Author Archive

 There was a plan before the climb of yesterday that we would maybe do another Munro today ,  but as we sipped the post walk beers at the Lawers Hotel we decided that the trail from Dollar to Glendevon would let Calvin come along too and have his first long walk  after a 3 week lay off ( as well as let Robert, Elaine and myself  do a less strenuous trek .)

Nice and easy 6 mile route in blue skies , although it was cool out of the sun !  Our 6 miles probably 9 for Calvin who made the most of it and would have happily done it all over again.

Alan, Kathy, Robert & Calvin

Do you think anyone will spot the pattern that is emerging to the what should ideally be at the end of route ?

7th November 2010

Sunday 17th October 2010

Following a boy dog operation poor Calvin , complete with neck brace, was unable to head for the Hills. So Kathy and I had to leave him behind (despite his interest to come) .  We set out for the Lawers group and met up with Robert and Elaine on the way.

No walks today !

The route was to take in Meall Corranaich (3507ft) and then head on to Meall a Choire Leith (3038 Ft). Weather fine on the drive to Killin, and still dry at the Lawers car park, but it didn’t last and as we started to climb we  got  into the clouds and strong winds.  Visibility limited so no views to distract and we  just put our heads down and walked (and chatted !) .  Once over the top of Meall Corranaich we went off track slightly, but these things happen for a reason and if we hadn’t we would have missed seeing a Ptarmigan attempting to camouflage itself on the rocks.

Robert & Alan starting out

Ptarmigan

Mountain equivalent of "Are we there yet?"Alan, Elaine & Robert model Balaclava's at top of Meall a Choire Leith

So that was us at the Top of Mell a Choire Leith and I thought that there would be a drop down into the valley and some shelter from the winds to finish the walk .  Sadly this was not a usual circular and the route  to the car   was ………………………..back up and over Meall Corraniach.  Probably not Munro bagging etiquette, but we are all claiming it as having been bagged Twice (even though it was only 2.5 hours between each bag!)

Meall Corranaich - for 2nd time

An enjoyable day overall  –   One which Calvin would have loved had he not been under Veterinary  instruction to rest

Munro 1 Sgairneach Mhor

The plan had been to try and do Ben Nevis, but with miserable and misty sounding   long range weather forecasts, that plan was put on hold !

12 of us instead opted to meet at Lay By 81 on the A9 , the plan being to take on the Munros of Sgairneach Mhor (Big Stony Hillside) 3251 Ft and Bein Udlamain (Gloomy Mountain) – 3317.

The start out was wee bit wet and waterproofs, gloves and hats needed.  As usual an hour or so in it was time to remove layers as the sun was out.

Really nice walk, beautiful scenery .  Despite it’s Gaelic translation Bein Udlamain wasn’t that Gloomy at all (although the Cairn was a bit messy with rusty bits of fence) and the group decision was that since we could see the Cairn of A’Mharconaich (The Horse Place)- 3199Ft   that we might as well do that too !

3 Munros in 6 hours wasn’t bad going , and despite the frequent clothing layer adjustments, it was mainly dry and warm.

There were 12 other walkers (and a Collie Dog)  that we saw / passed on our day out  - guess that on a sunday Ben Nevis would have been far, far busier – so over all we had made the correct call !

Burn Crossing

Blue Skies and first clothes change stop

Munro 3 - A'Mharconaich

Where we had been

Meall Ghaordaidh (Pronounced myowl jirdee)

3409 Ft .   Sunday 15^th August

With plans for the afternoon the best option for this walk was to set out early (rather than postpone).

Kathy and I got up 4.10am, DC arrived at Powmill 5.10am, roadworks on the Glendevon meant that we had to detour to get to Crieff to meet Robert and Elaine at 6.10am.

Got to Killin for around 7.00am and were ready to hit the hill by 7.10am.

The (almost) hourly photos below show our progress.

The benefit of starting early was that we had the hill to ourselves and it is a great feeling when walkers just starting out as you return comment how impressed they are that you have already bagged the Munro and it’s not even lunchtime.

embedded by Embedded Video

Download Video

There are no post walk photos – but the rest of Sunday involved, beer, lawnmowers, beer, lunch, snooze, beer and in DC’s case a BBQ (where there possibly was beer)!

7.10am. Ready to set out

8.10 am

9.10am and still a bit to go

10.00 - Top of Meall Ghaiordaidh

11.10am Easier on the way down

12 Noon and back to where it all started. Calvin's face says it all !!

Alan, Robert, Kathy, Sue and Elaine braved Schiehallion setting out from Crieff at 9.00 am in the midst of rain, rain and even more rain.

There was doubt about even going , but by the time we reached the Foss Forest it had at least dried up.

The first part of the track is not that bad, with man made steps, but the last part involves scrambling over boulders.   Oh and the deceptive Cairns on the way make you believe you have reached the top, when there is about an hour and a half still to go.  Well worth it though for the views of Loch Rannoch and Loch Tummel.

Another Munro bagged

Completed in a very respectable 4 hours and 45 minutes.

Ben Chonzie – Sunday 25th April

12 Mile Circular route

Time – Just short of 8 hours

7 of us met at the Glenturret Dam at 9.30 am.  Set out  along the right hand side of the Dam and at the head of the Dam dropped down and crossed a burn – which was wider than we thought.  And just when you least need it Elaine was there with Camera to “Blog” the crossing.    Quite a few steep  and slippy climbs to negotiate.

Those of us who had been up before know that the views are stunning – but not today !  First time Munro bagging for Kathy and Sue .

Sunday 21st March

Ross Circular Walk , Comrie – 8 miles

First walk as a group – steady start out of Ross taking us back in past Aberuchill .  A few hills, but nothing too challenging to get started.  Great weather for the extended group to get to know each other.

King Kenneth’s Cairn – GlenTurret

Sunday 11^th April

This walk took us onto the Glenturret Estate at 9.30am on a fine and crisp April morning.

Kathy, Elaine, Robert, Calvin and myself were joined this time by Cecilie and Kirsteen from Gleneagles.  As well as training me for the Kili hike it is a social outing with an open invite to those who wish to come along.

Bit of a hike this one with a couple of rather steep braes , as well as the now familiar clumps of snow (which Calvin loved as a cooling down system).  Beautiful views

Have to say after one climb , the glory that we were basking in was short lived as a 50 something Fell runner came belting over the crest of the hill like a startled rabbit – it did have us all questioning our fitness , as well as questioning his sanity.

Great day out – 5 hours or so to do the 10 miles and it did show us Ben Chonzie in the background which is the next expedition.

Everyone seemed to have remembered their hats and gloves and scarves, but some now sporting rather fetching T-shirt tan lines  (Must be a Scottish thing) as didn’t think to pack the Factor 30 !

Sunday 4^th April – Easter Sunday – Glen Sherup, Glendevon

This was the second of our training walks out of Gleneagles and whilst DC, Jenny and the family were sunning it up in Florida we set out over the (partly) snowy Ochil Hills for a Sunday stroll.

We met at the Glen Sherup car park at 9.30.  We being Kathy, my long suffering wife, Susan Wishart, my long suffering PA, Elaine Watson (F&B Trainer and pretend photographer), Robert Lynn (The man with the GPS and the routes), and Calvin the Spaniel.

The trail was just short of 9 miles but took us 6 hours to do the circular route.   Although we were making good time and the gradients not really that bad there were still stretches of the route that had snow drifts to be crossed – which was hard work for the ladies (all under 5ft 4”).

Stopped half way and had our Easter Eggs, which doubled as a Birthday Cake for Susan.  Not much rolling required though with a Galaxy Caramel egg!

Luckily the weather held and the dark and grey skies stayed behind us on the final straight (which wasn’t really that straight and as well as the twists in the path involved a burn to jump and then an even bigger burn to try and get over only using a former gate).

All in all a great day!