Heads of Ayr.Bower Hill.

It was a day of two half's. I didn't mind walking into the mist with no views to bag Alex his chosen hill as long as we then went somewhere scenic and sunny.Thankfully it was a short ascent as we parked high up on the moors.Here's a pic of the highland coos on the moor road.
My own chosen pimple of some distinction was Bower hill and the Heads of Ayr.I`d walked round the coast from here years ago under the heads all the way to rocky Dunure where we had a meal and a tasty pint then walked it back to Ayr inland along the disused railway track.I remember it being a cracking summers day walk with great variety.
Now I would get the chance to climb the steep sea cliff of Bower hill where the Carrick range plunges abruptly into the sea.


I`d forgotten just how scenic this part of the coast was,pity about the smell coming from a sewage works and the massive holiday camp (formally Butlins) which we had to pass on our way to the hill.
We parked at Longhill Point,hit the sand and outgoing tide just right and soon reached the signposted path up the hill.This looked somewhat overgrown and steep but as a path sign pointed the way up we thought it would be a dawdle.
As Alex remarked later when we both decided no way were we going back down that way if it was over rock it would have been a graded climb.Moderate or Diff.

Steep,loose,laughingly slippy and boasting more overhanging furry bits than a werewolf Bower hill was a hoot. I loved it! Alex less so.
We only managed to climb it due to a cunning ladder of tree roots,rotten branches and crumbling mud ledges that just held our weight.

"I`m not enjoying this Bob! Its not my kind of thing at all this stuff!"Said Alex as he bridged carefully up between two disintegrating tree trunks."Somethings had a real doing here!"
He was right.This wooded cliff must be a haven for wildlife.Well those few birds and animals that remained that is. I`ve never seen such a carnage of beaks, squeaks fur and feathers in such a small area.Every new handhold or ledge revealed a pair of torn off jackdaw legs lying on a tree stump or a pile of bloody feathers or fur and the odd eyeball scattered around.
At the top it got even steeper bringing us eyeball to eyeball with an entire jigsaw puzzle collection of little victims.I really got into trying to build a whole animal out of the bits but Alex was not impressed with the result. "Looks like a womble!"he grumbled. He knows nowt about art though.

"God it`s getting worse" he moaned."This is your daftest hill yet!"
"Wait until you see whats next!" I called down.
Alex didn't like the hawthorn tunnel much either.Whats wrong with that boy! Fine sunny afternoon and a wildlife extravaganza into the bargain.

He soon perked up though when we topped out into a grassy Field (we could have came up a ******* field?) and found a trig right on the edge of the precipice.We had lunch admiring the views along the coast.

Not wanting to go back down the overhanging garden route we walked further along the cliffs towards Dunure then cut down an easy rampline between the two summits onto the beach then back to the car.
A fun day!!!!!!! Well I enjoyed it.

Craigenreoch.

You couldn`t make it up if you tried.Sunday was the last day in the calendar year of the blog pursuing blue skies and sunshine.We had one shower of rain on Blackhope Scar last summer and a day of snow and sleet showers on Kaim Hill last March but even on those days we still managed to stay below the cloud.Not today..!

The usual forecast study predicted that Galloway and the Ayrshire coast would probably be the best of a bad bunch.I managed to persuade Bob that a small hill would be in order and suggested Craigenreoch on the western fringes of Galloway.....an easy enough hill .We cut off south at Maybole and through Crosshill before heading up the single track road to over 1,000ft on the way towards North Balloch.The weather had improved all the way south but on our first view of our chosen hill the clag had made an appearance although the summit was just about visible.A quick compromise was reached.A quick flog up the hill to keep me happy and the afternoon would see Bob pursuing some blue sky on the coast.


From North Balloch we gained height again up the Nick of the Balloch road.A fabulous remote feeling up here for somewhere so close to "civilisation".If you can call Ayrshire civilisation that is :-)

We pulled in to the small parking place at the summit....


Within five minutes of leaving the car we were in the mist.One of the advantages of hillwalking in the sunshine is that you don`t need to burden yourself with all the paraphernalia that you would normally require.As the year has progressed my rucksack has been getting correspondingly smaller and lighter.So light in fact that it didn`t contain a compass.Neither did Bob`s :)
It was fairly straightforward as hills go though and it wasn`t long before the trig point loomed out of the mist...


A quick about turn and we were off back down to the car and some sunshine for Bob.As usual, as we headed away down the Nick of the Balloch road on the return journey, the sun decided to taunt us by putting in a belated appearance.

Heading down the Nick of the Balloch road...



Looking back to the hills from the farm at North Balloch...


Bob will be along in a couple of days to conclude this day out with some photos of sunny places :)

Beinn Suidhe.

A quick phone call midweek and we had a booking for 4 folk at Glasgow University`s tiny hut at Clashgour near Bridge of Orchy.Bob was suffering from a ligament problem and doesn`t really fancy bigger stuff anymore sadly which left Scott,Gavin,Graham and myself to set off from Glasgow at 6.00pm.A stop for fish suppers in Balloch (interesting nightlife there Bob..! ) meant that it was nearly 9.00pm when we pulled into the car park at Forest Lodge.On with the headtorches and sacks and we sped into Clashgour.


I had never actually seen inside it before and any hopes I harboured that it would resemble the Tardis spacewise were immediately knocked on the head on opening the door :)


Nevertheless we got the fire going with the 10kg of coal we had carried in,opened the wine and settled in for the night.Went to bed at the reasonably early time for us of 1.30am mainly due to the fact that the wine supply had disappeared mysteriously.Probably Gavin`s fault...just look at the evil grin staring down from the upstairs sleeping quarters....


Alarms went off at 7am and we had a quick cup of coffee whilst watching a rather nice sunrise over Beinn an Dothaidh and Beinn Dorain.....


Scott and Graham headed of for Stob Ghabhar shortly after while I graciously gave Gavin an extra half hour to recover from his hangover.My plan had been to do the circuit of Beinn Suidhe,Beinn a`Chuirn,Meall Tairbh and Beinn Inverveigh but a niggling sore toe convinced me to settle for an easy day on Beinn Suidhe alone which suited Gavin`s condition also :)

The bearded one and I set off eventually at about 9ish along the banks of the Abhainn Shira where there were huge slabs of ice littering the path,a remnant of the big freeze a few weeks ago.
The bridge over the Allt Ghabhar at NN 238 420 has been removed for safety reasons by the estate but it was easy enough to get across the stepping stones today.Along the riverside to the bridge over the Abhainn Shira and across onto the track heading for Glen Kinglas.


It was pretty nippy in the shade but the sunshine,as predicted, was now on the hills above.
We carried on westwards until a gate on the left gave access to a path leading to the gap betwen Tom Liath and Beinn Suidhe itself.From there it was a steep ascent weaving through the outcrops up to Pt.636.No rush though and we stopped on numerous occasions to admire the views as they opened out.It really was a fine day.

Stob Coir an Albannaich....


The snowfields across to the summit were crisp and a pleasure to walk upon unlike Auchtertyre Hill a few weeks previously.We surprised a lovely hill fox halfway across and he trotted off down to Glen Kinglas having been denied a ptarmigan supper by our appearance.We did however leave him a compensatory corned beef sandwich in case he came back over later.

Stob Ghabhar...


What a great summit for views.! All the way round from a cloud covered Loch Awe,Cruachan,Kinglas and Etive hills,Stob Ghobhar,Rannoch Moor and the Bridge of Orchy hills..fantastic :) We dithered around for the best part of an hour before a slight wind got up and the cold chased us off.

Glas Bheinn Mhor...


The clouds had been hanging around the hills to the east of Bridge of Orchy all morning .....



The return was made down the western slopes as it looked like the frozen surface of Loch Dochard and the late afternoon light might provide some good photos.....


The sounds coming off the frozen loch were amazing.The ice was creaking,groaning and crashing....





Back along the path,just around the Allt Suil na Curra we were treated to a close up of a golden eagle being hassled by a couple of ravens.I`ve never seen one this low before.

The stepping stones over the Abhainn Shira with Beinn Suidhe behind...



A few more stops along the riverbank and we were soon back at the hut just 10 minutes after Scott and Graham.

Goldenberry Hill and The Knock.

Hey! Sit up please.Don't be like me slouching at a strange angle typing here with one finger and a deep heat treated leg wrapped up in several layers of material.A wee medicinal vodka at my bedside purely for solace you understand.
Here`s a tale of two pretty green hills done in lush conditions.In my world, as you know,that impertinent fluffy white stuff is soon banished with a slap to the frozen Arctic where it belongs.
Here's a story instead of the anticipation of spring, green shoots of snowdrops peeking shyly out of flattened grass and views from semi tropical hilltops over an emerald oasis. The golden realm makes a welcome return.Yippee!
Soon be crocus lawn,then be daffodils then be leaves on trees again.Here be a hibernating dragon hungry for the heat.Bring it on.
Yellow gorse was even in bloom all the way up the second hill but I`m ahead of myself again.Step back in time.
Alex had never been up Goldenberry hill.Despite this It took a bit of coaxing on the phone to get him out at all.We went.After a dull start it turned out a smashing day.I enjoyed it.Alex was bored.Missing the bigger hills I imagine.
We parked in Portencross ,a small but pretty hamlet with a tiny harbour and a castle getting a makeover.

At first the weather was fairly raw and unpromising (these pictures were taken on the way back) but it soon improved after a dull start.

From the car park a nice beach walk leads to the path up past Ardneil farm then up the hill.I like a beach walk me.Alex less so.Shame that.

We don't agree on lots of things. Music, films or art.Still it would be a boring world if everyone liked the same things.

There were a couple of fields full of sheep busy munching turnips on the path up.The farmers often put these out at this time to build the animals up so that healthy lambs get born in spring.
A few other walkers and one lone cyclist joined us on the path up the hill.


The view from this hilltop summit is extensive.West over the islands of Great and Little Cumbrae,Bute and Arran.North over Hunterston,Largs and the Dunoon hills.

We could look across and see Kaim Hill, one of our early postings on this blog almost a year ago now.So far in all that time we have had one semi wet day (Lammermuirs) and a dusting of snow and sleet (Kaim Hill).Not a bad effort so far.
The way down was north, following a partly forgotten path leading steeply down through the woods to little Brigurd as I thought it would be fun to walk under the Hawking Craig back to the car.
This is a fine level walk,signposted,with the Three Sisters cliffs looming impressively above.

Also got a good shot of Little Cumbrae and St Blanes hill on Bute, one of my favourite places in Scotland. Hopefully get over there this spring.

As it was still early back at the car we drove to nearby Largs and went up The Knock,a fine little hill with even better views over the Firth of Clyde.For anyone who has not driven over the minor road from Largs to Greenock,if you are in the area go on and treat yourself.Its a beauty.Great open moorland, sweeping scenery and nice empty driving.We took the other balcony trail above the Firth,parking at the L shaped wood near Knock castle.Good paths also start from Largs and Brisbane mains.


The sun was hitting parked cars when I took this.Alex enjoyed this hill more than the first.Me, I enjoyed them both.Easy walking up an emerald slope followed to the sheep dotted summit.


A smashing day out with palm trees,sandy beaches,lush green fields and porcelain blue skies.
After the past month of long lasting ice and snow its back to the tropics folks!.

Sgurr Mhic Bharraich,Kintail.

This was actually Sunday 10th January but Bob has already blagged that date.

A hard days snowplodding on the Saturday in addition to two nights imbibing Oddbins Chateau Trois Pour Dix Quid Reserve had taken it`s toll on most of us.We found it hard getting out of bed on Sunday morning,in fact,some of us had found it quite difficult actually getting into bed a few hours previously :)

The previous evening Angus signified his intention to get down to some serious swally by donning his Drinking Hat...


Scott,Stuart and I managed to crawl out of bed at 6.50 am and make a start on tidying the bunkhouse and doing the dishes.Eventually we had to move round the various rooms with the hoover going full blast to rouse the other occupants.I`m sure they appreciated our efforts later that day if not at 7.20 am :)

It had been decided beforehand that there would be a mass ascent of Sgurr Mhic Barraich on the Sunday to share the trailbreaking duties.The Cornwallis entourage however were heading up Glen Shiel in pursuit of his third Munro round,Stuart headed home to Ballater,Craig and Neil went off for some ice climbing on the Steall Falls in Glen Nevis and Angus was still in bed when we left.That left eight of us.

We pulled into the snow covered car park at the shop in Glen Shiel with the daylight just breaking above the Saddle.


Fortunately the path,though icy,had been given a good trampling from folk going up the Saddle in the previous week and it proved easy enough going for us,even the ones with hangovers. We stopped for cigarettes,sweets and drouth removal juice around the 1000 ft mark just as the going got a bit tougher but Jules doesn`t like cigarette smoke so she was sent of in front to break trail for the boys :)

Fag break....



A quick flog up the slopes and out onto the level for a bit followed by a steeper snowplod up to a handy rock for lunch.


We managed to link up the windblown and rocky patches bypassing most of the drifts making it a pleasant day out in comparison to the day before.The views opened up with height...

John B. defies his age...



Iain with the Five Sisters behind....

Beinn Sgritheall made an appearance.The North East ridge looks well worth a visit from Suardalan bothy maybe...


Summit fever breaks out...




A more leisurely approach for the rest of us....



Yours truly with Skye as a backdrop....


Jules has a cup of coffee after her trailbreaking exertions....


The summit...



We must have spent the best part of an hour on top but the need to get back down and the prospect of the long drive home to Glasgow had us heading off....




A zoomed shot of Eilean Donan castle with the huge corries of Beinn Bhan looming behind...



The drive home was notable for the ice crystals on the trees at the Glen Moriston junction.Minus 12 according to one of the other guys behind.We recorded minus 20 on Rannoch Moor on the way up on Friday night.On the run down to Invergarry the weight of the snow on the branches had caused them to lean over and touch the road....


A cracking weekend on the hills to start the year :)

Thanks to Scott for a couple of pics :)

A night prowl.

As has been mentioned before Alex sometimes misses the greater ranges.Me, I do not, particularly in winter.At this time of year smaller mounds do me.They tend to be warmer and more sheltered,that way I can cling to my grand delusion of an all year round summer in Scotland.Frostbite and spindrift up my crevices tend to impact too much grim reality into this mental utopia.
Bugger that.I also have my own ideas as to what constitutes an adventurous outing these days.Wee hills mean you can bag a few then still have time for a night time prowl.
So....first stop on a lovely calm and still Sunday was Loch Ardinning for a quick stroll round the frozen landscape.

On the way back cut down the middle of the loch following animal tracks into the reeds at the narrows.It was at this point I fell in but I knew it might happen here as the ice was very thin and it was only knee deep as expected.You could see the bottom.Still cold though but I got my shot of mice chewed reeds.
Next stop Conic Hill, socks drying out at max on the windscreen heater vents, bare feet in a spare pair of trainers.I`d heard that Loch Lomond was partly iced over around some of the Islands and wanted a look.

Good view from the top.Very icy descent.Only some of the loch frozen but picturesque.


A few pics then off to the Lake of Menteith for round two.Last Sunday 20 cars approximately in the laybys this Sunday..........


........a two mile parking jam on both sides and thousands on the ice.Got a spot by arriving late and lady luck.Off to walk over the ice to the islands a very rare opportunity indeed.No sign of the ferry now.

It reminded me of a Lowry painting with all the little figures. Bagged both islands then decided with heavy heart and legs that a good viewpoint would be on top of the hill overlooking the loch.The Menteith hills seen here......


......were too high to climb before night fell but a smaller outlier would do for a good outlook.
And so it proved.

A great day and it wasn't over yet.Motored back listening to" Soulsavers- Broken", socks and sounds back on.Happy!
Took the back roads through Kippen and got a good evening shot of village lights.

Next came Fintry and then Drumchapel where I left the car for a walk through this pretty village on the northern edge of Glasgow.

Its a great scheme for night time views as its built on several small hills.Castlemilk is the same, always good for a wee stroll at night meeting interesting local wildlife.

Didn't put the flash on as it would have chased it away.
I`ll finish with this one of a river of ice in a car park near Bearsden.

See, you don't have to go up mountains to find adventure I found plenty in Drumchapel and surroundings.I like the odd prowl of an evening sometimes.You never know what you might stumble across out in the darkness.

A good little day and night out and still back in time to watch a film.Keep yer big uns I`m a small mound boy when the snow is around.

Auchtertyre Hill,Lochalsh.

Everyone else was heading for the Kintail hills and despite endless cajoling on my part I couldn`t get anyone interested in nipping over to Skye.Just as well.It started raining the minute I crossed the bridge.!

Called in at the chemist in Broadford to get some distilled water for my car battery.In the few minutes I was in the shop the rain stopped and it froze instantly turning the pavements into a skating rink.Nevertheless I took a chance and headed up the single track road up Glen Arroch hoping to bag Beinn na Seamraig and Ben Aslak from the 500 foot level.The rain progressively turned to big snowy flakes and bearing in mind Alistairs warning regarding the timing of the gritters hereabouts and my low profile tyres I turned round,not without difficulty,and inched my way back down to the main road and headed back to the mainland towards the better weather.

Auchtertyre Hill was now the objective.Foolishly,the lure of a 500 foot start up the Lochcarron road was enough to override my common sense with regard to the snow conditions.The only parking place was taken up by what looked the local stalkers truck and I had to return a mile or so back down to the road.

This meant that I now had to traverse Maol Beag and Meal Mor before reaching the Marilyn.Waist deep snow in the drifts between the hills had me cursing but once Auchtertyre came into sight I knew I had it licked as a nice ridge climbed steadily up to the summit and looked like I could link up a few snow blown rocky patches.And so it proved.1 1/2 miles roughly and 1,300 feet of ascent took nearly 3 hours.

Although the weather was good in general it seemed to be a matter of chance as to how lucky you were.There were other club parties on A`Ghlas Bheinn and the Five Sisters whose day was blighted by cloud and deep snow whilst a mile or so across the road Neil and Craig enjoyed cracking weather doing the Forcan Ridge.

The Five Sisters early in the day.The road at the bottom of the pic is where I parked.


Close up of the Sisters.....



Beinn na Caillich over on Skye makes an appearance.....


A boat makes it`s way towards the Sound of Sleat with Mallaig and Ardnamurchan in the distance...


Maol Mor,the hill I had to come over, and Sguman Coinntich lurking in the background...


Torridon was spectacular in the sunshine.....Beinn Alligin....


Zoomed shot of the Skye Bridge.....



A trig to bag.....


Five Sisters in better weather later in the day....


A close up....


The weather and snow conditions on the Five Sisters that day.Photos courtesy of Scott...