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Another solo day doing Marilyns - chose the Gargunnock Hills as they were nearby and looked a good circuit. Bit of difficulty getting to the start - took the road from Kippen to Fintry (where I ended up having missed the tuen off for Craigend Farm). The app on WH suggests you can drive via Gribloch Farm, which is a private road. Anyway the track along from Craigend is indeed a farm track for most of its length - I was really delighted to have my MX-5 rather than the Yeti for that
. Anyway arrived at the parking area and got ready, whilst 2 other carloads of walkers arrived - who'd have thought Marilyns were so popular
My route followed the WH route. Once up at the Spout of Ballochleam I chose to go for Carleatheran first, taking the path up to Lees Hill and onwards. Boggy in places, particularly near the summit after Blach Craig. Trig point in a shelter. Good views to the South over Earlsburn Reservoirs and the wind farm. From the summit onto hard track for the wind farm. Allowed fast progress but not very restorative. Returned to the Spout where there was a camoflage painted ATV and trailer for all the corpulent corporate bastards who go grouse shooting. I bet they'd not be so keen to shoot the birds if they had to walk 10 miles to do so
I crossed over the gate and started up an ATV track alongside the Boquhan Burn, crossing over at a ford and continuing along the track over some boggy sections. met the otehr walkers who were only doing the one hill.
P1130251 by
Al, on Flickr
Stronend
P1130252 by
Al, on Flickr
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Al, on Flickr
Towards Carleatheran
P1130259 by
Al, on Flickr
Summit Carleatheran
P1130261 by
Al, on Flickr
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Al, on Flickr
windfarm Track
P1130264 by
Al, on Flickr
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Al, on Flickr
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Al, on Flickr
Boquan Burn
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Al, on Flickr
I continued on to the summit of Stronend where there is another shelter and stone build trig point. Ate my lunch looking over to Earl's Seat. Back down the way I'd come and back to the spout. The rain came on at 1pm, which was later than I'd expected and only had half an hour more walking before getting back to the car.
P1130273 by
Al, on Flickr
P1130274 by
Al, on Flickr
Earls seat
P1130276 by
Al, on Flickr
P1130279 by
Al, on Flickr
Much easier driving the other way back to the A811!