Innerdouny Hill the highest Sub in the Ochils

Hill: Innerdouny Hill
Category: Sub2K
Height: 497m

After Lendrick Hill I headed along the B934  to find my start for this hill. I had read that it was important to start from the correct parking area, the 2nd one, but I suppose that is determined by which way you are coming.

The correct parking area

I came across a Littlerigg car park sign, slowed and went past but instinct kicked in. I knew all the signs would look the same but this just seemed right. Dogs going mental in the cottage but thankfully there was a fence separating us. I think if I stayed this remote I would have loud dogs too.
Parked up, checked map and yes I think I go up this forest track.
to start my walk up Innerdouny Hill
This is just a long walk up a forest road with either deforested stuff or recently planted stuff around you. There was a full wood in the distance and that was my objective.

Junction

Straightforward until you reach a V junction. There was a post with a yellow direction arrow that indicated to go straight. Didn’t seem right, map out and decided to go right, correct decision.
Then I soon reached a clearing on the right where I could see a fire break. The map confirmed this could be used as a short cut but I was in no hurry so continued with the forest track.

Lovely countryside & Crieff hills behind

A bit of a trudge but looking at Perthshire & Angus the sun was shining, it is beautiful countryside. Sadly I was still in the cold grey stuff, never mind, no problem, enjoy the moment.

At least it changed into some grass which meant less painful walking.

A few people clearly walked this route 

This track climbed gradually until I exited the trees and after the clearing an obvious path went right alongside the trees. A pair of Jays flew over my head into the trees calling loud and angry as always.

Gap in wall on track

A slight uphill walk until a broken stone dyke is reached. The only boggy section. Looking at the map the firebreak would have brought you to this point, time saving 15-20 minutes I guess but very rough underfoot.

Almost there

Suddenly the summit is reached with trig point I spotted earlier from Lendrick Hill. I think the views were better from Lendrick even though this is the highest Sub2k in the Ochil Hills.

Looking at Lendrick Hill

I could have used the firebreak but being on my own with a couple of walking days ahead I did not want a sprained ankle or worse.
Just as well I didn’t detour as a bird appeared on top of a pine calling away. Binos out and you know what another Crossbill. Haven’t seen one for yonks and two in a day on different hills. Clearly the hills are only a few miles apart so likely a breeding colony around here.

Sun shining over Perthshire & Angus

On the descent I spotted movement above the deforested area, a Kestrel, another first for the year, magic.
So two good unplanned walks until last night. An enjoyable day.
When checking my lists I noted that there are only three hills beginning with an ‘I’ in the categorized lists. The only one I have left is the easy one, The In Pin, might be a while before I get around to that one, need to learn to abseil first!!


Wildlife: Crossbill; Kestrel; Jay (pair); Carrion Crow (pair); Chaffinch; Greenfinch; Blue Tit
Time: 2.23
Ascent: 775ft 
Distance: 7.51m 

It's a hundred up on Lendrick Hill

Hill: Lendrick Hill
Category: Sub2K
Height: 456m
On my way up to Dunkeld to escape the grim Ayrshire weather I decided to tick off another couple of Sub2k’s starting with Lendrick. 
As per normal my sat nav brought me in a different way than I had in my mind, so finding the starting point was once again the challenge.

Tourist route

Finally found it and parked at the start of the forestry road, surprised to see a sign for a Public route to the hill. No exclusivity here. 

Head up there

Just as I started off another car arrived, a local or a tourist like me? He stayed in his car so off I went.

Almost missed it

Followed the wide forest track/road in a wee world of my own when I spotted the mini cairn ie small pile of stones where I should turn off. I thought it was much further on. Also a signpost just in case you missed the stones heading up into the trees.

Another signpost don't want us getting lost

There is an obvious path, quite steep as my blowing lungs would testify. Also with all the wet weather the ground was giving way. Fine going up but I anticipated a good chance of a heel slip and muddy trousers on the descent.

Top up there

Before long you clear the trees and a deer fence comes into view, I guess the stile is the way to go.
For a small hill it has both a cairn and a trig. Firstly the cairn then onto the trig. The weather is gloriously sunny over Perthshire but I am on the boundary line of the Ochils and have the west coast cold, cloud and smirry rain.

Small cairn with trig beyond

Nevertheless this is my 100th Sub2k so spent a moment reflecting.

Loch Lomond and the Lomond hills

There are good views particularly over to Fife. Loch Leven prominent as well as the Lomond Hills. I counted 9 Sub2k’s that I could see from here and I am sure there will be plenty more.
Indeed, one of them, across the way is Innerdouny Hill, shortly to be my next top. 
It was chilly so time to head down when just at the stile I met the other car owner. More of a local than tourist, out walking his dogs. 
There were some birds around the top of the pines and delighted that I had brought the binos as I got a clear view of a Crossbill. Been years since I saw one so a special moment to mark the ton up. Happy now.

Steele's Knowe's turbines

Taking it slowly I managed to avoid a slip so enjoyed the gentle saunter back to the car. An earlier conquest Steele’s Knowe’s turbines just over the way.
A simple hill made special by the Crossbill and the hundred marker.
Let’s see if the sun shines on Innerdouny!

Wildlife: Crossbill; Wren; Buzzard; Carrion Crow.
Time: 1.14
Ascent: 249m
Distance: 3.29km

Muddy, boggy, wet that's Ben Venue from Ledard Farm

Hill: Ben Venue
Category: Graham
Height: 729m
I decided to break my journey home and join the group from Ayr & District for this walk. I had been to the top of Ben Venue before but not from this side so apart from a small section at the top to all intents a new hill for me.

Start

Walkhighlands describe this approach as very muddy and then boggy further up. It was not wrong as this has to be the longest wettest mud fest I have walked for some time.

Lumpy formations

This gloop started quickly through the wooded section which could be very pleasant under other conditions, interesting moss covered formations.

Leaving the woods

Out of the woods and we were soon on the cloud line. Thankfully we were able to cross the Ledard burn without difficulty. The fence is broken at the stile which led us to take the ankle deep gloop, the wet and slippy stile would have been better option.
Now the rain and wind joined in, nae views just a trek to the point the tracks merged.
After the junction there were other people around from the tourist route so we were not the only foolish ones out today.

Not much to see up here

The last section is fairly steep and rocky so care required as wet rock means very slippy conditions, only one minor accident. 
The flat sections in between were just awful wide expanses of deep mud, difficult to avoid at times.

Summit

Got to the top, nothing to see so did not hang around, time to get lower out of the wind and get some food.

Clouds lift briefly heading for the low point of the ridge

On the descent we took the same route. The clouds did lift for a short section and it was nice to see the views. It felt so weird, as if we were in the wrong spot, on the way up in the cloud you did not get the feel for the landscape. A nice bowl of a glen and the slopes of Beinn Bhreac.

Ledard burn safe to cross up and down

Still not for long, clouds back down low, rain back on so just plod through the mud back to the car. How I didn’t heel slip is one of the mysteries for today.
The walk was a lot longer than my Graham the other day and I was feeling a bit achy by the end. But a good outing with good chat as always.

Wildlife: Blue Tit; Long Tailed Tit; Blackbird; Greylag Geese; Hooded Crow; Pied Wagtail.
Time: 5.05
Ascent: 2590ft 
Distance: 6.92m 

The big one turned out to be a wee one after all....Meall Mor Angus

Hill: Meall Mor Angus
Category: Sub2k
Height: 561m
We headed north to Pitlochry for the Banff outdoor film festival, awesome stuff as always.
So the next day, the good lady’s treat, on a lovely day was a short hill walk to get up this remote Marilyn. Nice and easy was the orderof the day and this was just that
I parked at the entrance to a forestry track, enough room for a few cars without blocking the main route.

Easy gradient through the woods

The track is a nice steady walk through the trees with the birds singing at the top of the pines. A large buzzard slowly took off just in front of us gliding through the pines. This stretch is obviously a wind tunnel from the amount of fallen trees but only on one side!
Before long it reaches a gate to the moorland. There is a temptation to take the track inside the fence but avoid that unless you want to climb the deer fence later.

Heading for the hump up there

Slightly further on there is a faint path/atv track going through the heather. Iced up at times so care required but even with this minimal heat and weak sun insects were coming off the heather as we disturbed the growth. Surprising times.

A gentle ascent

There is a short hill ahead, ‘a mountain’ came the grumbles from behind. A zig zag through the heather taking care as there was a lot of ice hidden below the heather.

Ice coat

 The plants were coated as well.
Soon a wall is reached at the top which required a little effort climbing over. The rocks were icy and you know who mumbled away but over we got and on we went.
The little heat had gone it was a bitter wind but the open countryside was full of interest.

Wrong side of the wall

Continued along the wall letting it break the windchill, almost stood on a grouse, heart attack time as shot out of the heather. 
The cairn was soon reached but to get to it the wall had to be climbed again and it was a lot bigger here. The good lady refused until I told her a few steps more and the views were much better. The things we have to do as a walk leader!
Once again a small hill standing isolated really delivers far more views than could be expected.

Mount Blair behind the cairn

Right in front was Mount Blair, last time I came up it from the other side but got no views from the top. 

Eastern Munros light snow

Today we can see through to the Glenshee Munros which had a covering of snow but not a lot really for this time of year. Meyer & Dreish even less white stuff but still looking good.
Schiehallion to our left looked a lot whiter as did the Lawer range further on. 

Nice lochan below, it was iced over

Along with all the local stuff nearby even the good lady was glad to be here. 
Even happier when we made the descent and headed off Braemar for coffee and cake.
The day had an even more spectacular finish. As we drove back darkness fell but the sky was spectacularly red. From here it looked as if the Aussie forest fires had arrived behind the Vrackie hills. 

Red sky appearing

Just stunning and another great day with a short hill walk that very few people will do but that is there miss. Long live the wee hills.

Wildlife: Blue Tit; Buzzard; Red Grouse; Pheasant.
Time: 1.51
Ascent: 630ft 
Distance: 2.06m 

Sadly a walk through a windfarm to get to the summit

Hill: Steele’s Knowe
Category: Sub2K
Height: 485m
On the drive home I decided to pose the good lady a question. ‘How do you fancy breaking the journey and walking up a wind farm’? Surprisingly she accepted impressed when I told her there were likely to be good views, she would bag a Marilyn (she prefers that title to Sub2k’s) and the walk would be easy. Sold and not even a mention of cake.

Not the prettiest of starts

We parked right at the entrance to the wind farm, room for two cars without risking being smashed by big lorries.

Wide track

There is no more construction taking place so walkers are allowed road acess and this is mainly following the track to meet the first turbines. Spotted 3 roe deer on the moor so that pleased the good lady. 
The walk is probably one of the easiest you could undertake so long as you can push the legs forward up a gradient.
Just take care as maintenance work still going on, about half a dozen passes by a 4x4, probably the same one going up and down.

First turbines

The wind was more than a little fresh and rather strong so not a lot of lingering. The lowering grey clouds were slightly concerning, would she not get her views?
At the top of the hill follow the main track left along the ridge until you reach the last turbine. The trig point has already been spotted on the moor ahead.

What no hard track?

Now we are properly walking for all of 10 minutes across the shortish moor grass to reach the trig. The most easterly of the Ochil hills.

Looking towards Craig Rossie at Auchterarder

Low clouds are spoiling the long distance views but they are still good enough looking down on Gleneagles, Crieff in the distance and the surrounding countryside heading for Perth. I can easily imagine how far you could see on a clear air day, it would be plenty as this is a stand alone hill.

There are 19 turbines on this site

The wind has picked up along with rain trails plus it is getting too cold to hang about so we simply followed the same trail back. 

Tarmangie horseshoe

Luckily on the descent there are the excellent views across the Ochils to the Innerdownie/Tarmangie horseshoe to admire.
Also on the way down you could take in Ben Thrush which to me looks to have more claim to be a mini mountain that Steele’s Knowe but there you go. At times I am baffled why one is and a better one isn't. I have read up on it but when you are out there, well it can seem irrational.
Very similar walk to nearer home, Windy Standard. Still any excuse for a short walk, get the fresh air, keep the heart beating, we enjoyed it.

Wildlife: Roe Deer; Buzzard; Goldcrest; Blue Tit; Carrion Crow; Red Grouse; Great Tit.
Time: 2.08
Ascent: 940ft 
Distance: 5.35m 

Rivers end, for me at least. Clyde Walkway Crossford - New Lanark

Walk: Clyde Walkway; Crossford - Lanark
Category: Long Distance Walk 
Height: n/a
A brief respite in this awful weather spell so I decided to take the good lady for a run and finish off my last section of the Clyde Walkway.
Interested to see snow lying on the hills just before Strathaven and some pink/grey clouds in the sky, what is in store for us?
Basically started the walk at the same bridge where I finished the last section and took the track that goes alongside the river on our right side and the road into the Valley park on the other, not a rural feeling yet.

Happy as pigs in ? They seemed to be.

We walked alongside a family farm area which had a small mini railway line running throughout, looks good for the kids. Some of the animals looking happier than others.

Another shut bridge but no sign of work here.

The suspension bridge is reached, blocked off, another closure, not easy to cross the river around here.

On the grassy slopes you can see the fruit trees

Looking at the slopes on the hills across the river there is clear evidence of orchards that this valley is famed for.

Looks easy but it was tricky avoiding a  muddy backside

For the next mile or so the track is squeezed between open farmland and the river. Very pleasant, blue skies above, except for the muddy track. The clay soil simply clogged up the soles of my boots so it was like walking on wooden planks on an ice rink, slipping and sliding all over the shop.

Wee falls

The noise of the water soon announces that the terrain is narrowing and gaining height, with small falls then becoming bigger falls. A tremendous roaring sound with all the recent rain, brilliant, who doesn’t like a high running river walk?

Impressive weir the Clyde flowing through strongly

The hydro power station appears in view through the trees. Now very high up above the impressive falls at Stonebyres Linn. 

R. I. P.

However, on the track there is yet another sad memorial marking the death of another youngster. I presume a suicide into the falls far below, tragic.

Traditional engineering, our heritage

As you cross the power station walkway take in the impressive machinery but also the contrast of flat calm water on one side and the roaring water on the other.

Looking downstream from the weir

A unavoidable bit of a trudge roadside through the village of Kirkfieldbank. There is a shop if you need food etc. I noticed a poster asking for information on the death of the young lad at the falls, maybe not a suicide after all!!
Not crossing the road bridge but slightly further down cross the Clydesholm Bridge where two long islands give the impression of three different rivers merging. Turn right at the house, through the gate. Back on the riverside path along to the sewage works and then the lungs get going again. Up and down all the way to the finish.
Turn into the woods at a spot where William Wallace committed a murder and history was set in motion.

Heading down the zig zags back to the river

The wooded track is initially a very steep long zigzag path down to the river bank. A pleasant woodland walk, not even dog walkers around. Actually saw very few people on this today. A nice waterfall on the other side.

New Lanark mills come into view

The Way climbs up again, breathing faster again and meet up with a viewpoint giving better views to the mill buildings. 
Finally it joins the road into New Lanark and soon after joins the road. Turn right to head down to New Lanark. 
We had covered the Falls section before so for now it was time to one of the many farm cafes en route back home.
I enjoyed another of these long distance trails, saw plenty of new sights, learned about my countryside, which is what it is all about, exploring Scotland.

Wildlife: Grey squirrel x 2; Wood Pigeon; Blue Tit; Coal Tit; Great Tit; Jackdaw; Carrion Crow; Goldfinch.
Time: 2.08
Ascent: 231m
Distance: 8.7km