Logged: Munros: 283 (2nd round) Corbetts: 221 (2nd round) Grahams: 186 Donalds: 26 New Donalds: 26 Sub 2000s: 52
Posted: Tue Aug 03, 2010 12:23 pm Post subject: Sweaty...
Wolfie, I believe it is now an ex-buggy, having seen better days.
The main problem was the track passing to the S. of Rohallion Castle which was mainly a thick layer of fresh earth, having just been 'improved' by twa wee bulldozers, which had been left in-situ.
Once past these it was mainly plain sailing most of the way to the staircase on nice firm gravel, followed by much firmer earth on the unimproved path.
Having said that there was one wet muddy stretch & overall it took the same as Ben Armine to reach the top [2 1/2hr], but was much more knackering, with sweat constantly running doon ma face.
Logged: Munros: 283 (2nd round) Corbetts: 221 (2nd round) Grahams: 186 Donalds: 26 New Donalds: 26 Sub 2000s: 52
Posted: Sat Aug 07, 2010 5:23 pm Post subject: Wot route?
Hils wrote:
Well done to all. What route did you take Norman?
Bronzebabe, from far end (N.), of Birnam railway station carpark, doon steps, turn left up lane. Turn left after 100yds, follow lane past houses [l. signpost], continue doon lane for 1/2 mile or so then cut off down path below large house [signpost].
Follow undulating narrow path for under a mile through the woods, keeping right at a junction [sign], to join a track & follow it left downhill [sign].
Turn right after 100yds or so up track [of fresh earth when we were there], following sign to Birnam hill [sign straight on to Quarry Car Park].
The track climbs uphill alongside the edge of the forest on the left for 1/2 mile or so, then bends right & turns into a path through the bracken & across a small stream.
From here a steep climb up the wooden staircase leads past a crag on the right, then through pines past a rocky top on the right, down a short scramble & up to the large summit cairn. From end of track this is about another 1/2 mile.
The path continues NNW back down towards the station in under a mile, the 1st 1/4 mile being fairly gentle, through widely spaced old pines. This includes one section of swamp when one attempts to balance on half submerged logs, to cross deep, wet mud - somewhat problematic when carrying a wee bairn.
The path then drops steeply through mixed woodland, passing a wee offshoot on the right high up, which leads to a rounded outcrop with a fine view down to the bridge over the Tay & Dunkeld beyond.
Low down there is a welcome wooden park-bench type seat on the left, beyond which are some wooden steps leading to a wooden bridge over a small stream. From here one soon emerges on a lane, where a right turn leads down to join the route of ascent just before the houses. A signposted path to the station then cuts the corner off the lane.
Logged: Munros: 283 (2nd round) Corbetts: 221 (2nd round) Grahams: 186 Donalds: 26 New Donalds: 26 Sub 2000s: 52
Posted: Tue Aug 17, 2010 5:17 pm Post subject: Sharpest peak?
Climbed an exciting high grade scramble / moderate? rock climb up a vertical arete, only to discover that it's top was the summit - must be the sharpest peak I've yet encountered!
I'd expected a steep, rough tree bashing finish with interludes through deep heather beyond Lochan na Beinne, so had already been pleasantly surprised to find a wee path with bucket steps.
I'd finally left Airberdin on me tod c. 1/4 tae 4, after losing patience wi Norma, Michelle & Co.
Driving N. fae Dunkeld on the A9, I slowed to a crawl past the minor road leading back toward Dunkeld past Polney Crag, then turned into the next wan, only to find the public road immediately ended at Dowally.
I finally got the right road & stopped up the hill through Guay, at the 1st sharp bend to the left, where a car was already parked. 40 seconds later [rather than the 40 min. of the Hill o' the Wangie trip], I was off up the surprisingly well worn path at c. 1/4 tae 6, after first sampling a few wild Raspberries.
I soon came to a crossroads which was signposted to Dunkeld right & Loch Ordie straight ahead, the latter old track of which I followed. This led through scattered mixed woodland, through which, ahead to the left I could see a familiar looking crag, Creag na h-Eighe, which I soon realised I'd climbed on 12 years earlier.
I soon reached the top edge of the wood, where I carried straight on at another crossroads & climbed more steeply up the old track, which bent sharply right through the bracken, away fae the aforementioned crag.
The track soon levelled out, wound back left above the crag & reached a 'T' junction. A helpful wee sign pointed right, in the direction of my objective. This had now hove into view, the broad lower slopes being well forested with conifers, above which peeped the steep sharp summit block.
The pleasant grassy track bent round left, gently climbed up above the Sloggan burn and passed a grass track leading off left at a col. It then dropped slightly to join a gravel track c. 2/3 mile fae the sign, close above the much larger Dowally Burn.
I cut the corner off, following a wee sheep track, noting that back down across the Tay shower clouds were drifting down toward Dunkeld, where I'd not long ago driven through past waterproofed touros in the rain.
Further west Shiehallion had now emerged fae it's cloud cap, beyond the sun-dappled Corbett, Farragon Hill, which I remembered climbing in a snowstorm during the Foot & Mouth outbreak 9 years earlier.
I crossed the burn at a picturesque humpback bridge, then after a brief stroll along the broad, relatively newly surfaced gravel track, I turned left at an old wooden gate in the high deer fence.
Through the gate the disused 'track' was overgrown with deep purple heather. There were also plenty of Bilberry bushes, the fruit was ripe & the berries large & juicy. They slowed me down as I frequently paused to grab a handful & quench my thirst in the warm August sunshine.
Around the 1000ft mark I soon reached yet another crossroads, with a fine level grassy track heading left to Lochordie Lodge. Straight across the junction my track climbed more steeply, becoming better defined.
It forded the stream coming down fae Lochan na Beinne, bending first left, where Loch Ordie could be glimpsed through the trees, then again as it bent back right up the well forested hillside.
It soon crossed back over the stream for a 3rd time, then followed it's true right bank and up above the outflow of the lochan. Here it climbed steadily as it bent away left above the lochan then back right at a short level stretch at 1500ft.
Here the aforementioned wee path wound up between the crags above the lochan, leaving the trees behind to emerge in the sunshine, with that exciting, dramatic wee rock climb up the arete forming a fitting finish.
I balanced precariously in the wind on the delicate knife edge of the summit, poised above the vertical drop of 15-20ft, over which the breeze was trying to push me. The ascent had only taken just over an hour so I still had plenty of time to take in the view.
The extensive panorama extended fae Shiehallion in the west, across Lochan na Beinne reflecting the sun like a mirror, with the Tay valley beyond. To the north Mount Blair & it's attendant satellite Meall Mor were prominent, with the length of Loch Ordie bathed in sunlight between the two views.
To the south lay Birnam Hill with Creag na Criche to it's left, scene's of twa recent excursions with Norma, Michelle & Co., whilst in the distance the Lomond hills of Fife were clearly visible over Loch of Lowes & Perth beyond.
To vary the route I quickly dropped out of the stiff breeze down another wee path leading south, following in the hallowed footsteps of Fatdog, as hilariously described in his [highly recommended reading], Nov.'08 TR.
This path led doon through the open woodland in twa steepish steps, to the true right [W.], of an imposing steep & rocky satellite on the left. It emerged at a good track close to the Leddown Burn to the right, which I briefly walked away from before backtracking.
Three Roe Deer jumped away into the heather as I strolled doon the track
for 1/2 mile or so to a signposted 'T' junction. Here I turned right towards Loch Ordie and climbed 200ft back up & over a col, where I exchanged greetings with a mountainbiker.
After dropping down above Raor Lodge, the fine grassy level track then led pleasantly through the forest to join my outward route in a little over a mile.
I reached the car 2hr 40 min. fae the off, having just passed a party of kids with their Grandparents, where given the lateness of the hour, I was surprised to find 3 other cars squeezed along the start of the track.
Last edited by Norman_Grieve on Fri Aug 20, 2010 12:41 pm; edited 1 time in total
Logged: Munros: 283 (2nd round) Corbetts: 221 (2nd round) Grahams: 186 Donalds: 26 New Donalds: 26 Sub 2000s: 52
Posted: Fri Aug 20, 2010 11:26 am Post subject: Hill of Persie pics.
Ascent of Hill o' Persie fae Glenshee.
This hill was notable for 4 reasons - given below [not necessarily in order of noteworthiness].
a) Being my 50th sub2000 Marilyn.
b) Having the hardest summit to balance on [I only managed it wan foot at a time], as it consists of a metal fence embedded into the top of a wall, with a 7ft jump off the fencepost.
c) A bevy of teenage beauties passed approaching Mains of Persie farm, rather than the expected fierce dogs & grumpy auld farmers.
d) Being the name of the demon in the last Steven King book I've just finished.
Logged: Munros: 283 (2nd round) Corbetts: 221 (2nd round) Grahams: 186 Donalds: 26 New Donalds: 26 Sub 2000s: 52
Posted: Thu Aug 26, 2010 9:27 am Post subject: Late show on Creag nam Mial
Climbed Creag nam Mial last Friday, easily my toughest sub2k Marilyn to date, taking 4 1/4hr despite easy tracks on approach [with Norma] & walk out [on my tod].
Got back to car at 10.20pm after moonlit walk out.
Most of the going between Loch Charles, up Meall Dubh & along the knolly ridge to the summit was through deep heather, with some boggy bits.
The going fae the summit to Loch Pitcarmick had less deep heather but a lot more bog.
There was however a fine red sunset view fae the top over towards Shiehallion fae the summit, reached at 8.15pm.
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, Kiera (10), wee Jamie (2) & Norma.
What route did you take Norman?
Goodness you do get around Norman. Excellant, and well done it the nifty fifty.
