Meall Glac Thigh-fail

Hill: Meall Glac Thigh-fail (Hill of the narrow valley)

Type: Sub2k

Height: 521m

The good lady gave me some time off to attempt this Sub2k. A bit of an unknown hill but it had been on my Ullapool list for years and now was its time.

To be honest the reason for not doing it was probably more down to lack of enthusiasm than opportunity knowing it was going to be a moorland plod. The hills around here are absolutely covered in bracken which for me is a natural ecological disaster and not just here as all over Scotland it is growing out of control.

Yesterday we did a wee recce of the starting point as I had no intention of wading through large swathes of bracken for my exercise. The recce ruled out the Coffin Road start but I had a back up ascent which looked a possibility from our low level view.

Sadly the weather forecast was grim for most of the coming week so although scattered showers were forecast for today I went for it.

I parked up at the estates school bus stop, a bit of off road parking spot near Inverbroom lodge and donned waterproof trousers and jacket, protection against the weather but belt and braces approach to the ticks and clegs.

Heading to the V highpoint

Not today

My map showed the track where I wanted to start from but it passed very close to a private house. As I passed I was braced for a privacy shout but nothing came.

Estate boundary?

No way I would go through this without the track

After the house I was now walking on a grassy track hemmed in by bracken which at times was taller than me. Without the track I would not have been going any further. Came to an iron gate which thankfully was not locked and before long another one which led me passed the bracken. I was pleased to have some hill views.

The OS map showed that this track should take me quite high up but it would also take me away from the summit. It was a compromise but a direct assault was not an option for me today.

Again no intention of dropping down and ascending this terrain

The track did its job also giving good views of a couple of waterfalls which might flow stronger later in the week if the predicted rain arrives.

On the climb I was surprised to find that there were some serious drops into the gully on my right hand side. It gave me food for thought re whether I would have to descend this and reascend to get to the moor. I was thinking if so, pass.

The ford where I was leaving the track, no path now

Onwards and upwards until I spotted the area where I would cross the burn. Very low water flow so no problem. 

Finally got a glimpse of my objective

Boggy ground in front before so went to the right before ascending

It was time to hit a diagonal and aim for the summit which meant backtracking. Sounded straightforward and in some ways it was. But this was an undulating high moorland terrain full of peat hags and bogs. Lots of ups and downs over difficult walking terrain but I was not unused to such conditions. The summit looked a long way away at times, sometimes in view more often not, hidden by the humps of the terrain.

Young Stag

After about half an hour I was almost there and with just the final slopes to climb I spotted some red deer on the top, at least one stag and 3 hinds. I had walked past plenty of deer droppings so nice to see the culprits. A Painted Lady butterfly flew by, my first sighting for a couple of years so another plus.

Finally I arrived at the cairn, just as the wind picked up and a squally shower smacked me in the face. Good timing!

Looking towards Beinn Dearg hills

Rain showers coming from the Fannichs

Although the long distance views were spoiled with the cloudy misty weather they were still more than passable and would be excellent on a clear air day. As it is a stand alone hill there was much to see. The nearby Fannichs, across the way Ben Dearg hills, Assynt Corbetts, An Teallach and much more.

Arrived back above the ford

I thought about a circular but decided to return the same way. The tramp back over the moor seemed quicker than the ascent. It was still the same undulating terrain but at least I was clearer re my destination. One slight difference was that I had stayed higher but this made little difference until I made a straight line descent back to the ford.

Now on easy street so a slower wander down the track taking in the views back down to Ullapool.

Purple Beech trees had been planted all over the estate

I think this is an Azure Hawker

Speckled Wood

Back on level ground the final section of the ramble was a festival of stunning colour: foliage, butterflies and dragonflies.

Golden Ringed dragonfly

Painted Lady with a damaged left wing

Red Admiral

Common Blue

So once again a lesser fancied hill turned out to be a fine ramble. And it was a short one so time left to take the good lady for a drive for coffee and cake, I had earned my slice of sweetness.

Ascent: 584m

Distance: 8.7km

Time: 3.09

Wildlife: Painted Lady; Ringlet; Small White; Red Admiral; Peacock; Speckled Wood; Blue dragon fly? Brown dragon fly?: Raven; Meadow Pipit; Red Deer; Spotted Flycatcher; House Martin; Siskin; Robin;

Butterflies & Moths 2020

Just passing the Covid time so decided to catalogue the butterflies that I see on my walks. Hopefully all will have pictures, not necessarily in good focus but good enough to show what they are. Initially these will be restricted to my local woods, river, beach and golf courses but expecting at least a dozen varieties. Hopefully later in the year I might get some of the Northern species. The blog will be updated when a new sighting comes around.

Peacock

My first sighting this year was in March and was the beautiful Peacock. Common in garden later in year but plenty around the woods and golf courses just now.

No more were spotted until April when the sun came out and the butterflies emerged. First was the Orange tip, definitely one of my favourites. One has taken our garden into its patch, first time I am aware of this. But this was taken in Shewalton Woods and plenty on Western Gailes as well.

Orange Tip Male

Then next up was another white variety, The Green Veined. Just beside the railway line going into Shewalton woods, as I write this is still the only one that I have spotted.

Green Veined butterfly

Next up was the Small Tortoiseshell. Abundant in the woods feasting on the dandelions but a few on the golf course as well. The vibrant blue edging at the bottom not showing as well in the photo.

Now the Small White. A morning walk along the golf course and was lucky enough to get this just as I was finishing.

Small White

I had read read that locally there were good views of the rare Holly Blue, a butterfly I have never spotted before. They like holly trees obviously and we have one in our garden. Sitting in my study I spotted something fluttering at said tree. Grabbed camera and ran outside, panicking the good lady and delighted to have added this stunner to my collection.

Holly Blue

Getting frustrated as not been able to my collection. However, in the woods today there was little butterfly movement with this exception. They are probably getting to the end of their first showing but a female Orange Tip. The male is pictured above.

Orange Tip Female

Now into May and after a barren spell suddenly it was all go again. I had spotted a Small Copper weeks ago but could not get a decent snap. It took quite a few walks before I spotted another and although quite numerous they are very small, a normal thumbnail and they like to sit with there wings closed. Still persevered and was rewarded with this.

Small Copper

As i walked back chuffed at getting the Small Copper I noticed an equally small butterfly or moth flying. To the naked eye it looked different but it was not resting for long and when it did it was buried in the grassy stalks and wings closed. But it did show itself and another first this year a Small Heath. Luckily it has an eyespot at the tip to give it away.

Small Heath

And then, not finished yet. Just before I left the golf course this pink/red and black moth looked spectacular in the sunlight. What a busy moth it never stopped for more than a few seconds. As soon as I raised the camera it was gone but it did stop briefly enough to let me snap my first Cinnabar moth of the year.

Cinnabar Moth

When I was walking back from Kilwinning (see blog) I detoured via Eglinton Park and was delighted to get my first Red Admiral of the year. Sadly a combination of the bright sunshine, not so good camera and my photographic skills the colour is more orange than red. 
(Replaced original with garden visit today. I have included two shots, the upper one traditional pose but the lower one is with it's wings closed and you can see the fabulous camouflage particularly if against bark.

Red Admiral top side

Red Admiral wings closed

As I came back over the golf course this small moth appeared a few times asking for its picture to be take. There are over a thousand UK moths and this one has me guessing. After research I think it is the Common heath, the feathery antennae prominent clue.

Common Heath Moth

On a roll just now as on my bike ride today I spotted a few Large Whites flying about but not stopping on any vegetation, but there again I was on a workout so i was not wanting to hang about. By chance in the afternoon one appeared in the garden for a brief period before a Red Admiral chased it off. I am sure I will get a higher quality snap as the season moves on.

Large White (female I think)

A couple of new moths around. The first spotted on the golf course just as evening approached. So focused on snapping it nearly got clobbered by a golf ball, my fault, not used to having golfers on the course.

Silver ground carpet moth

Out on Fell of Fleet there was an abundance of these but they were very difficult to snap. They would only sit on the heather for seconds before flying off a good distance. Very frustrating considering how many there were. Plus my small walking camera has difficulty focusing on items in mixed ground. I am told it might be a Sandy carpet moth.

Sandy carpet moth?

Absolutely delighted today to get my first sighting of the year and to snap one of my favourite butterflies the Small Blue. The first thing you notice is the vibrant blue colour flying around but then it lands and its camouflage kicks in, its underside being totally different to the top. Nature at its best.

Small Blue as you would expect to see it.

Small Blue underwing

Whilst clambering about in deepest Dumfries & Galloway I got a couple of new varieties for the season. The first was this Meadow Brown who was determined to not let me get a decent snap of it. As soon as I focused off it went until I got this under wing but clear what species it is.

Meadow Brown under wing

And by chance today in Eglinton Park there were quite a few flying, mostly landing with folding wings but one did let us see its upper wings.

Meadow Brown upper

My other find of the day was this Fritillary. Now there are various very similar species but I am reliably informed that this is a rather rare Small Pearl Bordered Fritillary. Having studied my reference material and online searching I was still not sure but put it out for expert verification. A stunning orange and black with the white bordering. Apparently it is all about a 7:3:0 dot pattern on the wings, chuffed.

Small Pearl Bordered Fritillary

After the thunderstorms a wee wander around Western Gailes golf course brought another couple of firsts for the season. The first is the Ringlet which I had spotted the other day in a park but it refused to pose. This one did but only for its underwing.

Ringlet underwing

The second was a a small but striking moth whose colour contrasted well with the leaden grey skies around. This is the Yellow Shell moth.

Yellow Shell Moth

In the garden the other morning I noticed movement in some shrubs, going closer it jumped out and snuggled into the grass so sorry not the best quality but first time i have ever seen one of these, a Silver Y moth, presumably named after the two marks half way down, one on each side.

Silver Y moth

The golf course is providing rich pickings with another small moth, this time the Latticed Heath moth. Well camouflaged in the grass perched on the dying seed heads, only had my phone so picture not the greatest.

Latticed Heath moth

Spotted this little beauty high up on Benn an Lochain. Distinctive black wings and a conspicuous yellow body was wrapping itself around the grass as if creating a cocoon. Beyond my ID skills but thankfully the experts recognised it as a Red necked Footman moth. Quite rare so well pleased even though picture quality not high.

Red necked footman moth

An early morning Braemar Corbett

Hill: Creag nan Gabhar
Category: Corbett
Height: 834
A double outing today so an early start saw only 2 more cars in the car park (£3 charge). The walk start is a historic right of way, Jock’s Road, worth investigation and a poignant read as as its most recent incarnation is the Land Reform Act which allows us to walk with freedom in Scotland. 

The start of Jock's road

The rough track follows the Callater Burn, fast running brown and white water as it cascades through the rocks, still high after the recent rain.

The ridge ahead with Corbett the highest point

After half a mile or so there is a turn to head up a very rough estate track zig zagging to reach Sron Dubh.

Pearl-bordered Fritillary?

 Although it is not bright the butterflies are flying and caught this little cracker amongst the heather and thistles.
A couple are spotted ahead of me so I wonder if I will catch them up. Turns out not it doesn’t take too long.

On the ridge just follow estate track to the summit

Once on the ridge it is an excellent walk, albeit along the basic track created for the grouse shooting not us walkers. The bigger Munros are still just covered in cloud but my target is in the clear.
Red grouse almost wait until they are trodden on before bursting out of the heather, my ticker gets a fright. Must have seen a couple of dozen or so today.
Luckily I also saw a few mountain hares today, they must have escaped the culls.

There is an alternative start from those woods, shorter but much steeper

There a few minor ups and downs but the route is clear as it takes a slow right hander too reach the top of the Corbett. Good going 1 hour 20 to the top. 

View from far away cairn I can hear the motor bikes below

Good views to enjoy. It is worth taking the short walk on to the far away cairn, superb views up to the Cairnwell, albeit its top stayed in cloud.

Aosda in foreground, The Cairnwell behind

After spending some time enjoying the views, the top very windy but balmy warm, I took the slow descent back the same way. There is a circular route but I preferred the high level descent taking in the great views back to Braemar, Ben Avon, Morrone etc.

Descent looking back to Braemar

The clouds are disappearing as the heat kicks in, glad I was up in the hills early. There are some high tops here that are not classified but look tough wee beggars.

Callatar burn and Morrone behind

On the ground walk back to the car the tourists have arrived. The aforementioned two the only people I saw until about a dozen in 200 metres.
An excellent short walk with top drawer views.
Now there are 18 holes on the highest golf course in Scotland to look forward to.

Wildlife: Meadow pipit; Wheatear; Red Grouse; Grey Wagtail; Golden plover; Mountain hare, Small tortoiseshell; Fritillary ( probably pearl bordered)

Time: 3.11
Ascent: 1647ft (550m)
Distance: 7.85m 12.8(km)