highest point.....

which apparently is somewhere in this clump of gorse.....

Kilsyth and the Campsies.....

Looking east along the line of the Roman Wall.....

Another view east.....

Some fine looking trees.....

Heading back to the car.....

It was only a short day but great to have this weather again. And the forecast is still good for the next few days.

Beinn Lora

27 December 2015

Participants: Neil and Ben
Where: Beinn Lora, 308m/1010', Sub-2k Marilyn, Map 49, NM 919377

The last day of the Oban Christmas break and the first sight of the sun. I decided to go for Beinn Lora above Connel which I had climbed a few times before, it is a good viewpoint for minimal effort. The forestry had improved a number of the paths since I was last here although the part above the forest and before the final climb resembled a bog, not surprising given the wet December we have endured. I took a few photos.

 

From the other side of the Connel bridge.....

  

The view to Mull from about half way up.....
 

 

 The airport from the summit.....

 

The trig with the Etive hills background.....

 

Mull from the summit.....

 

The view up Loch Etive to a cloud covered Ben Cruachan.....

A good way to finish the year.

Beinn Mhor (Lorn)

22 December 2015

Participants: Just me
Where: Beinn Mhor (Lorn), 194m/637', Sub-2k Marilyn, Map 49, NM 798216

There are a number of Beinn Mhor's (big hill) about, some "Mhor" than others. What this one lacked in height however, it made up for in its situation.

 

We were staying near Oban for Christmas week and the forecast was poor, to say the least. However, I was determined to add this one to my list of sub-2k's and to reach a total of 30 new hills for the year. On day one of the holiday, I was taking Ben out for a walk and noticed that some clearer weather appeared to be coming in from the west. So when I got back to the chalet, I decided that I had better go for it, in case the rest of the week was awful- it almost was. So I changed into my hillwalking gear and drove to the south end of Loch Seil on the road to the slate islands where there was a large lay-by opposite a track that would take me most of the way to Beinn Mhor.

 

I knew from passing this way previously that there were usually cows in the fields here so I had left Ben behind. Sure enough, I soon came across a herd, here with the hill in the background.....

 

 

I left the track at its high point and headed for the upper slopes, soon picking up a rough ATV track which actually went to the summit. I also picked up a near gale force wind, which was not so welcome. Here are some shots taken on the way up. Looking south with Scarba just visible on the horizon.....

 

 

and a zoom shot, lots of rough country south of here.....

 

 

and across to the hills of Mull, which seemed to be catching the rain.....

 

 

The path wound around the west side of the hill, here approaching the summit area.....

 

 

Even at this modest height, I had difficulty standing up in the gale that was now blowing and photography was decidedly problematic. Especially so as the trig was perched close to the edge of cliffs and other steep ground falling all the way down to the sea. What a situation! I was probably lucky to visit in such wild conditions.

 

 

 

I hung about for 10 minutes or so until I noticed a large, very black cloud heading my way. However, the rain somehow missed me and by the time I arrived back at the car, the sun was making a brief appearance.....

 

 

So a spur of the moment decision to go for the hill had paid dividends!

 

 

 

Another Beinn Mhor (Mor/More)

16 October 2015

Participants: Just me

Where: Beinn Mhor (Grantown), 471m/1`,545', Sub-2k Marilyn, Map 36, NH 993281

 

The Mountain Bothies Association AGM was being held at Newtonmore, the weather was continuing to be excellent, so I travelled up a day early with this Marilyn behind Grantown- on- Spey in mind. It was very frosty and foggy when I set off from Newtonmore but as soon as I turned up Glenbeg, just short of the town boundary, I was into sunshine. Sheep in a field beside the parking spot at the end of the road made a good photograph.....

 

 

and the hill was soon clearly visible.....

 

 

The walk up the track was very pleasant. The leaves were starting to come off the trees although thanks to the extended warm weather this year and the subsequent lateness in leaf fall, the colours were not as good as usual.....

 

 

The track took me out on to the hill. I had wondered if there would be any shooting going on but the hill was not covered in the SMC guidance nor could I find out which estate owned the hill. So I was more than a little dismayed to find 3 shiny 4x4's parked at the edge of the heather. I had a look but there were no warning notices and I couldn't see any sign of anyone so I just carried on. In fact, I saw no evidence of humans at all during the walk although I expect that they might have seen me. The hill provided nice and gentle walking with short heather, occasional traces of a path and a gentle angle.....

 

 

I wasn't putting off time in case the shooting party appeared and I wanted this hill for my Marilyn list having travelled so far. I was at the top in around an hour from the car. Here are a couple of views of the moorland to the north-east and the north.....

 

The Spey valley was still fog bound so it made a good foreground looking over to the Cairngorms.....

 

 

zoomed.....

 

 

and to Mount Keen.....

 

 

I could have stayed longer at the top but I reckoned that discretion was the best policy so just headed back down. Then I went and sat around the car park half way up Cairngorm for an hour or two.

Brilliant weather on Cruach Tairbeirt

13 October 2015

Participants: Neil and Ben

Where: Cruach Tairbeirt, Sub-2k Marilyn on Loch Lomond-side (again)

 

This is one of my favourite sub-2k Marilyns for views and I have climbed it on a number of occasions. Today, the weather conditions were perfect. The actual walk was a bit of a problem though. There were a lot more fallen trees than when I was last here so the early stage of the walk was a bit of an obstacle course. Once out of the forest it was a different problem. The vegetation was still luxuriant, probably boosted by the late summer weather, and the path difficult to follow in places. The grass and ferns concealed a number of holes in the path and I think that I was lucky only to discover two of them! This route certainly now requires care.

 

All was worth it however when I reached the summit. I'll let the photographs tell the tale.

 

Nearing the top, the Cobbler and Beinn Narnain appear.....

 

 

Ben at the trig.....

 

 

The Luss hills.....

 

 

Ben and the Brack, the Cobbler and Beinn Narnain.....

 

 

The Cobbler and Beinn Narnain.....

 

 

Ben cooling off in a convenient summit puddle.....

 

 

Loch Sloy and the dam.....

 

 

Zoom of Loch Sloy and the dam.....

 

 

Head of Loch Lomond and the Crianlarich hills.....

 

 

Loch Long and the Brack....

 

 

And the best of all, Loch and Ben Lomond.....