Stuc a Chroin

Today was the last day of my short trip to Scotland, and it stayed dry! I got packed pronto at the SYHA and drove over to Loch Earn. Taking the South Loch Earn road to Ardvorlich, and getting parked up and left by 8.30. The cloudbase was still low though. I was last here in March 1986! with my old mate Tim. We drove up from the Lakes just for the day and climbed Ben Vorlich but ran out of time and didn't get to Stuc a Chroin....we didn't get a view either and I remember there was a lot of snow about.
Hence the reason for todays visit, filling in another gap. Here's a few pictures of my day....

There's an excellent farm track which leads out onto the hill

While ahead the summit of Ben Vorlich was in the cloud. I decided to contour Coire Buidhe to the col rather than go over Ben Vorlich, if it had been clear I would have included it.

The path over to the col was much better than I had thought and helped me make good time.

As I skirted round to the bottom of Stuc a Chroin...I was being watched!

No view on Stuc a Chroin...so no summit views all trip! I felt chuffed I'd filled in the gap after 30 years though.

I glanced down to my shoes, and realised that the sole was coming off my right trail shoe!
They didn't owe me anything, but I would have preferred them to have failed at a more convenient time!

I returned the same way, the day was improving with the cloud starting to lift...as is so often the way!
I've enjoyed my few days, some more gaps filled in and summits bagged.

Beinn Chabhair

Another wet day, although the wind was barely evident as I parked the car at The Drovers in Glen Falloch...of course no wind in June means.....Midges! Truthfully they weren't that bad. So hood up and in full waterproofs off I went, through Bein Glas Farm....noted for its many signs! Again not many photos, and all taken on the phone.....

Looking down into Glen Falloch from the path to the Ben Glas Falls.

The Falls....and impressive they were as well. A benefit of all that rain!

Approaching Lichen Beinn Chabhair.....and entering the cloud.

Another day..... Another pile of stones in the mist/cloud! This one is the summit of Beinn Chabhair. It seemed like it would never arrive, there were lots of humps and bumps along the way.

This was the state of the ground underfoot for much  a of today...no wonder hydro is so popular in the Highlands...the hills are a sponge/battery for storing energy...and sapping mine! 😀 Back the same way until I picked up the new hydro track which made life alot easier. Just a short way South along the West Highland Way, and back to the car

Stob Binnein

This area has always provided me with a challenge. I climbed Stob Binnein's twin Ben More just over 20 years ago! That was in February 97 and the hills were snow clad with lots of ice higher up. We ran out of time in the short daylight hours so left Stob Binnein's for another day.....Today that day had come.
The forecast wasn't good...infact it was crap! Any sane person would have gone somewhere else. But I got parked near Ben More Farm just about 8.30 and set off into the driving rain and gusty winds. I decided I'd see what it was like up on the bealach and take a view. Not many photos of this walk and only taken on the phone...

The initial climb is up the farm track above the Ben More Burn
There is a recent hydro installation here.
Things weren't to bad down here in the shelter of the valley, the rain didn't seem to want to ease off though.

Eventually the farm track ends and a walkers path continues, the going was best described as soggy both underfoot and from above.

It was a hard toil up to the bealach, but at least the wind was behind me.
Once on the bealach though the wind speed increased dramatically (as it so often does). I made the decision to continue, but kept away from the steep Corrie on the East. The rain never eased, and with the increased wind it was felt on my neck through a windproof and waterproof!
Strangely, or probably not it was slightly calmer on the summit.... although the image above is the best of 3 snatched in lulls in the storm.
It was back the same way, stopping periodically to wring my buff mitts out!
I'm glad it's ticked off, after all these years. Every time I drove past it niggled me.

Tinto

The summit of Tinto

Today was the first of 4 days walking in Scotland. Originally planned as a Munro bagging trip! The weather forecast has not been good, indeed thunder storms were on the menu.
With this in mind I decided to do my hill walk further South. I climbed Tinto by the "tourist" path....and very popular it was as well.  The path from the Northeast made for an easy and quick ascent, just as well because it was very windy..,..and wet for most of the time.
Tinto is of course both a Graham and a Marilyn....so a double tick. Always good!
I did take some pictures.....but forgot the cable to transfer them to my tablet 😡 I will probably put something up on my return.
I'm at Crianlarich SYHA contemplating the best option for tomorrow....,.we'll see what the weather is doing in the morning is the current thought.

Marilyn Bagging in the Southern Uplands Part 3

Back at the car it was maps out again. I was intrigued by the hills I saw yesterday North of Broad Law, so decided on these 2 Marilyns. Culter Fell and Gathersnow Hill. A quick stop in Biggar to top up my food and then the short drive to Coulter and up beside the Culter Water to park just beyond Culter Allers Farm...

Heading up the Culter Water, the path leaves the road just beyond the second wood on the left

Looking back down the Northeast ridge of Culter Fell.

Next to the trig on Culter Fell, Tinto is the prominent hill in the background.

Theres a good fence to follow all the way to Gathersnow Hill, seen here just left of centre on the skyline.

The summit of Gathersnow Hill, the 2 streches of water are Talla Reservoir on the left and Fruid Reservoir on the right

The view back to Culter Fell

Looking to the West the hills are covered with windmills part of the massive Clyde Windfarm.
We all have our own opinions on these!

I took pretty much a beeline towards Culter Reservoir to pick up the well engineered track. this led down to the reservoir.

It was then about 3km of tarmac down beside the Culter Water back to the car. It was no hardship, the road is only used by a couple of cottages, farmer and the reservoir workers so was very quiet.
Back at the car, I got changed and it was off back home down the M74/M6.
A great trip very fruitful from a hill bagging point of view and good to back out under canvas...well Silnylon! All helped by the superb weather.

Marilyn Bagging in the Southern Uplands Part 2

As I descended from Broad Law I was working out time available for the rest of the day...and the best use of it. I had no desire to drive further than needed. After checking the maps back at the car I decided on the group of 3 Marilyns near Broughton on the A701. So off I went, and parked at the convenient "Walkers Car Park" in the grounds of the rather grand Broughton Place.

It was gone 5pm by the time I'd sorted stuff out. I'd got my backpacking stuff with me and anticipated pitching somewhere on the round of these 3 hills.
Having taken good note of all the burns being almost dry, I packed 2 litres of water...water is heavy stuff in case you hadn't noticed. I always try to carry the bare minimum of the stuff!

The first part of my route followed some of the John Buchan Way....Although I thought I'd be walking more than "39 Steps"

At this point, just below Cowiemuir Hass I left the John Buchan Way and picked up the Northward trending ridge over Broomy Side, Green Law and beyond.

There is an excellent track/quad/path along the broad ridge.

The first of my evenings Marilyns, Broughton Heights. Looking back Southwards over Green Law.

As I walked round the head of Stobo Hope my next top, Penvalla looked along way off.

But after a lot of up and down and a fair bit of contouring I was on the top of Penvalla. It was time to start looking for a spot to pitch my shelter.

I passed the unoccupied Shepard's Cottage of Stobo Hopehead. Penvalla is in the background.

I found a good place on the col below Hammerhead, got the Deschutes tarp pitched and got organised and food on the go. It had been a wise move to carry water I hadn't seen any since about 200m from the car!

The was no sunrise to speak of, I packed up and headed up into the clag as I climbed up to the top of Hammerhead.

The ridge rolled along, eventually I reached my final Marilyn of the walk Trahenna Hill.  

As I dropped out of the mist I could see that the day was improving. Once again to think of the next hills for the trip....to be continued...

Marilyn Bagging In the Southern Uplands Part 1

Back up the M6 and M74 into the Borders today, and then over into Upper Tweed Dale parking at Hearthstane. Broad Law was the first target of the trip...although at this point there was no definite plan......

It's possible to park near the bridge which gives access to the cluster of houses and farm of Hearthstane.

Once through the farmyard you follow the forest road, the shoulder of Broad Law is the high point in the background.

Once out of the forestry the view opens out to the North the track also gives access to the radio transmitter so provides good going all the way to the top.
Here I'm looking North to Culter Fell

The summit, close cropped grass just the place for a spot of lunch!
As I say easy going I was suprised to find it had only taken 75mins.
This is the view roughly South towards Hart Fell 

Back past the wonderful radio transmitter, looking very sci-fi!
I returned to the car the same way, planning the next part of my trip....more to follow.

Marilyns Either Side of the Border......Sighty Crag and Larriston Fell

Making the best of my new 4 day week (although this week is a 3 day week, due to a Bank Holiday!) I headed North this morning. I was heading for "The Flatt" in the Bewcastle Forest, it's a maze of minor roads once you leave the A7. Harder map reading than he walking!....

It was forest roads for the first part of the ascent

Lots of trees hereabouts, although they have been and are presently felling a lot of them

Once out of the trees it was pathless deep heather and bog!
This area is known as the "Debateable Lands", I debated if I was Mad :-))

The summit of Sighty Crag. It is a great viewpoint on a day like today

This is known as the "Hewn Block" although is could be natural?

Then it was back into the forestry, a bit of bushwacking and back to the car.
After a bit of map studying I decided to make the journey more worthwhile by adding Larriston Fell to the day. It was only 12 or so miles to the North.

I parked on the Steele Road beside the Liddel Water near Dinlabyre

Up through the trees (again) on forest roads which made for easy progress as far as....

....the radio mast.

But then it was back to bashing through the heather and bog, picking up feint paths where I could.

Larriston Fell looking North to Peel Fell.

I'm not sure where they found the stones to build this cairn?
Back to the car the same way, the weather had been outstanding.
Two more Marilyns bagged!