A return to the Culter Hills but the weather forecast was more than a little innaccurate.

Hills: Culter Fell (Originally named as Fiends Fell)(748m); Chapelgill Hill (696m)

Type: Donald/Graham

It was good to return to the rolling Culter Hills in the company of friends from Kilmarnock Ramblers. A smaller group due to Covid travel and a midweek outing but reached my target number. The Culter Hills are on the watershed between the valleys of the Rivers Clyde (draining into the Atlantic) and Tweed (draining into the north Sea).

According to the forecast it was to be a blustery but dry day with lots of sunshine, err nope. A weather front was predicted to blow through overnight and indeed I was aware of the rain hammering down when I went to bed. However, on travelling it had not cleared through as intended, more shades of grey up there in the sky than in the book.

The walk start was again from Culter Allers farm where as we prepared one of the biggest sheep I have ever seen tried to get away from the shepherdess by charging our lines. It didn't make it and when caught she gave that sheep a bawling out, wouldn't want to be on the wrong side of her myself. Still all were cheerful as we headed up the sheltered steep slope to the treeline where the wind let us know it was still around. I took the easier route to avoid the worst of the wind and also I was unsure of the group fitness.

We had a good view of Culter Fell and its huge deep cleugh. Before long the going got wetter underfoot but we reached the fence crossing in good time just as the wind increased. 

Some people wishing they were a bit more supple when crossing the obstacle. At least the clouds were not low enough to cover our tops but from this high viewpoint it was clear the weather front was broken and continuous.

We followed an ATV track Chapelgill Hill thus avoiding the peat hags which would have been a gloopy mess. Enjoyed the views over the Pentlands which looked to be in full sunshine. Closer to us the Broughton hills less so. Still the views down to Glenkirk farm were appreciated. As for the wind turbines they were rightly in the gloom.

At the summit it was far too windy to have a break so after reviewing the memorial plaque we backtracked to find a sheltered spot out of the westerly wind and indeed we found one so lunch was a more relaxed and pleasant affair.

On the steeper approach up to Culter (pronounced Cooter) Fell the wind upped its game and our group were staggering about as if drunk as the gusts tried to spin us around and make us lose our footing, but still the dark humour continued to make light of it all. Some heavy breathing on this ascent not all wind related.

Photographic battle in place.

We staggered to the top of Culter Fell where the wind decided it had not yet had enough fun and became almost storm force with some rain thrown in to not amuse us. The irony was that I had postponed this walk a few weeks ago as the forecast had been for excessively high winds!! It was also blinking cold on the top.

Once everyone had reached the top we were off. I decided against the shoulder as we would have been exposed to the full frontal so headed to lower ground as quickly as possible.

Thankfully nobody slipped on the sodden grassy surface and we reached the calmer ground and enjoyed the views over to the areas where there appeared to be blue skies and sunshine, jealous, yes. Tinto clear in this picture.

Back at the cars all agreed it had been an effort at times but that it had been an enjoyable walk and that is always the main objective. Exercise and laughter always a good combination particularly in these trying times. 

As I got changed at the car a weasel emerged from the grass beside me and sprinted into some other cover, a nice finish to the walk.

Wildlife: Red Grouse; Pheasant; Weasel; Meadow Pipit.

Ascent:709m 

Distance: 13.2km 

Time: 4.40m