Beinn Damhain

Far from the Easter madding crowd. A morning stolen, alone. The walk into the hill is uncomplicated, along a land rover track and aside from the initial ugly pylons, the climb up on to this Graham, is excellent. The highlight of the trip apart from the fantastic views from the summit, is the lochain at about 500m. It provided a beautiful foreground to Ben Vorlich and would also be a lovely area for a summer wild camp. At one point, I was actually lying on the ice and it felt 'right'. There was nobody else on this hill except me, which is a shame as it offers a lot. Even with a relaxing meander, the walk only took me 4 hours. Views to Beinn Bhuidhe, Meall an Fhudair, the Crianlarich hills, the Paps of Jura and of course, Beinn Chabhair across Loch Lomond mean that the summit is an excellent place to while away some time. A gem, only 1 hour from Glasgow.

Cairnsmore of Fleet - a game of two halves

I had long been itching to do this Graham, the most Southernly and one which had a significant memorial stone at the top. More than 20 airmen have died on this hill since the 1940s and each and every one is accounted for. I parked near the A75 and began the gentle stroll through the farmland, stopping to chat to a bloke who appreciated my not parking behind his house - again, the guide book says to do this. Perhaps it needs updating. I found the walk through the forest quite depressing as there is little to see and the track was a muddy bog. I took my first bacon sandwich just as I emerged from the forest at about 400m. From here, I could see the sun splitting the skies over the South but to the North, Cairnsmore of Fleet was shrouded in cloud. Typical.

The path was excellent from here and zig-zagged up the mountain. Wild goats emerged from the gloom but ran away as soon as they heard the unzipping of my...camera sac. Once I reached the plateau, it was a pleasant amble over to the memorial stone whereupon the sad fate of those airmen was written in history. I was surprised by the lack of snow at 700m but was glad for the large shelter, where I took lunch and pondered life and its whims. I ventured over to the crags on the NE face but with poor visibility, I could not make these out very well. I am sure that this is a nice hill on a summer's day but I found it a a little depressing in such conditions. In saying that, the memorial put everything into context, particularly with the relatively recent loss of Captains' Seagren and Spalding of the United States Air Force on 28th March, 1979.

Timber on Millfore!

On holiday in Dumfries-shire (d'ye ken the Glenkens?) Craig and I set off from the Black Loch car park, which appeared to have become a logging site. This wasn't in the guide book, which admittedly was 10 years old. Anyway, we put signage and common sense behind us and strode manfully around the loch until a 100ft conifer was felled 100m from us. To say the pair of us purged our bowels was an understatement. After running 60 metres in a time that Usain Bolt would have been proud of, we got the 'helloutathir'. An uncomplicated meander up the forest track saw us at a point where we could leave man-made tracks behind and commence the relatively gentle ascent up on to Millfore.

At about 500m, we entered the snow line and the wind from the South battered us until we hid behind the ridge, to the North. It was the first time in a while that Craig had been out so we took plenty of wee stops for tea and sandwiches. This allowed us to catch up on life, risk and business. His camouflage was also excellent as can be evidenced in the photograph. Finally, we emerged on to the ridge proper just past the precariously perched cairn-on-boulder. From here, it was a simple stroll into the fierce wind to the trig point whereupon some Warrior 1 was enacted. A quick descent saw us back at the car in just under 3 hours and a nice start to the holiday.  Just take heed of the signage.

Beinn Suidhe - big consolation in isolation

I knew that I was being over-optimistic when I hatched a plan to tackle Beinn nan Aighenan from Loch Tulla but I also knew that if time was short, or conditions were inclement, that I could check out Beinn Suidhe. As it was, I never got to the car park until 0900 so I figured it was going to be a no-no. As I walked into Glen Kinglas, I wasn't too worried since the views ahead were magnificent. I relaxed into the walk and really relished this occasion. Having taken ownership of a bulldogue francaise, she has been quite a bind. Plus, her short stature presently doesn't allow for hill terrain. That will be tested on Conic Hill soon enough though....hehe. The walk past the turn-off for Clashgour feels remote and the impressive crags of Beinn Suidhe soon come to the fore. Not a hill to be tackled direttisima. As I approached Loch Dochard, Meall nan Eun looked magnificent. As did the sweeping peak of Albannaich. It looked cold up there. I had a cup of cha and some ricky pig crisps - fit fine. The climb up on to Beinn Suidhe itself was pleasant until I emerged on to the ridge proper. An icy blast from the North soon refrigerated exposed flesh and I was grateful for my layers and snazzy new Buff - rebuffed by the dog in actual fact. Ungrateful hound. The views from this smaller hill are quite something. Loch Dochard appeared very frozen and the weather closed on in over the larger hills. For once, happy to be on smaller ground. A relatively untechnical down climb from the shorter peak at 636 saw me at a deer fence but the route back to the car was uncomplicated and serene. A moment with a stag beside the river and just below Stob Ghabhar was exquisite. A fantastic day out with a big consolation.

Pressendye

Time up in Aberdeen meant that a potential hill in the 'gorms was in the offing. However, the weather had deteriorated considerably and the snow meant that the roads in Aberdeenshire were brutal. Rather than drive all the way to Braemar and be rewarded by snow gates or a likely epic up Beinn Bhrotain, I decided on a shorter day. I parked up at the Petts farm after a harum-scarum drive and got clad to the hilt. I climbed the various zigzags and ventured into a snow storm. No route issues but a very pleasant walk, with picnic tables scattered around the summit of Pittenderich. The final climb to the summit of Pressendye was tough due to the thigh deep snow but the large cairn and shelter afforded phone calls back to worried relatives and wifelet. Views to Morven were obscured by the cloud level so in that sense, my choice was more than justified. 3 hours from bottom to bottom and a return to mother P's fine food meant that it was a victory rather than an opportunity lost.

Beinn Bhreac and Tullich Hill

Since we got the pooch, it has not been possible to escape for long. It just isn't fair on the dog and so with Em's permission, I was granted the morning off. A nice withdrawal from the emotional bank account! I drove North and not far - hard to believe within 45 minutes, I could be in Glen Douglas and experience the solitude, which I so craved. Rather than make for the slog up Tullich Hill, I stuck to the forest and began the boggy approach up Bhreac. My recent chest infection slowed me down but I still felt quite fit and after a few stops and appreciation of the improving views, I topped out to stupendous views down the whole length of Loch Lomond. The far North looked very white indeed although my presence at 680m meant that I would be excluded from the worst of the weather, which swept in across the larger mountains. The summit is a place to while away some time and an interesting exploration revealed significant rock fissures and evidence of landslip - not a place to explore in the depths of Winter perhaps.

I reluctantly left my resting spot and carried on over to Ben Reoch. Pleasant enough but it did little for me, except provide a relatively steep decline before the re-ascent of Tullich up through some crags. From Tullich Hill, views were good across the glen and to the Cobbler, which looked iconic as per. The descent off Tullich Hill was interesting with a small lochan and two large stones - a fascinating frame for a photo across the glen. I arrived back at the car in just after 4 hours and felt replenished. Nice couple of hills, which leaves me tantalisingly short of the 300-mark for hills over 2000ft.

In Burns country - Blackcraig Hill

A rare sojourn south to Glen Afton and Burns' country. The drive along the glen was clear and uncomplicated but as I parked, the clag was hanging at about 500m. I decided to head past the farm and made along the decent track to Quintin Knowe and its large cairn. I couldn't see a thing and took a compass reading due South up the obvious slope. After about 25 minutes, I arrived at one of several cairns before the trig point emerged from the gloom. I took tea and a sandwich, while huddling against the cold breeze. The first snows are upon us even at 700m. I had decided before the walk to make a loop and take in the neighbouring Donalds of Blacklorg Hill and Alhang. The walk between these hills was not easy as the land is boggy and full of soft hummocks. Fortunately, by the time I descended off the 2nd Donald, the views opened up and I really enjoyed the freedom. There was not a soul on the hill all day sauf moi. Windy Standard was covered in wind turbines and it is shocking that such desecration of land has been allowed to happen. Could you imagine it on Ben Lomond for example or any other Munro? Je ne crois pas. All that remained was the return to the car past an abandoned fruit and veg van. Clearly, NHS Ayrshire and Arran Health Promotion have a job on their hands with the one of the five a day message. I was happy to have 3 hills in a day. Amen.