Crieff. Torlum. Knock of Crieff. Perthshire Winter Gallery.

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Winter is here with a vengeance this week with fresh snow over the higher mountains and overnight temperatures dropping to minus 12 degrees in the highland glens. With a good day forecast for last Sunday however and more importantly, light winds, Alex, Alan and myself fancied a day trip into Perthshire and the upmarket town of Crieff.

Alex had still to do Torlum, at 393 metres, a sub 2000 Marilyn, and on his bagging list. This is he crunching upwards across knee deep frozen terrain on the hillside. No snow as such, just heavy frost.

Deep layers of ice crystals on Torlum so the overnight frosts lately must have been severe. This is officially the coldest November since 2010 over the last week or so. It felt like that in the house where I rarely put the heating on in winter except for eating meals and half an hour before going to bed. I grudge and can't afford the bills if it's on whenever I'm in. Running the taps last thing at night and in the morning keeps them unfrozen in cold weather. When I did put the heating on full blast my feet were still frozen so I don't see the point spending hundreds in heating bills every winter when I can sit in my sleeping bag with a warm jumper on watching the telly at night and feel toasty that way.

Autumn colours near the start of the walk, a tiny lay-by for one or two cars near Ballochargie next to Loch of Balloch where we then followed the forestry road up the hill until we reached open ground above the forest.

Several pines looking very Christmas- like coated with sparking white frost.

A zoom of the Knock of Crieff, and Milquhanzie Hill with its mast, surrounded by a blanket of mist.

We had several inversion effects occurring in this area with any low lying straths or glens completely submerged under a thick blanket of murk. Anyone down here might think it was a dismal day but hill-walkers and outdoor folk know different.

Mist rising off the moor under the sun's rays.

Higher hills around the Loch Turret area.

One of the monument above Comrie near the Deil's (Devil's) Caldron waterfall. Ticked this one off a few years ago with Alex on the blog.

Although darkness is around half past four pm now we still had time to climb the Knock of Crieff as well. Alan and his dog on the track back down.

Higher surrounding mountains covered in fresh snowfalls.

And a couple of Crieff from lower levels with the last of the afternoon sunshine painting the town in sunset colours.

Crieff Hydro on its hill. For the Knock of Crieff you follow the signs through town indicating Crieff Hydro and the car park for The Knock is just above that, past the riding stables. A good day out and fairly warm in the sunshine.
Added a link to my latest kindle book in the side bar. A Scottish Outdoor Kaleidoscope. £2:49. Unusual trips all over the country by foot, ferry, kayak and bike and all with the 'off the beaten track' approach not seen in most other guides. Includes over 400 original colour photographs taken by the author. First couple of chapters free to read here.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Scottish-Outdoor-Kaleidoscope-Bob-Law-ebook/dp/B01MDKRT4N/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1479833300&sr=1-1&keywords=a+scottish+outdoor+kaleidoscope.+bob+law.

Another western and a very good remake. Liked the John Wayne original but this is equally good and different enough to be an entertaining separate film rather than just a copy.