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.

 

Meall Greigh

Whit weekend and the rare opportunity for 2 days off together saw me up at 5am. I arrived at Lawers North of  Loch Tay just after 9am, the Ben Lawers range was clearing from the early morning mist as I started walking....

Up through the gardens surrounding Machuim Farm.

Then into the pleasent Birch, Larch and Pine plantation, gaining height all the way.

Then out onto the open hill, NTS land here. Meall Greigh looked fairly close...must have been a trick of the light!

The path passes through an area of shielings, I took the chance to look back over loch Tay below.

Eventually of course you arrive at the summit. Here's your author beside the cairn.... 

....and for those of you who prefer the view without the clutter of a garish human....Here's the Lawers group above Lochan nan Cat.

On towards the col before Meall Garbh, I then descended to the Lawers Burn.

A last look back at An Stuc and Ben Lawers, I'd last been here in 1986!

I picked up my outward route further down the burn and returned to the car.
It had been good to be back in the Scottish Hills
A Strava track of my route can be found here

A Couple of Easily Bagged Marilyns

Well easy is relative of course . these 2 small hills required a round trip of just over 300 miles! The weather was excellent, an ideal day for a good long ride on the motorbike. The Marilyns gave me a target for the day.

I took the road over Hartside, not many bikes as I was quite early. After a brew I pressed on.

Through Alston and Across the West Allen river

Across by Rothbury which was very busy and after a number of minor roads I'd never been on before I parked up below Ros Castle.

Not the most testing of ascents. But an interesting plaque and another tick!

A shame it was hazy, I would imagine you'd see across to the North Sea.

I was soon back at the bike, the motorbike jacket was warm to say the least. I guess it must weigh at least 2kg! with all the armour etc.

Down to the seaside at Berwick-on-Tweed.

Then it was up the A1 a couple of miles before  making my way up onto Lamberton Hill....not the most photogenic of hills. Like Ros Castle earlier its an old hill fort.

The view to the North held more of interest across to Ayton Hill with its coms mast.
Back home from here, via Duns, Kelso, Hawick, Langholm and the M6.
A grand day out :-)

Exploring Scandale Beck From Soulby

 A late start meant that we missed the worst of the rain, which wasn't forecast! Still after a bit of a faff we parked outside the village hall (against the signs I'm afraid) in Soulby, just a couple of miles West of Kirkby Stephen. All new paths again today, as we headed upsteam.....

The sturdily built three arch bridge in Soulby, it has managed to survive the floods of last year.

Just a little way up the lane towards Soulby Mill is this tribute to make do & mend!

Lots of Primrose's on the banks beside the paths, tracks and streams.

Scandale Beck, with the trees and bushes still full of wreck from the storms.

We left the banks of the beck and followed this old lane towards Crosby Garrett. As you can see one side of the path has had its hedge laid, the other side certainly needed doing.

Lots of May blossom out as well now...still a bit chilly to cast any clouts though!

As we headed back to the beck at Chapel Well we were treated to this view to the distant Pennines beyond Scandale.

Smardale Viaduct from Chapel Well, (which is actually a spring from what we could see).
We followed paths, bridleways and byways back to Soulby on the other side of the beck.
It had managed to stay dry whilst we were out, It would appear these paths are little used, we saw no one indeed very few bootprints even.

A Wander Beside the Upper Hodder

We headed for Bowland today and parked at Dunsop Bridge. The weather was great, the sun definitely had it's hat on. Riverside paths formed the basis for today's walk, as flat as possible for P!
Lots of pictures of bridges coming up......

Dunsop Bridge claims to be the centre of the UK...What parameters are used I don't know.

If Brunel made footbridges, this is what they would look like!
This does double duty by carrying a water pipe over the River Hodder.

The Hoder just South of Dunsop Bridge. There were lots of Martins making nests in the sandy banks along this stretch.

Quite an imposing pile. Knowlmere Manor

Further along the drive is this curiously named "Giddy Bridge"...Why?

Then it was back down to the river to cross this unnamed bridge, although an apt name would be "The Wibbly Wobbly Bridge"!

Back down the North bank of the Hodder. We paused to look at this concrete effort which carry's the water pipes across the river built in 1926 by the Fylde Water Authority.
Its only a short distance back to Dunsop Bridge, where ice cream was consumed!

Towtop Kirk

A walk from Bampton on the Eastern edge of the Lakes today. The low fells, gills and valleys are frequented only rarely by your normal tourist/fellwalker, indeed we didn't see anyone today on our walk.

Once we'd gained a bit of height, the Lowther valley was seen to great advantage.
Here looking North towards Whale and Askham.

Field paths and a bridleway brought us to the open fell near Moorshill. the valley directly infront is Cawdale. I have visited Cawdale from "tother" side a couple of times. Once on a "Saunders Mountain Marathon"!

This old clapper bridge over Cawdale beck has been repaired with a bit of concrete.
Its done well to survive the recent floods. It gave us access to......

....Towtop Kirk. Not the most impressive, and the light/my photo does it no favours!
More here for those who might be interested in this type of thing.

Our return route was across the marshy ground in the middle distance, before picking up this bridleway.  

Having crossed some access land and Cawdale Beck, (again) we came across this small dam. At a guess I think it was probably made for a water supply, but now is possibly a hydro plant?
From here it was an easy downhill walk back to Bampton and the car.