Magnificent Three Beinns horseshoe on Arran

Hill/Walk: Three Beinns, Arran
Category: Corbett
Height: 
Yesterday was a grand day on Arran where we tackled the Three Beinns of Beinn a Chliabhian, Beinn Tarsuinn (The Corbett) and Ben Nuis in an anti-clockwise circuit. 

Crossing the very wet and very boggy grass for an hour. The circuit on the left.

I have posted a walk report these hills previously so I will keep this short and let the magnificent beauty of the island take centre stage. On days last this it is a magnificent experience that few in the Central belt will share, their loss.
A slightly different route in that we took the bus up the String Road saving the long trek in through Glen Rosa.

Stile for deer fence but no help for the burn crossing, nobody fell in.

Although we did have to cross the burn twice, thankfully it was not running too high.
Apart from the amazing scenery the highlight of the day was on the descent where I came across a black adder, a first for me. It was sunning itself on a rock, almost stood on it as foliage covered the track. I started to get my camera out when it darted its head forward, forked tongue came out in attack mode then immediately slipped away into the long grass, quite superb.
An excellent walk in great weather which provided spectacular views. The company in excellent form as well.

Beinn a' Chliabhan hill number 1

Our target on left of ridge, Pagoda ridge and A'Chir on the right

Cir Mhor in centre, The Saddle and North Goatfell to the right

Beinn Tarsuinn ahead, the knoll on right has to be negotiated

Hands on needed on Consolation Tor to get to Corbett top

The full Goatfell ridge through the gap at The Old Man of Tarsuinn

Great rock formations up here, further along the view into Glen Rosa, Holy Isle in background.

The descent down Coire na Cuiseig

Cooling off

Wildlife: Black Adder, Raven, Stonechat, Meadow pipit, Scotch Argus, Peacock, Painted Lady,
Time: 6.31
Ascent: 2888ft 1058(m)
Distance: 11.69m 18.7(km)

A stunning horseshoe circuit, Hart Fell.

Hill: Hart Fell, Swatte Fell, Under Saddle Yoke.
Category: Corbett/Donald x2
Height: n/a
Weather forecast suggested this area might be the best place in Scotland to avoid torrential rain and thunderstorms, would it be accurate.
Well, that was one cracking walk but what a toughie, particularly the initial climb to Swatte Fell. 

Start ascend the left side Hang Gill gulley

We decided to walk anti clockwise to head up the side of the ravine. Boy did that get the heart rate up. I foolishly decided to leave my walking polls in the car as not been using them much recently. But this was definitely a slope for them. Walkhighlands says ‘from here the next stage of the ascent becomes extremely steep‘ no exaggeration!! The bracken was fairly high but the main challenge was wet slippery morning dew grass on very steep gradients meant I was grabbing all sorts to haul myself up, including the fence wire, wow what a start. Heart racing, jelly legs and we have a long way to go.

Sun briefly shines down below on Black Hope burn

The views were superb particularly when the sun briefly illuminated the slightly grey skies.

Black Craig, don't step back 350m straight down

 There is a brief reprieve as we follow the fence before there is an unrelenting climb towards Black Craig. A pair of red kites glide past. Big drops down to the right with excellent views across the glen to our descent and final hill Under Saddle Yoke.
Another brief respite as the terrain flattens going past the small cairn, thought at first this was the Donald top but no, slightly higher ground ahead, a fence, the top, Swatte Fell seems to be unmarked but GPS said we were there, did we miss something? An unrelenting ascent, no doubt.

Upper Coomb Craig with Upper Saddle yoke behind

We headed along the wet ground to Falcon Craig. I assume there are falcons but none spotted. Down to the col at Hass o' the Red Roads, I love the border names on the hills around here and across Galloway.

Falcon Craig

Once again the world goes upwards, another steep climb before flattening out and I was delighted and relieved to recognise the trig of the Corbett Hart Fell. I needed my lunch. Last time I was here I came up the other side via Arthurs Seat, not the famous one.

Cool spot for lunch Hart Fell trig

No rain for us so far but we could see showers around as we took in the excellent all round views. Lunch was relatively brief as the wind went through the gears to very strong and it was decidedly cooler.

Picturesque rolling border hills

As always in the border hills you tend to follow the fenceline as we did for a while before descending through the now pathless grassy slopes and peat hags.

Upper Saddle Yoke ahead

The final Donald can be seen but there is an unwelcome descent through plenty of rough, tussocky, boggy ground in between. 

Descent from Hart Fell

The ascent to Under Saddle Yoke is a plod through mostly pathless ground, follow the sheep trails when you can, just keep heading up. Take a breather and look back and down to the glen, the views are excellent. A fence needs to be negotiated, it is electrified but wasn’t on, if it was there is a stile to assist. Another short climb beckons, the last, not quite!

Twin tops Under and Saddle Yoke

From the top of Under Saddle Yoke there is one more descent and re-ascent along an excellent narrow, arete-like grassy ridge leading to the summit of Saddle Yoke. As Walkhighlands says ‘This fine ridge is quite unlike most hillwalking in the south of Scotland‘.

Narrow ridge

It is a good place to spend a few minutes taking in the views as you get a panoramic view of almost all of today’s circuit. It looks pretty dammed fine from here. The Jelly Babies very welcome as well.
The winds halted our fun, once again very strong and gusty, time to make the excellent looking descent. I would not want to be on exposed places in these gusts.

Fine descent ridge

Followed the track, grass not wet but smooth and shiny so a few heel slips occurred, care was needed, no accidents now please, almost home.
Our cars can now be seen and we veer off the track to the right through more slippery grass to meet the barbed wire fence, no stile this time and then the track back to the cars. Stop here and look back up the glen, it is a superb view.
A tough walk done at a fast pace. Good company and great views. No rain what's not to like.

Wildlife: Red Kite, Buzzard, Meadow Pipit, Carrion Crow.
Time: 4.26
Ascent: 3126ft 
Distance: 8.49m 

Nice to get out for a walk, Ben Lomond via Ptarmigan ridge

Hill: Ben Lomond
Category: Munro
Height: 974m
A day out with the Ayr OIR and delighted to get a proper hill walk, it feels like ages.
The weather forecast predicted a generally fine day with occasional showers.
Our plan was to ascend via the Ptarmigan ridge and come back the tourist route.

Looking north from the start

The car park was very busy for a midweek, mainly foreign voices, probably looking for their trophy hill for their trip. Many that we saw on the day woefully under equipped for a serious hill walk.

Ascending the bracken slopes

We started by zig zagging up the bracken encroaching path, single file only, a good pace maintained, sweating already.
Stopped for a short break mainly to put on waterproofs, yes we had met that occasional shower, more like a downpour. Some young kids came bounding past us further deflating the group egos.

The Cobbler

Great views across to The Cobbler and its companion hills, thankfully the rain has cleared so we can see them.

Interesting landscape

The showers were off and now blue sky above as we approached the final ascent of Ptarmigan ridge. 

Ptarmigan ridge climb ahead

In the winter this is a totally different proposition, a dangerous area, but today just hard graft.

I said it was busy!!

However the winds increased and it was bloody cold, many extra layers and gloves donned, yip still summer.
Relieved to reach the top, bio rhythms out of sync today this was harder than it should have been.

Don't see a brolly on top of a Munro every day

A short food break before making the long trail down the tourist path. There were many still ascending. It is an easy descent but it is also a bit of a drudge, good views though.

Long descent but take in the views

Looking back the cloud had covered the top, yet again, but we were shedding clothes, that type of day.
As always a good hill, excellent views with this air clarity, good company and humour, a fine day out.

Wildlife: As expected on a hill with so many people only the ravens!!
Time: 4.54
Ascent: 3172ft 
Distance: 7.85m 

Cunbrae at least it is a walk

Walk: Isle of Cumbrae
Category: Other walk

This weather has been doing my head in, three walks cancelled in the last week or so. So it was with some relief to get a short walk in. I realised I hadn’t walked the island this year, usually do it two or three times a year, so off I went. 
Not a full blog, I will let the snaps do the talking. A very enjoyable walk but my feet were sore at the end, too much tarmac walking. And this was in trail walking shoes rather than boots.
From Millport spotted a nuclear sub on the horizon passing Arran, made a young boys day when I pointed it out to him.
There is always plenty of birdlife to be seen on Cumbrae and today didn’t disappoint. Lots of butterflies and a black bunny.

Its always the holiday feeling when getting on a ferry

Approaching Cumbrae

There must have been over 50 of these off Largs

Peacock likes the thistles

Black rabbit all on its own

Nuclear sub heading home

Tide is out round Millport Bay

View from the highest point

Plenty of berries on the Rowan, winter fuel?

scenic spot for lunch

Has it had a coat of paint?

Wildlife: Gannet; Herring gull; Hooded crow; Curlew; Large White; Painted Lady; Small green veined white; Peacock; Chaffinch; Meadow pipit; Swift; Pied Wagtail; Swallow; Wood warbler; House Martin; Raven; Sparrowhawk; Buzzard; Eider; Stonechat; Mallard; Common seal; Lesser black backed gull; Widgeon; Chiffchaff/Willow warbler; Meadow brown; Black Rabbit.

Time: 4.09
Ascent: 791ft 
Distance: 10.55m 

The Knock of Crieff

Hill: Knock of Crieff
Category: Sub2k
Height: 279m
On my way back from the mighty Tay I had about 2 hours free so I  decided to tick off a new but quick Sub 2k. My map showed a few possibilities on my route but this was the quickest.
Although it was quick it turned out to be an enjoyable short hike.
The car park is just after the horse riding set up. Lots of jodhpurs around today.
I was informed that this wood is one of the few where red and grey squirrels cohabit but I saw neither today.

Natural woodland at start

A steep pull up the marked trail through the oak trees until I saw a hefty woman standing still holding a big horse. Just as well she had some weight as she was struggling to hold this frisky horse. If it broke free it was only heading in one direction, mine. At least there are a few trees to hide behind. Warily I got to them, the woman explained it was a very young horse being trained!!
After the excitement the walk continued before more excitement as an MTB rider came down the narrow track at speed but did at least brake.

Most walkers might stop here

Then out of the natural wood with wide views now on your left. Glen Turret beyond, Ben Chonzie and Auchnafree Hill would be in view but low cloud still covers the tops. 

Monzie Castle

Still nice good into the picturesque valley with Monzie castle just in sight, surrounded by trees. 

Deforested track to the top

There has been significant deforestation around which meant I took the detour to the highest point. Walkhighlands says not to bother but that was obviously written before the trees cut down. 

Summit

Still a messy top, the small spread out stone pile might represent a cairn. Looking over to the mast on Milquhanzie hill, the site of a hill fort.

MTB trail

Beside this there is another MTB trail, not one for the inexperienced. I have noticed that lot of the forestry hills around here have specialist MTB trails, good for them.

Open views

I rejoined the main trail as a guy appeared with two dogs off the lead, one of which starts growling away at me, what's going on today?
The trail descends and winds its way around The Knock and then back into the woods heading back towards Crieff Hydro. There is an option to extend the walk around the golf course but knowing my luck with incidents today I would probably get hit by a run away golf buggy.

Ringlet

Stacks of woodland birds and butterflies to admire.

Wildlife: Jay, Chaffinch, Mistle thrush, Blue Tit, Large tit, Greenfinch, Wood pigeon, Peacock, Ringlet, Small tortoiseshell.
Time: 1.01
Ascent: 421ft
Distance: 2.67m