Beinn Dearg....The Atholl Forest One!

After a pleasant evening at Pitlochry SYHA, and a good nights rest I drove up to Old Bridge of Tilt. It was going to be another scorcher, I enjoyed the shade from the trees as I walked up lower Glen Tilt. I was undecided as to my exact plan for the day.......

Welcome Shade!

Starting to climb away from Glen Tilt I had a quick look at the Jubilee Rifle Range. (it had been in use the day before, therefore out of bounds.)

The track beside the Allt Slanaidh wasn't on my ancient map at home, but was on the library copy I had with me! It makes for a very easy gradual, if long walk to the Allt Sheicheachan.
The hut was locked!

I had walked in on the LRT on the left to this junctin with the more popular track on the right.

I was now on the slopes of Beinn Dearg proper, the view out to the Southwest opened up the higher I climbed. There is still quite a scar in Glen Bruar from the recently installed hydro scheme unfortunately.

At last the summit dome of Beinn Dearg came into view....quite a scar of a path as well!

The top!....and looking over to the East and the bulk of the Cairngorms with the cloud spilling over. Had I had a little more time I considered going across to Carn a Chlamain, but I knew it would be late home as it was.  A guy arrived shortly after me, and chatting he told me he'd been in the Fisherfield a couple of days earlier. I asked if he'd seen Peter Dixon and Lee Taylor...he had! on Ruadh Stac Mor, small world.

Down beside the Allt I called in at the bothy, all very clean and tidy. slightly surprising as its fairly easy to get to by mountain bike.

A last look back at the bothy and Beinn Dearg as I set off back down the track to Old Blair.

I made good progess down the easy track ticking off the milestones as I went.

Back into the forest and again the shade was welcome, only a couple of km from here and I was back at the car.
Its a long old way on foot, but nt having a bike waiting at the bottom does give flexibility for someone like me who changes his mind!
"Preserve the long walk in" that's what I say!
A Strava tack is here for anyone who might be interested.

 

The Cheviots

With an improvement in the weather forecast at the end of last week, I drove over to Alwinton with a loose plan to bag the Cheviot Nuttalls and a few required Marilyns. I carried enough food and fuel for two nights, but in the end only camped for one night. I find these days that I cover the miles much quicker on my own than in company....(probably cos' I only have to concentrate on breathing and can forget talking!)  I considered titling this post "Following Fences in the Cheviots", for reasons that will become obvious! Anyway without further ado here are some phots of the trip......

Having phoned the police to tell them my car would be left unattended off I went.

Basically I followed the River Alwin, rather a nice walk whilst I was out in the open.

However all to soon I entered the conifer plantation of Kidland, alot of this is being felled and I was diverted a good couple of miles off my planned route.

At a replanted area a thin thread of a path led out of the forest towards Cushat Law.

A rare image of your author...silly old fool he should know better than to venture to such places on his own!!

The large summit cairn of Cushat Law. Quite where they found all the stones for this large and apparantly old cairn is anyones guess.

Looking back to Cushat Law from the upper slopes of Bloodybush Edge, the route just follows the fence.

The trig on Bloodybush Edge. Lots of fences here!

I dropped down to the Salter's Road, which I followed down into the upper Breamish valley. I was glad to find a good pitch for the tent. It was dark by the time I'd had something to eat, I was soon asleep.

Early morning, I'd slept ok, but was aware that habitation was closer than I'd have liked. So I got the tent down and was on my way by 8.15.

Pathless slopes led to the top of Sheilcough Edge, the rocky knoll of Coldlaw Cairn was the next target. Just follow the fence really!

Coldlaw Cairn came soon enough, Hedgehope Hill looked a long way off with Comb Fell to "climb" first.

Theres lots of this en route to Comb Fell.

This large fence post is as far as I can tell the "summit" of Comb Fell, It was boggy, and I knew I'd be coming back this way!

Hedgehope Hill, follow the fence! But whats the new stile all about...has someone been practicing?

Hedgehope Hill, the Farne Islands and Lindisfarne were visible off the coast to the east. My route would be back beside my friend the fence over Comb Fell (again) and round the head of the Harthope valley to The Cheviot.

Theres not a lot of foreground interest here-a bouts other than bog and fences so here's a gate! And the view down the Harthope valley as I start to climb up towards The Cheviot.

Ahhh flags...I must be on the Pennine Way!

Yep, I'm on the Pennine Way. Cheviot here I come!

The summit of The Cheviot...did the peat ever really reach the base of the trig?

Here the Pennine Way heads Northish to The Schil and Kirk Yetholm.
Of more importance is the "Fence",  now this isn't just any old fence this is "The Border Fence". Alex Salmond is going to have to spend a bit of money on this feeble attempt to keep us English out of Scotland!

Looking back towards The Cheviot. 

The weather was starting to deteriorate as I approached Windy Gayle, the cloud base dropping all the while.

The trig on Windy Gayle, the view had disappeared just as I arrived sadly.

The long walk out back to Alwinton started with a splendid grassy path down to Trows.

The farmstead of Trows...it looked almost deserted ,but not quite!
The rest of the walk was on tarmac down Upper Coquet Dale, this is no hardship really, its a very quiet road. I arrived back at the car for 6pm almost exactly what I thought as I left Windy Gayle at 2pm.
A great couple of days mopping up Marilyns and Nuttalls and a good introduction to the Cheviot hills.