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Ok, so a bit of poetic licence I admit ....... as we're talking about Ben Chonzie
Two more different hills I don't think you could imagine to describe next to each other
The Chonzie....a hill which it appears can divide opinion amongst the hill walking fraternity. I approached this walk from Loch Turret, and for my part I thought it was a good little walk, with good views of the surrounding hills of the Lawers range and Loch Earn.
I'd had my boys up for the week, taking them back down the road on the Sunday. Never enjoy the handover, despite the fact I know it has to happen. Had taken the Monday off work with the intention of getting out and doing a good walk, to lose myself in my thoughts. Woke up on the Monday and could tell I was suffering from the early stages of 'man-flu'
- or as any women reading this would call it.....the 'common cold'
Plans for a long walk got shelved, but I knew if I didn't get out I would regret it. So it was a late decision to head to Crieff and take on the might of the Chonzie.
Got to say, whatever people think Chonzie lacks in interest is certainly made up for by the approach road to the dam at Loch Turret and the car park there. I'm not sure I've ever seen bigger pot holes
or quite so many in such a short space of time. It was a slow steady zig-zag journey along that road, to finally arrive at a surprisingly large and exceptionally well maintained car park. A stark contrast to the assault course of a road, that's for sure.
- At the start of the route along Loch Turret
The turfed dam was a first for me. Wouldn't fancy having to mow that
The walk alongside the loch was just a very nice walk all the way. It was a bit chilly when the sun hid behind a cloud, but when it did smile down on me it warmed up nicely
- Lochside track
- Toward the Chonzie
- Lochside burn
I made good progress along side the loch - despite the 'man-flu' doing its best to slow me down. Looking back down the loch and again I was thinking the views were not too bad.
- Back down Loch Turret
- And again
The landrover track eventually comes to an end at a lovely small lochan, Lochan Uiane, but there was a good path that took over, making its way up toward the obvious cleft ahead. A bit boggy in places, but improves with height. Lost the path somehow though, but had seen the obvious line of it on the approach, so was able to work my way through the rocks I'd come to in order to get back to the path.
- Chonzie rocks!
The path up onto the saddle and the final push to the summit was excellent and gave me a good excuse for a short stop to admire the views
- Loch Turret view
- Loch Turret from Chonzie path
I actually sat here for quite a while. I was loving the view. I also had the place to myself and being out of the wind the silence was magical
My expectations of this walk really hadn't been that high. Influenced by comments I had heard from plenty of other people, as well as those in the guide books I have on my bookshelf. But so far so good. It was turning out to be a real gem. Very different from the long days I have had in wilder parts of this amazing country this year, but taken on its own merits I was more than satisfied with my day.
Eventually shifted myself and followed the path toward the summit. Somehow, don't know how, I managed to avoid the direct route to the summit, and instead traversed to the right
Managed to find a plastic bottle rattling round the hill, so perhaps my bit of litter duty made the completely unnecessary detour worthwhile
But then I was on the summit.
- The mighty cairn on the mighty Chonzie
Good view of the Lawers range and surrounding hills
- Lawers and pals
- Summit view
And the ever present Shiehallion
- Apparently you can see this hill from outer space! Ha ha!
Rather than return via the same route I decided instead to head off on the high ground via Meall na Seide and Carn Chois. An excellent choice if I might say so
Makes it a much better all round route.
- Starting on my way down
- View toward Carn Chois
The walk down this way was a great way to keep the interest going and seeing as I was being very lucky with the weather the views ahead and to my right were excellent. I was just wandering about at no great pace, but just soaking it all in and enjoying the solitude for as long as I could. I find these moments on the hills the best therapy whenever I'm feeling a bit down for whatever reason. I can lose myself in my thoughts and somehow at the end of the walk whatever it is that's been on my mind seems somehow less pressing.
- View on descent from Chonzie
- Another fine view coming off Chonzie
Soon enough I was on the summit of Carn Chois, with its trig pillar. Again I stayed a while to enjoy the views from this point too.
- Carn Chois trig pillar
- View from Carn Chois
- Another view from Carn Chois
- Good Crieff
The rest of the walk back to the landrover track this side of the loch was pretty easy, even though the path was a tad steep in places (managed to slip on my bum at one point on the damp grass
) and eventually I was back at the car, enjoying a nice view back down the loch from the Turret dam
- View from Turret dam
Ok, so it wasn't An Teallach
But it was a good walk all the same. Just what the doctor ordered for the 'man-flu'
I was lucky with the weather for sure too, which definitely added to my enjoyment. Approaching from Loch Turret certainly is the route I would recommend to others; the walk round by the loch is worth the trip alone.
All that was left was to tackle the pot hole assault course back toward Crieff....