Kingseat Hill - Need the excercise.

gagfax

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Where Kingseat in the Ochills.

Who? Just me.

When? Monday 4th jan.

Due to many reasons including the weather i have not been out on the hills for about 8 weeks and i was starting to feel very unfit. Thinking that anything of any size would probably kill me i picked the Ochills......and one of the easier ones. I got to the small parking spot in Tillicoultry at 10am to find it was an ice rink and i stuck the crampons on just to get up the frozen path.

The zig zags up to the top of the first wee hill were treacherous and the G10's did the trick.

Deciding the Law would kill me and the mill glen had been done too many times i headed NE past the cairn at NS922991 and up the snowy ridge toward Kingseat following a well ploughed route.

The Law.

The route i followed.

The hills were very white and it was good to be out there again after too long a break.

The summit is just a wee pile of rocks so i went further E to the shelter to have a break and watch four walkers head up onto Tarmangie hill.

The Lomonds.

Stuc a chroin and Ben Vorlich.

The zig zags on the way down.

Was a bit knackered going up in the snow even on this wee hill so i know i have to work on the fitness but it was great to be out again and in the snow.

Very Happy

Have fun......Garry.

RCFC · Posted: Tue Jan 05, 2010 11:17 pm Post subject:

Well done gagfax. Its amazing how a small hill can be transformed into a challenging mountain by a dump of snow Smile

Squiz · Posted: Tue Jan 05, 2010 11:35 pm Post subject:

Not surprised you needed crampons even at the start. That path looks lethal. All the "helpful hints" about getting around in the snow you see on the telly suggest clearing the road in front of your house, or buying cat litter to spread around, but NONE has suggested that you buy microspikes or crampons. ...or wear golf shoes as Stan has suggested elsewhere. Don't know how he got on. Well done for getting out.

Davelaid · Posted: Wed Jan 06, 2010 8:54 am Post subject:

Good to see you getting back out on the hills Garry.

Hils · Posted: Wed Jan 06, 2010 12:18 pm Post subject:

Kingseat is a braw perch, good to see you out again! Very Happy

kathy · Posted: Wed Jan 06, 2010 2:57 pm Post subject:

That "well ploughed" route was probably the one John and I made when we were up there just before the new Year! Was pretty tough going too. We had to use crampons on that path as well Cool

Fantastic wee hills tho, eh?

goth_angel · Posted: Wed Jan 06, 2010 10:18 pm Post subject:

fertg1234 · Posted: Thu Jan 07, 2010 10:31 pm Post subject:

Nice walk there , challenging in these conditions. Mind you crampons were needed on some of our pavements in Elgin (unfortunatly that is not an exageration). Enjoyed the report

stantheman · Posted: Wed Jan 27, 2010 12:42 pm Post subject:

I need a leg stretcher too after several months lay off . Was looking at this hill - is it quicker to do it from Dollar Glen and how long should the round trip take ?
Is there much snow on it now ? Would imagine the Ochil plateau will still be difficult !!

gagfax · Posted: Wed Jan 27, 2010 9:09 pm Post subject:

The plateau was thick wi the white stuff on Sunday when i went back up but looking up there now i think there has been a lot of melt. From Castle Campbell its about an hour to stroll to the top and not too interesting. Better from Tillicoultry i think. Only plus from Dollar is you can do the round of the other donalds to the east of Kingseat.