Mount Hill (221m) 24/11/08

Mount Hill

This was a quick ascent on the way home, and whilst it was a repeat for Chris it was a new hill for me. The car was parked just off the A913 near the cluster of buildings known as The Mount on the map. It was cold and sunny with a little snow on the ground here and there. We took a wrong turning in the farm yard and ended up walking along the edge of a muddy field, before regaining the track. We walked around the hill before climbing to the summit, which contained the trig and the tower known as the Hopetoun Monument. The view was partially obscured by trees but the most notable scene was to the Lomond Hills. We took the track back to the car and the round trip occupied 55 minutes. The long drive to England then followed.

The Hopetoun Monument

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Windlestraw Law (659m) 23/11/08

Blackhopebyre with Burntshell Rig and Gill Rig behind

Chris and I had intended on making another atttempt to reach Pressendye but there was even more snow overnight and many roads were again blocked. We decided to go south and have a go at Windlestraw Law. It was a cold morning, around 0 degrees but the Moorfoots had received only a dusting of snow. The car was parked in a lay-by on the B709, just passed the farm of Blackhopebyre, and we began walking at midday. It was a freezing cold, the wind was bitter, the ground was frozen solid but, as we climbed, good views opened up to Whitehope Law, Clog Knowe and a cloud covered Dun Rig. We followed the track up Glentress Rig but this pettered out at some grose butts, and then a quad track took over, which became a path. the ground was boggy, and as the air temperature rose, our feet went through the snow and into the icy bog.

Icicles

Chris, with Whitehope Law behind

We reached the summit after an hour and fifteen minutes, and we saw clearly that the trig was not on the highest point. The actual summit was a point not too far from the trig, although we visited the trig as well as the real top. It was blowing a gale on the top, the windchill was several degrees below freezing, the cloud was descending and my face was colder than it had ever been. The view was amazing though, ranging from Fife, the Lomond Hills, the Angus Highlands, Bass Rock, North Berwick Law, the Eildon Hills, the Cheviot Hills, the Ettrick Hills, Blackhope scar and the Lammermuir Hills.

We went across to the lower south west top as quickly as we could, reaching the cairn at 1.55 pm. Again we agreed that the highest point was not at the cairn, but was close by. The gale force wind and bitter cold continued, so we descended the rough slopes, crossed the Glentress Burn, followed a sheep track to an enclosure and then up to the track we had followed earlier in the day. It started to rain, which was the icing on the cake, and we reached the car at 2.55 pm. This was a total walking time of 2 hours and 55 minutes and we had hardly stopped, due to the cold wind. We had lunch in the car and then headed back to Tayport.

Chris heading for the south west top

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Carleatheran (485m) 22/11/08

Carleatheran and Ballochleam Farm

The original target for the day was Pressendye but there were several roads in Aberdeenshire that were blocked by snow and the prospect seemed rather uninviting. Chris and I, therefore, decided to climb Carleatheran in the Gargunnock Hills in central Scotland.

After driving from Tayport to a bridge near Ballochleam farm, on the Glinns Road near the town of Gargunnock, we were ready to start walking at 11.10 am. It was cloudy and cold, with a temperature around freezing but to compensate the escarpment of the Gargunnock and Fintry Hills rose above us quite dramatically. We took a track that went passed Ballochleam Farm and then up towards the hills and as we climbed higher a fantastic view opened up to the Southern Highlands. Ben Lomond, Ben Ledi, Stuc a'Chroin and Ben Vorlich were particularly prominent, and although the cloud meant that the views were a bit hazy it was still an impressive sight. As we neared the col between Carleatheran and the neighbouring Marilyn of Stronend in the Fintry Hills, the waterfall called the Spout of Ballochleam came into view. At the col I thought about climbing Stronend and then catching Chris on the ascent of Carleatheran. However, I decided against this, which was fortunate, because Carleatheran took longer to climb than either of us imagined.

Stronend from Carleatheran

The Spout of Ballochleam

A rough track left the main track that we had been following and went towards the summit of Carleatheran. The track traversed boggy ground but fortunately the ground was frozen, with a little dusting of snow, and this helped us over the boggy bits. It was a long way to the summit but it was a delight to walk along the top of the escarpment and admire the enchanting view of the Southern Highlands. The summit was reached at 1.35 pm and we stopped for 25 minutes for lunch. The view was tremendous, to the Sothern Highlands, the Campsie Fells, the Ochils, the Pentlands and possibly Tinto Hill. We started the descent at 2 pm and retraced our steps, and I couldn't take my eyes off the Southern Highlands the whole way. We reached the car at 4.15 pm, a total walking time of 5 hours and 5 minutes, and total distance walked of 17.6 km.

Ben Ledi from the climb to Carleatheran

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Roan Fell (568m) 21/11/08

Chris heading for the summit of Roan Fell

After a three hour drive Chris parked the car at the entrance to the track that led to Twislehope farm. It was cold and cloudy with frequent snow showers and the ascent of Roan Fell seemed rather uninviting. We started walking at 12.20 pm along the track and passed Twislehope farm. We passed a kennel full of foxhounds that barked ferociously and made us feel grateful there was a high fence that stopped them biting chunks out of us. The track climbed the hillside and offered a fine view down the steep valley of Caulker Grain. Despite the cold the ascent was hot work, forcing me to remove a layer, although the track levelled off after a while and the ascent became less steep. The snow line was reached at about 500m and the track was quite thickly covered at times. Clouds enveloped us and we reached the end of the track on Hartsgarth Fell, whereafter a border fence was followed to Roan Fell. This lay about three quarters of a kilometre away and about 20m higher. The intervening ground was boggy, despite the layer of snow covering the moor and we reached the cairn marking the summit at 1.50 pm, a total walking time of an hour and a half.

Arkelton Hill, with a glimpse of the Solway Firth to the left

Greatmoor Hill from the summit of Roan Fell

The top was wreathed in cloud and shrouded the view but as we ate a hurried lunch in the bitingly cold wind the mist rolled away and the sun came out. The view took in the Solway Firth, Pikethaw Hill, Wisp Hill, Ellson Fell, Cauldcleugh Head, Greatmoor Hill, Blackwood Hill, Larriston Fells and the snow covered Cheviots. The light dusting of snow shone in the sunlight but soon after starting the descent at 2 pm, the cloud came in again and snow began to fall. These showers fell heavily at times and the wind blew the snow straight into our faces, not a pleasant sensation. We hastened back to the car via our route of ascent and were glad to reached the our haven of metal at 3.20 pm. This was a total time of 3 hours for the round trip, the temperature was only 2 degrees Celsius, the wind chill made this feel much lower and we were glad to take shelter in the car and cintinue our journey north.

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