Return to gather Gathersnow Hill

A quick getaway from work and I was flying down the A74 towards Abington. I carried on to the Culter Fell spot that I had done a couple of weeks ago and decided to go back up Culter Fell as it was a cold, crisp and beautiful day. I got to the top of this hill in just over an hour before heading over towards Gathersnow Hill - notably, this would have been horrendously boggy in other conditions but it was fine down to the bealach. I dumped my bag and stormed up my 2nd objective of the day passing some snow just below the plateau. A trek across towards the tiny cairn saw me there at 1615 and a rapid descent and walk back along the reservoir felt good on the legs (in my duvet trousers - supreme!). I love these afternoon 'thefts' of hills not far from my doorstep with the early evening alpenglow. It almost feels a little dangerous to be on the hill so late in the day.

Culter Fell Candy

Fence smashed by Hurricane B**bag, panels delivered at 1030 and a bit of repair work before 1200 meant that the late afternoon sunshine had to be taken advantage of. Left Glasgow at 1300 and arrived at Culter Allers farm for 1400 - always a bit odd to drive South to do hills and it was a lovely drive from Abington to Coulter - spotted a wee pub for a post hill aperitif. It was great to be out in dry, fresh weather and such a short outing would mean great views across the hills to a setting sun. Craig was with me and he had only been out in fairly inclement weather with me so this was a bit of a novelty for him. The walk up Fell Shin was steep and had the blood pumping, yet the stalkers path made for good going and as we passed the grouse butts and cairn, we relaxed into the walk as views quickly appeared over to Tinto. We entered the snow line at about 680m, where the ground firmed up and it felt like Winter once again - I mean proper Winter, nae these winds and rain. The summit trig point and moon appeared and a North wind started to blow strong - as we arrived at the summit, with the sun setting, Craig began to thrown himself into the wind and laugh like a child, while running around the trig point. Our return trip was interspersed with a cup of tea in one of the grouse butts, while the temperature plummeted with the sun. 2.5 hours for a fantastic wee hill and an afternoon Winter stroll has a lot to commend it with the light being so different than normal - au crepescule (check out the vocab, Graeme D). A pint of the Lia Fail in the Old Mill Inn and it was a fine wee day.