Carn Ealasaid....Lizzie's hill

Hill: Carn Ealasaid
Category: Corbett
Height: 792m
The good lady was joining me today so it had to be something without challenge and Carn Ealasaid was perfect.

We parked on the grassy verge just further on from Corgaff Castle coming from the Lecht side.

Start here

A short walk back, crossing the River Don, towards the old Allague Hotel, now a private school outward bound centre, and took the track immediately behind it.

Cairn Vaich ahead

Follow the track to the abandoned farmhouse at Loinherry, the other building looks like a functional estate outhouse. The lower hill is soon in sight.

Just after this an estate path to the right takes you all the way to the summit. It takes a very gentle gradient in a slow zig zag heading for Cairn Vaich. 

Track all the way

Views of the Lecht in front of you for a long section. You know you are getting close when you arrive at the grouse butts. For the more energetic just go straight up the hill over the heather.

Some great views already of Ben Avon and the west Cairngorms.

Flat walking to the top

When we reached the top the good lady’s suspicions were confirmed, this is not the top, as she could see from the ongoing track. However, most of the ascent has been completed and now it is a high level flat walk across the tops enjoying the views. It is a very windy day, cool when the sun gets behind a cloud, warm when not.

Looking north to Ben Rinnes

A small cairn marks the summit, 1hour 40m for us. For a simple hill the 360 degree views were superb. Not far away to the south I could see yesterdays outing, Gael Charn, and beyond it Ben Avon. Lochnager and Mount Keen to the west.

Turning around Mondays conquest Ben Rinnes to the north and further round Morven. With all the other stuff to take in this a great spot for lunch and the good lady was delighted with my pick. 

The grouse butts

You can make this a circuit but for us it was back down the same way. On the descent I found a bullet case, which might explain why we only saw one hare, these estates don’t just manage hare population they decimate them. There was also the odd traditional shotgun cartridges for the grouse, which surprisingly we did not see or hear any, the inglorious 12th is still a few weeks away.

Overall a very successful walk, not a lot of effort, excellent views and yet another Corbett climbed without meeting another person.

White Corgaff castle with Brown Cow Hill behind it

On the descent I did point out to my wife, the nearby Corbett of Brown Cow Hill as another option for today but that was a step far too far. Coffee and cake in Tomintoul more the plan.

Wildlife: Mountain hare, Redshank, Meadow pipit, Raven, Wood Pigeon.
Time: 3.26m
Ascent: 1465ft (540m)
Distance: 7.7ml (12.5km)

Geal Charn from Dorback

Hill: Geal Charn Cairngorms
Category: Corbett
Height: 821m

Side view of summit area

After yesterday's tourist hill I wanted isolation and I got it. A small stop in Nethy Bridge to check the map, yes I had overshot by a little bit and missed the turn. Back on the right road and 8 miles later at the parking area just before Dorback Lodge. There is a sign indicating no parking, a turning area, it is very big, but being a good boy I parked on a nearby dirt area, room for 1 car. As I got my boots on an estate jeep came flying up, zoomed round the turning area and sped back down the road. Was he checking if I had parked in the no go zone?
I followed the WH route, anti clockwise, so no route map posted.

No water hazard today

Through the gate on the right and get a good view of the hill and the open moorland terrain ahead, no German tourists here today I suspect.
I crossed the first water hazard, the Dorback burn, no danger today although the water course shows how high and wide it can get.
There is a faint track to the ruined farm, Upper Dell, on which I was bombed by black headed gulls whose nests must be close by.
Now heading out over the moor but there is a good track to follow, passing the small hut and the lochan before crossing another burn, again just a step over. You have lost any height gained but continue on the path for a short while.

Turn right here

A small stack of stones on your right is the point to go onto the moor proper. There is a faint track on and off to give some guidance. In fairness the going was a lot easier than I anticipated but it is a mixture of grass and heather with boggy areas. Plenty of grouse springing today, all at the last minute to get the heart rate even higher.

1st cairn

My final route up to the first cairn, not the top, was probably a dried water course but still easier to walk on than the moor.
The views are now opening up with Meall a’Bhuachaille the first to show. Then Cairngorm covered in cloud but Bynack More is clear. 

Looking to Cairngorms

Good going now as the posts of an old fence line are a guide to the top, the cairn appearing over the crest and then the summit is reached, 1 hour 40m. 

Ben Avon

I am really glad that I did this as the views are once again superb. A truly remote hill, a real feeling of isolation and not another person seen apart from the parking area. This is another stand alone hill so a full panorama, due south the tors of Ben Avon are impressive. Yesterdays hill, Ben Rinnes is cloud free. Such panoramic views are what it is all about.

Thunder clouds coming my way

I was enjoying the view as the silence and solitude which was rudely broken when claps of thunder, very loud indeed, came from that Cairngorm stuff. The clouds had spread and were heading my way so off the hill I went.

Scarred track can be seen via rough terrain

My descent headed initially along the ridge and then veered left heading down towards the huge scar of the estate track. There is no correct route, pathless moorland, steeper than the ascent and wetter, this side holding moisture from recent rain. Twisted an ankle in a deep hole so care taken. Still rough moorland. Some red deer hinds scarper, must have heard me curse.
Near the bottom an estate ATV marks takes you to the track past the grouse butts, a dead/shot hare lying here. 

Sandy past

Now the track back which did seem like a long trudge. Although interestingly geology at one land side the sandy terrain is so evident, a reminder of our islands attachment to Africa many moons ago. More sand than in the bunkers of my golf course.
Some of the buildings near the lodge are occupied although sadly the main lodge is still a ruin. 

Grouse beater

Finally, I did have a laugh at the ‘grouse beater’ outside the lodge.
For the views and solitude this was well worth it.
Wildlife: Grouse, pheasant, golden plover, raven, red deer, kestrel with young.

Time: 3.24
Ascent: 546m
Distance: 13.6km

Ben Rinnes a short but worthwhile outing

Hill: Ben Rinnes
Category: Corbett
Height: 840m

Side view of Ben Rinnes from the road

Once again by far the hardest part of this walk was getting to the start. My sat nav took me to the wrong side of the hill, ie not Dufftown, which led to a journey through a myriad of small roads and nobody around to ask. A short detour to the village of Milltown of Edinvillie, pretty but empty of people and the wrong direction. I could see the hill but where to park. I stopped at the distillery and was kindly given the right info and finally got to the small car park, a couple of cars already there.

The start

In truth there is not a lot to write about this walk. There is a well constructed path that takes you all the way to the summit. 
The initial section zig zags up and around Round Hill and soon there is the first view of the white trig amidst the prominent rock formation. 

1st view of summit

I caught up with a couple of German tourists stopping for a wee chat.
There are gun butts and parking areas for estate vehicles so not sure if this route can be disrupted at shooting time as it looks like the beaters would flush the birds over the path.

Zig zag track

The track continues to zig zag at an easy gradient all the way up. I was expecting it to take longer but I arrived at the trig after 1hour 10min.
At the summit 4 foreign guys were huddled behind the trig, not really dressed for the occasion. As soon as I arrived they scampered, obviously didn’t like the look of me.

Trig looking to Cairngorms

Still I got the views to myself and superb they are today in this perfect air clarity. As a stand alone hill there is an excellent 360 deg panorama. The 2nd highest summit in Banffshire. There is a plaque on the trig but mainly it is the many distilleries that it is highlighting not the hills.

Good rock formation

No doubt that is Ben Nevis and the Glencoe hills. Turn a bit and looking over the Moray coast to Sutherland one particularly prominent hill far away. Another turn and looking east to Braemar, is that Mount Keen far away? Shuffle a bit more and now the Cairngorm range and Ben Avon’s distinctive top. A cracker of a view.

On descent Meikle Conval ahead

Visitors coming so no time to linger. On the way down another German couple, where are the Scots?
I meet up with some near the bottom, small kids already complaining could be a long day. Good views of Meikle and Little Conval, 2 sub 2000's for a future date, large tracks must be popular.

Car park full

Looking down on the car park it is now full the tourists are out in force.
A great little walk.

Time: 2.23
Ascent: 1713ft (590m)
Distance: 4.8ml (7.8km)

Lamington Hill

Hill: Lamington Hill
Category: Sub 2000/Marilyn
On my way to Edinburgh I went cross country to tick off the sub 2000 of Lamington Hill. I knew that this would only be a couple of hours at most up and down.

Tinto Hill

I parked up at the small kirk parking area at Lamington, a picturesque spot with Tinto behind.

Lovely countryside go left here

A short walk up the estate road before taking the cut off to the left, through a small wood, then out to the open countryside.
The heat was already fierce with flying insects everywhere.

Lamington Hill

Thankfully I soon got my first view of the hill. The bracken and long grass fully covered the lower slopes. After last weeks cleg bites the gaiters went on over my bare legs, might look odd but protection should be guaranteed.

View to the Pentlands

A short slog up the grassy slopes, legs still a bit achy, but got to the trig in 55 minutes.

Tinto again

The views were excellent in the clear air. Tinto to one side. The Pentlands next. Turn a bit then Biggar and Broughton hills. Another turn and Culter Fell is seen. Plus all the other closer sights to take in, really good for such little effort.

Heading back

On the grassy slopes oystercatchers, plovers and pipits all rose at times nests hidden away. Small Heath and ringlet butterflies. on the path back i sprung 3 of these from the grass verge, not sure young partridge or pheasant?

Young partridge or pheasant

Also on way back most sheep were in the shade, who said they were stupid, not today.
A quick outing with excellent views, glad I did this one today

Time: 1.53
Ascent: 319m
Distance: 6.6km

The Lomond Hills

I had a change of plan today from my original 3 Moorfoot Donald’s to 2 Fife Sub 2000’s. In reality this was a good choice as it was sweltering hot and my legs were just not on it today.
I also did these the easy way firstly copping out by driving up to the East Lomond car park. 
An interesting notice board to spend some time reading re the history of the hill as a fortress, artefacts that have been discovered and no wonder with this vantage point. 
A few people around already eating at tables, tourists? 

East Lomond viewfinder looking towards West Lomond

Then simply a case of a short walk up to the summit of East Lomond 380m. Delighted to see a kestrel hovering, a rare sight these days. Despite its short stature it commands open views for far and wide.

Falkland below

What views despite the warm air. As the plaque points out a multitude of hills, Schiehallion’s point is clear, Lochnagar is in sight, a conquest from a few weeks ago but I will have to take the direction indicator‘s word.
Back down and a not easy trip to the Cairnsmede parking area, sat nav would not recognise it. In Falkland, no signage so I resorted to Google maps which did the trick and got me there.
As soon as I left the woods East Lomond is very close behind but I am heading the other way across the moor. A straightforward trudge along a well maintained track where a surprisingly wet peat hag was evident.

West Lomond

In this prolong heat every other one on bigger hills have dried up. Continuing this track until I reach the base. The track goes left and maybe winds round it but there is a direct path carved out by a few walkers.

West Lomond trig

It is a short sharp ascent, there a few people resting about half way up.
Protesting calves got me to the trig of West Lomond, 522m, higher than its close neighbour. The trig was covered everywhere by a very large swarm of wasps who were angrily buzzing around it and the nearby rocks. Not the place to take lunch.

Looking back to East Lomond

Fortunately a few good spots nearby and even better views of the distant hills as well as the lush Fife countryside and Loch Leven. I remember fishing it on a day like this, nothing moved or was caught.
Just a great 360 panorama to enjoy with my banana and crisps. All the way to Tinto in the south, Berwick Law, the Firth of Forth and the northern hills, too many for me to identify.

Apart from the wasps, a couple of pipits, a few butterflies and a young hare was all on show here.
A short warm hike back to the car, as said that was enough for today.

Combined stats.
Time:
Ascent:
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Glen Fruin Graham double

A cracking day yesterday covering the two southernmost Luss Grahams. In the extra special summer heat this was a long and challenging circuit with two steep ascents and one very steep descent.
We started at the A817 cut off, room for 4-5 cars. 

Reservoir with our hills either side

I decided to go anti-clockwise but either way is an option. Go through the gate and normally head immediately up the grassy slopes of Auchengaich Hill to get to the point where it levels off. We had to walk up the path a bit as a herd of cattle with youngsters were camped en route, just in case.
This 300m grassy ascent is pathless, the bracken and nettles were growing high and the breathing was fast. Already great views of the circuit and the reservoir.

Beinn Charoach from Beinn Tharsuinn

Once on top cross the boggy terrain, clegg bite draws blood, and head up to Beinn Tharsuinn, via a faint ATV track, where a small stone set marks the top. Great views of the Luss Hills.
Follow the fence up to Beinn Chaorach, the first summit, cairn on left but cross fence to trig if you need to. More superb views including the Arrochar hills and well beyond.

The ascent route to Beinn a'Mhanaich is clear to the right of the main fault line

Follow the fence along the plateau where there are superb views of the next target and the route. Now at times a very steep descent to the bottom. The fence is useful to grab onto at times.

Looking back to Beinn Chaorach

Looking back from the floor the descent just undertaken can be more appreciated.

Head up here to right of gorge

There is an option break the walk here and to walk back to the reservoir via the burn, cannot get lost.

Looking back to the climb

The fence can be followed almost all the way up to Beinn a’Mhanaich but it is another 300m or so of at times very steep ascent, the legs were feeling it.
 

a'Mhanaich summit looking to Loch Lomond

Once on top a small cairn is the finish but there are even more extensive views including the Lochgoilhead hills.
No military on duty today so we descended via the ridge along to The Strone where we the descended to the reservoir. This was a mistake as the terrain was awful, very difficult walking and two more clegg bites, obviously the protection does not work for me.

Ridge to The Strone and Firth of Clyde

 If doing it again I would continue all the way down the ridge until it joins the A817 and risk the short road walk back to the cars.
We were a small party but a couple of them had underestimated the difficulty of pathless terrain in this oppressive heat so took about an hour longer than expected.
Still a walk not many people will do but I would recommend it, on a good days the views are well worth it.
PS: Surprisingly we never spotted another walker on any of the Luss hills on such a nice day.

Time: 6.34hr
Ascent: 967m
Distance: 12.3km