Up to see the hame of Macbeth on route to Kings Seat

Hill: Dunsinane and King's Seat, Collace
Category: Sub2k
Height: 377m

On my way to another fishing trip I had a look at nearby hills and this caught my attention. I wanted to climb Kings Seat but it had the added bonus of initially climbing the hill fort reputed to be Macbeth's. Was this really the hill fort where he was brought down by Malcolm? Legend says yes but nobody can say for certain other than there was a fort here, indeed two the original probably another very early Pictish one. 

Dunsinane Hill to the right

Dunsinane is famed as the location of Macbeth's castle in Shakespeare's play, where it was predicted that he would never vanquished be, until Great Birnam Wood to high Dunsinane shall come against him. 
If the prophecy of the Three Witches was correct legend implied Malcolms men cut down trees from Birnam to disguise themselves. Maybe but Birnam is quite a few miles away surely there would be closer woods!!

Start

Still enough of that time for a walk. The initial wee hill climb up Dunsinane Hill to the fort had my calves complaining and a sweat dripping not a good sign, MacBeths doing. 

Kings Seat small point in distance

Short sections of jaggy gorse to get through, painful.
Still soon there and there are good views, if you ignore the quarry, but much better from Kings Seat, why was that not a fort?

The way ahead from Dunsinane cairn

Leaving the hill you have to descend 70 metres to the bottom to climb up Black Hill. A faint track winds its way up but the coos use this too and from the pats they are nearby, on alert.
Good views looking back to Dunsinane Hill.

Small mast no more estate track after this

There is a small sub station up here as well as plenty of dead heather. Another walk across a grouse moor without seeing or hearing one.
After this the terrain deteriorates big stile, faint tracks but mostly overgrown heather and boggy moor, hard walking but I can see my target at least a mile away.
I also spot the coos, a much larger head and with calves. Thankfully they were on the moor to my side so I did not have to walk through them.
This really was tough walking until I met a track after Little Dunsinane. This grassy track leads you along the high ground passing very dilapidated grouse butts below on the left. It runs parallel to the trig where you now have to take a line and clamber through more heather and moor upwards to the trig. This is clearly not a frequently visited hill.

Looking back to Dunsinane from Kings Seat

As promised the views are extensive and on a clearer day would show beyond the Angus hills and more. Although the masts on Craiglow are clearly seen. The predicted heavy rain had missed me but it was passing close by on both flanks so no time to linger.
The coos had now moved in to ambush me on the return track so I decided to head for the Broch on the map and contour round the hills.

Follow Coo track around the hill

What appeared to be a track looking down from Kings Seat turned out to be the route the main body of cattle used, it was a muddy boggy route, as you can imagine deep muddy holes, the joys.

Follow dyke ground was rough walking

I headed across the pathless moor, swamp grass my height at times, to reach an old dyke which I then followed, not without difficulty back round the hills. Of course once you see your destination the last half mile or so was probably the most awkward terrain.

Saw these that had been pecked not sure which bird laid these

Still back on the cattle track I met up with the ascent trail and back to the car just as the rains arrived. Just two miles away on my drive back the roads were mini rivers I was very lucky to be dry.
That's number 90 in this category, should get to the ton by the end of the year.
A short sharp walk with a bit of interesting history thrown in. I just hope the salmon are in good form tomorrow.

Wildlife: Snipe, meadow pipit, skylark, red admiral
Time: 1.59
Ascent: 954ft 
Distance: 4.17m 

No royalty just common old me on Kings Seat

Hill: Kings Seat
Category: Donald
Height: 648m
After a full day wading in the mighty Tay searching for the elusive salmon I had forgotten how much a strong current takes out of your legs. I soon found out when I started Kings Seat. Additionally, I only had my rigid winter boots so the first half hour or so was painful as my calves rebelled.
Was it only the other day I was up here in knee deep snow? Now there was only an isolated patch or two.

Castle with Bank Hill behind & Kings Seat peaking out behind it

I passed the impressive Castle Campbell which has some repairs taking place, at least I think that was the noise. It does seem an odd spot for a major castle at the top of the gorge but attackers managed to get at it a few times.

Dollar Glen

Through the impressive, tight and steep Dollar Glen with the evocatively named Burn of Sorrow running fast as it cuts through the gorge, bet its aptly named. Delighted to get a close up of a red squirrel, surprisingly the first of the year.
Not long and I am out on the open hilly moor. 
As normal in the Ochils the going underfoot was pretty good, just my legs were the problem.

Open ground with Bank Hill ahead

The climb to Bank hill was steep enough. At times walking can be amazing for dafties such as me. As I headed up Bank Hill I was looking to a big hill on my right wondering which other steep biggie it was, noticed a trig or something. Then it dawned this is where I was going, legs protested further.
As always you are rarely alone on these hills, a double going up the steep ascent, a trio ahead and a solo behind me.
The forecast had potential cloud cover over the tops but so far so good.
There is a straight forward ATV trail for much of the lower slopes 
It is such a popular hill that once the gradient steepened regular eroded footmarks to follow.
I was in a shut down mindset as I laboured up the slopes, wallowing in deep thought about catching that blinking salmon next month, two opportunities then, but also four more hills to choose. 

Spitfire memorial

On a regular basis the hills fool me. As I climbed a steep section I unexpectedly spotted a cairn and rejoiced, the top, but it was far too soon. It was a memorial for three WW2 spitfires that crashed, one pilot survived. A moments pause to reflect on that experience, one can only imagine.

Sheltered cairn

A couple more false tops then the big sheltered cairn where the couple were sitting in having lunch.
I hoped that they went further on to the true summit, but maybe not I am sure more than few assume the big cairn is the top. 

True summit

I did walk on and by the time I reached it the clouds enveloped me. Disappointed as I hoped to see the tops of Andrew Gannel & Ben Cleugh.
Despite my protesting legs I got to the top in less than 90 minutes, happy with that. 

Fife with West Lomond prominent

Never mind I had eaten a full breakfast so no hanging about, retraced my steps enjoying the views across the Forth, Fife etc and of course these fantastic rolling hills. As well as excellent views of Dollar itself, no-one on the golf course.

Banks of Dollar

On the descent I had a closer look at the Banks of Dollar, an unexpected craggy area for these hills.
Back at the car a piece of a nice strawberry coconut cake from M & S did the trick before the drive home.
A very good short walk with fab views, what’s not too like? 

Wildlife: Meadow pipit, Skylark, Buzzard, Red Squirrel,
Time: 2.32
Ascent: 1843ft 
Distance: 5.35