A softie in the Lomonds

[raykilhams]

As we are walking the GGW in a couple of weeks time we thought we would go for a circular stroll in the Lomond Hills on Sunday taking in Bishop Hill , West and East Lomond.
Arrived at car park by Holl Resr with weather looking slightly inclement , grey , drizzly and misty on the hills , so had a muffin ( chocolate chip , just in case any muffin aficionados are reading this) and coffee ( blue mountain) and decided to head up to East Lomond with the intention of then heading across to West Lomond and back to the car over Bishop Hill if the weather improved . Made our way passed the dam end of Holl Resv and took the path/roadway ( boy it was muddy) up the hill through the woods to Balgothrie.Then took the farm road to the main road to Easter Glasslie where we climbed the stile into a field and followed the path , which after half a mile joined up with the main route up to East Lomond. Just before you join the main route there is an old lime kiln with a host of info on the workings in the area ..... definitely worth a look.

Holl resv

Keeping off the mud

More mud

Bridge over mud

Heading towards Balgothrie

East Lomond somewhere over there

Road to Balglasslie

Crossing field between Balglasslie

Lime kiln

Lime kiln from front

It was at this point that the weather began to get worse , the light rain turned to sleet and the mist thickened, never mind we just continued on , and within twenty minutes we had reached the top. I have to say that there was enough snow lying to make it a little tricky , we did slip and slide a wee bit.( wot no crampons). Unfortunately couldn't see a thing from the top so after a couple of mins went back down being pelted with sleet which then turned to snow then sleet then rain. Now I enjoy reading other walkers reports about the snow covered Munros they climb in the winter ( and keep them coming lads, the pics are stunning) but I find that personally I like good views when I climb any hill ( not that I don't think snow covered hills look great cause they do,and the lads and girls who go for it have to be commended but we,re all different , have done it in the past when I was a young lad) and although my wife and me have been caught out in the hills in whiteouts( Spittal of Glen Shee) , thick mist( Ben Ledi springs to mind) and torrential ,horizontal rain (Larig Grui mile after mile) , I'm just .a three season man and just stick to lower routes in winter. So with that in mind I decided in view of the weather we would leave West Lomond ( as we're not in training for Everest )and head back through the rain to the car ( oooh I am a softy) where coffee and goodies were waiting. Got back to the car and guess what ? the rain stopped ! Life or what? Oh well maybe I should have just pressed on , after all its not a difficult walk , but hey there's always another day. I'll just go home and read a few reports of hardier walkers with a bit more steel than me ( talking about ice picks and crampons). GOOD WALKING MY FRIENDS , and keep those reports coming.

Sleet starting to fall

At the top , notice no snow , wind obviously blown it off

Heading back with Ballo Resv in front

Ballo Resv , mist beginning to lift

Nearly back to car.....rain stopped about here

PS her's one for animal lovers.

Where did he come from?

[gmr82]

Nice report, as you mentioned not the most alluring of weather though! Is the red squirrel just next to the car park? Good spot!

[coachmacca]

Mist on Ben Ledi - yep been there

Looks a good walk though , interesting Kilns

[SusieThePensioner]

Good idea being a softie, I'm all for that Pity about the weather but there's always another day when you can enjoy the wonderful views to be had from the tops

[alvason]

Fine report, very interesting. My mother's family comes from that area so I am always keen to read about it. I liked your pictures a lot.