Hunt Hill

After leaving mum and dad's, I drove South - initial thoughts were for Mount Battock but I decided I'd head down to Loch Lee and take in the Graham, Hunt Hill. The walk along the loch was wonderful and there was a very pretty graveyard, just 1 km from the start.

The wind across the loch was quite cold for September; I began to run/walk and after an hour, the imposing crags of Craig Maskeldie came into view. The sun emerged and it felt good to be out and in the glens. What little rain was falling soon dispersed with the appearance of a rainbow. Fit bonnie.

I decided to head up the shoulder of Hunt Hill, through the heather. It was a bit of tough yomp but I soon reached the bogs. Aaaagh! The view back to Craig Maskeldie made up for it though, with the Falls of Uinich cascading down the coire in the distance. 

I had about a 1km walk to the summit and eventually approached the small cairn, with very nice views to Mount Keen and Lochnagar. This was a beautifully wild place and heading back to the lip of the hill, the view back to Loch Lee and Maskeldie was stunning. An awkward descent back into the coire, finally saw me attain the path and a lovely walk/run back to the car. An 18-km day in 4 hours. Graham no. 76. One of the best it has to be said.

Meall Mor - Glen Glass

As the new Programme Lead for the MSc in IPC, I was making my way North for student induction. It had been several months since I'd been on a hill and that Cnoc Fyrish with my wee one and wife. Thus, it was I found myself heading past the Black Isle towards Evanton, where the weather was better. I had decided on this Graham, which would be a decent afternoon out and hopefully afford some fine views. I was satisfied on both accounts. I got the lodge gates for just after 1300 and decided on waterproofs from the off, as it was light rain. It was mild enough so just took the small pack so I could run the flats. The first couple of kilometres were nothing to shout home about, through dead forestry but once I could see Loch Glass, it really opened up. Across the loch I could see a large house painted pink!

The ascent of the hill started up an old Land Rover/bulldozer track that wend its way through forestry and as such, it was difficult to perceive the incline. Eventually, I topped out above the trees at about 500m. From here, it was a bit of a heather/bog hop past the wind turbines and on to the shoulder of the Graham proper. The view back to the turbines and the sea was lovely.

After a couple of hours, I eventually made it up to the summit trig point and the vast expanse of Northern Scotland stretched away. I sat and sent messages to Emma to say I was ok and heading down.

I decided to head straight off the summit to the loch and although steep, I was down to the old path in good time. I dipped the feet into the loch for an invigorating soak, then started the walk back out to the car. However, this part of the path was quite overgrown and obviously not used much as I soon discovered an adder sunning itself on a rock. It soon slithered away at rapid pace and I believe that was possibly the first time I have every seen one, with its black and brown zigzag markings. I felt further energised by that chance encounter and enjoyed the run/walk back through the forest and to the car. My 75th Graham in approximately 4 hours.