The Scrape

Hill: The Scrape

Type: New Donald

Height: 719m

The forecast suggested a mostly dry day, blue skies but strong and cold northerly winds. Well I can get layered for the cold so a dry day was to good to miss.

I decided to pick off another New Donald and my nearest one left was The Scrape. I have fond memories of the Drumelzier round so this was no hardship to return. The last time I was here I was in company so would probably not have made the detour to The Scrape anyway.

It was a pleasant drive taking in the autumn colours and before I knew it I was at the small parking area where there were already 2 cars and a van. If one of the cars had parked up closer to the others it would have avoided a many point turn and tight parking but got there. No room for any other cars if anyone else turns up.

This area is reputed to be the burial place of Merlin, the Arthurian sorcerer. Buried on the banks of the River Tweed according to ‘Vita Merlini Sylvestris’ a medieval manuscript held at the British Museum. 

Lovely colours from the start

Walkhighlands suggests taking the track behind the cottage but I remember from my previous visit it did not end well so I stuck to the main track. I was higher above the suggested route and could see that it had disappeared in a bracken jungle, seem to remember that from before, a good choice made.

The track is soft grass for about the 1^st third, very nice indeed. As was the scenery even in this harsh low light, should be a lot better on the descent. Through the trees and it was noticeable how prominent Robins have become recently.

Spot the track

I followed the track to Pykestone from where I would head for its subsidiary top. I was surprised at how high the bracken still was, glad that there was a track winding its way through it or it would have been left for another day. It was much warmer than forecast so it was jacket off all the way to the top.

After the soft grass the track is now more awkward, loose stones, laid to help the grouse shooters ATV’s get traction to power up the hill no doubt.

Middle Hill (left), Dollar Law (centre) and Drumelzier (right)

Still, it was a kind walking gradient but from here the tops still seems far away. When the track eases off it becomes more peaty and grassy. The terrain is now full on heather which would be awkward walking. Sprung about half a dozen red grouse, not many for the size of this heather moor.

On left 1st view of The Scrape

Views opening up Broughton Hills foreground, Pentlands behind

When I spotted The Scrape I considered going off route and cutting the corner earlier but chose to continue with the path up to the fence near Pykestone Hill, no rush and no accidents please.

The Scrape

From the stone cairn I could see The Scrape clearly and it was just a case of following a faint track alongside the fence all the way. Looking from above at the bottom section I just knew it would be wet and boggy. 

Looking back to Pykestone

Indeed it was, but only for a short section and 10 minutes later I was on the summit of The Scrape, at a fence crossroads, marked by about a dozen stones, better than some others I could name. It was now a very cold wind, particularly when the sun disappeared, but at least the wind was not the howling gale predicted.

Looking back ascent route

Always a fence

Layered up again before taking in the views which are very good. Looking east the Broughton hills in the foreground and beyond The Pentlands so clear. Behind me the other Donalds of Middle Hill, Drumelzier and Dollar Law.

Back towards my descent the Culter Fell range looked very enticing indeed.

Patchwork grouse moor. Culter hills left and Tinto right.

Too cold for food up top step so I retraced my steps until I found a boulder to sit on, in the sunshine, lapping up the views.

Full zoom to the Larsen trap

On the descent I spotted another Larsen trap, as usual well off the walking track. Looking through the binoculars this looked to be in good condition but nothing could be seen inside it. But yet again no corvids or raptors seen today!

Jacket back off I enjoyed the descent in the slight warmth from the sun but visually warmed by the stunning autumn landscape, indeed a great time of the year to be outdoors.

Another successful ramble on a glorious day. The extra time from Pykestone to The Scrape and back added less than 40 minutes.

Ascent: 620m

Distance: 12.1km

Time: 3.32

Wildlife: Red Grouse; Goldcrest; Meadow Pipit; Great Tit; Chaffinch; Robin

Straightforward hill with outstanding views.....Beinn na Lap

Hill: Beinn na Lap (Dappled Hill)

Type: Munro

Height: 935m

Today brought beautiful clear blue skies and unseasonably warm temperatures for this time of the year. This resulted in a last minute decision to ascend this Munro which I missed out on when doing my 100. Now it was on my ‘too good to have missed out’ list. As it turned out this was the 4^th time I had planned to do this this year. I knew there were superb views so I was being fussy and the 1^st two allotted dates were abandoned due to the poor weather forecast. The third time was just last month and another last minute good weather day but I was caught up in a road crash and missed the train by literally 1 minute, lots of bad language that day. There is no road access so it is either the train or a walk/bike hike in.

Today all was going well until I rounded Loch Lomond until all traffic on the ahead came to a halt. I then clocked that I had not noticed any traffic going south for some time, oh dear. As it turned out it was a very large vehicle that everyone was stopping for, no scraped paintwork thanks.

When I arrived at Crianlarich station I was early and it was already warm. The train was on time, all was good. A busy train but a scenic trip, what could be seen out of filthy windows, come on Scotrail this is a major tourist route.

Reached Corrour Station and as I had plenty of time I headed to the cafe for a brekkie roll and coffee, Nope too late for brekkie roll, lunch menu only. Really, how many customers are here that menus can be so time prescriptive. Even then they could have started the lunch menu 20 minutes after this train as not another one for a few hours.

Beinn na Lap on left

Off along the trail I went, munching my trail food of nuts and dried fruit, healthier I suppose but it's not the same. The hill and the ridge running high above Loch Ossian, which was a picturesque view in its own right, stunning blue water.

I had already removed any outer layers before I reached the point to depart the estate track and head up the boggy grassy track. It was warm.

Boggy trail clear to see

The trek up to the ridge at Ceann Caol was just a good gradient slog. The track was boggy but not as bad as I feared so just kept following the drier sections zig zagging all the way. A few stops to wipe away the sweat from my eyes were also good opportunities to take in the views. I had plenty of time but there is only so slow I can go. One has a natural walking hill rhythm so better sticking to it.

Pointed peak of Schiehallion

At Ceann Caol the track took a right turn and became a gentler gradient as it headed NE towards the summit. The ground became rockier underfoot but nothing to cause concern. The views were increasingly spectacular.

There were a few small directional cairns dotted around, not always helpful. I spotted a circular cairn in the distance, this was it but no, it was a shelter and a good viewpoint but looking around clearly not the top.

Across stonier ground I walked around a small lochan, the main sheltered circular cairn and summit was now just ahead.

Panorama from summit from Bridge of Orchy Munros on left through to Glenco ones on right

Grey Corries

Zoomed in to the back of Ben Nevis a view most walkers don't see

Truly on a day like this this it was a 360deg viewpoint like no other. Despite the warm weather the air quality was a clear air and all that held you back was your own eyesight, quite magnificent. I cannot remember if I have ever seen so many high tops at a viewpoint before. The bulky rear end of Ben Nevis looked odd, totally different from its normal Fort William view, as it is a perspective not seen by many. 

For the very fit with other transport arrangements this Munro can be linked to the Fersit Munros but that was definitely not on my agenda.

On descent the Corbett Leum Uilleum dominates

The descent was intended to be via retracing the ascent route. But I was following a faint track through the stony ground where I spotted a cairn and headed for it. I assumed it was the ascent cairn but it just didn't feel right. Took a bit of time to check where I was then I realised I was off my ascent track. Some rough ground was crossed before I reached the upward track. I don't know if it marked an old route but it proved a reminder that not all cairns are helpful.

On the muddy track it was a slow descent with plenty of time to take in the views of this truly wild landscape.

Having missed out on my brekkie roll a cold beer (or two) and a saddle of venison sandwich finished the ramble perfectly. What a stunning day, a short Munro but one to remember fondly.

Ascent: 577m

Distance: 10.2km

Time: 4.25

Wildlife: Meadow Pipit; Peacock butterfly; Gold ringed dragonfly

One for the Sub2k baggers.....Knock of Braemoray

Hill: Knock of Braemoray

Type: Sub2k

Height: 456m

With a potentially poor weather forecast I was looking for a quick up and down and this was the closest one to my base. Not surprisingly for a wee hill like this there was only a few reports on Walkhighlands, starting from various points, so I chose a route that described a clear track through the lower heather slopes.

Lovely scenery and good weather as I drove to the start. The road goes round the hill but I had already noticed a few clear path options but not near my start.

I parked up at my start at a lay by alongside a mast, easy to find. So far so good but that was about to change.

In front of me was a thin wall of native trees with no obvious track through to the heather slopes. Walked up and down but where to start? With Sub2k’s getting access to the hill is frequently the hardest bit.

I had a good phone signal so checked the Walkhighlands app and this was indeed the spot for the route I was to follow.

So I picked a spot and had a short battle with a steep slope and low hanging branches before I got to the fence. Wow knackered and big doubts about this already after just 5 minutes.

No sign of a track

Still no sign of a track

Over the fence and immediately into deep heather and tussocks with no sign of a track. I took short sections of 10 or so careful steps, head rotating madly, looking for this track, but no joy. There have been quite a few times that I questioned the validity of some of the so called ‘our routes’ on Walkhighlands, particularly for Sub2k’s. I presume they are guesswork after the event rather than accurate GPS, possibly memory fade?

Not what I was looking for but it will do

After about 15mins of zig-zagging frustrating heather bashing I spotted a grassy ATV track so headed for it.

It was a bit wet and overgrown, not been used for a long time but much better than the heather.

Turbine track preparation?

Further up the track became wider semi flattened tracks, quite obvious to me that this was early preparation for a yet another wind turbine site.

At least the views were opening up

But being a hypocrite I used these tracks, easier than the heather/tussocks off piste.

Before long the trig was spotted but no track to it, rubbish terrain what a finish to the ascent.

The good lady had asked me this morning what I thought the views would be like. My response was that despite its lowly height, it was a stand alone hill, so weather permitting could be good.

As it turned out the views were a lot better than good. The cold northerly wind had cleared any haze so although they were not high look down views, the long distance 360 degree vista was superb.

Ben Rinnes

As I approached the trig the obvious pointed peak behind it was the Corbett Ben Rinnes.

Cairngorms 

The views across the Cairngorms went as far as to take in the torr's of Ben Avon near Braemar. Also the Aviemore northern Munro slopes had a significant white coating of snow that was going to freeze tonight, what a sad year, unreal.

North and the Ben Wyvis plateau

North the views were great over the Moray Firth and Ben Wyvis but extended as far as the Torridon hills many miles away.

Descent was simply a retrace with great care being taken over the heather and tussocks. Even with the higher viewing perspective no track was obvious. Stumbled a couple of times and at the finish I realised my water bottle had fallen out of the rucksack and there it will remain.

Overall objective achieved with a short ramble and the bad weather did not arrive. Worth a short ramble for the excellent views but pick an alternative ascent route.

Ascent: 185m

Distance: 3.2km

Time: 1.24

Wildlife: Meadow Pipit; Red Grouse

Warmth at last for a short ramble.....Meigle Hill

Hill: Meigle Hill

Type: Sub2k

Height: 423m

I was on a wee break with the good lady and was not expecting to get a hill out of the trip, but she indicated a ramble might be good with all the fine dining calories we had taken on. Checking my to-do list I found a short Marilyn with a track all the way and only a short drive.

Yarrow valley fog

Looking out of the window it was a pea souper but I was confident that it would quickly burn off.

A lovely winding single track drive through the rolling Border hills to the start at Clovenfords.

It was a beautiful morning when we started, real heat, wow summer is all but over so this warmth was very welcome.

No obvious spots so parked up in a housing estate and walked the short distance to the start proper, which very unusually begins by walking through a working farm. No signs for walkers so hope it is the right place.

Through the buildings where a dirt track led up to another part of the farm, empty cow sheds, so the beasts might be encountered on the hill, don’t tell the good lady.

A wooden sign post indicated that there are a few walks around this area. For our ramble we initially followed the signs for the Meigle circuit.

The track was now a grassy and all around sheep were making plenty of noise as we passed them, presumably thought we had brought food. Ominously there were fairly fresh coo droppings and she had spotted them!

So the tactic was that I was on point walking about 20m ahead of her just in case I stumbled on the beasties.

Clovenfords on the right

Getting steeper I am ignoring the moans lol

Thankfully the gradient and ascent was as straightforward as I hoped, although there was still a few moans behind me which I chose to ignore.

Because it was a low gradient there was always the chance of meeting the beasts so I was on alert but so far so good. These rolling Border hills are a delight and the views were superb.

Cow tracks on the grass

Another signpost junction was reached, none of the routes that we were taking, our summit was the communication masts which were clearly visible. The walking tracks went cross country but we continued on the grassy track. Deep hoof prints and coo dung on the track but still no encounters with them.

Arrived at the first mast where the map marks something called Wallace's putting stone. I presume this round boulder is it with its cup and stone markings.

However the true summit is just after the 2^nd mast, a trig is on this side of the wall but a huge cairn on the other side of the stone dyke is the true top although there does not appear to be any difference.

Proof she made it

Still it was a beautiful day, the good lady was enjoying the views which included looking over our old stomping ground of Galashiels and beyond the Eildon's at Melrose. 

Wall butterfly. Been in the wars chunks out of its tail and wing

A few butterflies were flying around but one in particular caught my attention. This was a Wall butterfly which was my 1^st sighting this year and only my 3^rd ever so a lovely surprise.

After taking in the views we enjoyed a slow descent taking in more views and enjoying the warmth.

A good ramble and no coos spotted so good news all round. Time to go for a wee drive and find a nice cafe.

Ascent: 262m

Distance: 5.56m

Time: 1.55

Wildlife: Buzzard; Meadow Pipit; Wood Pigeon; Wren; Pheasant; Kestrel; Small White butterfly; Peacock butterfly; Wall butterfly;