So near yet so far away.

[maxie23]

The two Lochearnhead munros, Ben Vorlich and Stuc a'Chroin are 28 miles away from my home, as the crow flies.
They are also in a different council area so are inaccessible at the present time.
The photos were taken from a local park where I used to walk my dogs and I have used my camera to capture these two hills in a variety of weather conditions.

Beinn Each, Stuc a Chroin and Ben Vorlich, 2nd January 2020 by robert irvine, on Flickr

Ben Vorlich, 2nd January 2020 by robert irvine, on Flickr

Stuc a Chroin, 2nd January 2020 by robert irvine, on Flickr

Any other views of inaccessible hills out there?

[HalfManHalfTitanium]

Great photos!

This is my view on Christmas Eve of the Malvern Hills, across the county boundary in Worcestershire.

[al78]

When I went for a walk in the Forest of Bowland on Wednesday (the day before NW England was put in tier 4), I could just make out the Lakeland fells from near the summit of Fair Snape Fell, unfortunately couldn't really get them on camera.

[Sunset tripper]

@Maxie23
I feel for you and it seems like just a bad roll of the dice that you cant climb these hills while someone living further away could climb them legally.
Another strange one is for mountain folk from Moray. They have 7 munros in their local authority area that they can climb legally but they cant go to the normal starting point or easy access point for any of these hills. They can still climb them but they become real expeditions especially this time of year. Ben Avon from Tomintoul is maybe the easiest.
A great challenge though and there will be folk out there doing it.

[Tringa]

The restriction to be limited to your own council area does seem odd. In Highland for example staying within the area gives access to over nearly 26,000 sq km while in Dundee it only about 60 sq km.

Dave

[maxie23]

@Maxie23
I feel for you and it seems like just a bad roll of the dice that you cant climb these hills while someone living further away could climb them legally.
Another strange one is for mountain folk from Moray. They have 7 munros in their local authority area that they can climb legally but they cant go to the normal starting point or easy access point for any of these hills. They can still climb them but they become real expeditions especially this time of year. Ben Avon from Tomintoul is maybe the easiest.
A great challenge though and there will be folk out there doing it.

Hi Sunset Tripper

Yeah that would be a challenge.

Here in Falkirk district, our highest point is the mighty Darrach hill, which tops out at an astounding 1168 ft.

To be honest, I knew nothing about it until last night.
I found an old W.H. report about it.
https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/Forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=19449

I'm going to attempt it this week, unless Nicola shuts us down completely today.

Obviously a trip like this will take a mammoth amount of preparation and planning.
Wish me luck and if I succeed I'm sure it will make a fascinating report.

Regards.

Robert

[CharlesT]

1168 ft! A mountain indeed from where I am confined in Oxfordshire. I have a choice of White Horse Hill at 844 ft or Bald Hill at 842 ft, current and previous county tops. Both involve driving more than five miles, so not in guidance range strictly. Locally my residence is at 443 ft, the highest point in walking distance is 485 ft and the lowest 246 ft, so opportunities for scaling heights are a bit limited. However, the field tracks are of energy sapping mud, so my calves get a good workout.

[al78]

The restriction to be limited to your own council area does seem odd. In Highland for example staying within the area gives access to over nearly 26,000 sq km while in Dundee it only about 60 sq km.

Dave

It seems to be very urban-centric, which I guess makes sense given the worst COVID rates are in the dense urban areas, but when such a rule is rolled out everywhere, it becomes less logical when there is large variance in area covered by local authorities, as there is in Scotland (maybe Wales as well). The alternative is to restrict travel by distance, but travelling five miles in an urban area gives more opportunity for spreading the virus than travelling five miles in the Scottish highlands. It is probably one of those situations where the optimal rule would be variable depending on population density but that is probably very hard to enact in an understandable way to the public and even harder to enforce. Really what it is about is keeping distance from others, easy in remote areas, difficult in dense urban areas.

[maxie23]

1168 ft! A mountain indeed from where I am confined in Oxfordshire. I have a choice of White Horse Hill at 844 ft or Bald Hill at 842 ft, current and previous county tops. Both involve driving more than five miles, so not in guidance range strictly. Locally my residence is at 443 ft, the highest point in walking distance is 485 ft and the lowest 246 ft, so opportunities for scaling heights are a bit limited. However, the field tracks are of energy sapping mud, so my calves get a good workout.

Hi CharlesT

Darrach hill had a start point of about 600 ft so it wouldn't have been much of a climb.

Most of the field tracks around here are pretty much still frozen, like walking on concrete.

Anyway, Nicola has just shut Scotland down so even this hill will be a no go now.

Lucky we have a small hill in our local park to exercise on.

Eiger north face by robert irvine, on Flickr

Sorry I don't think that's the correct photo.

Regards.

Robert

[Giant Stoneater]

1168 ft! A mountain indeed from where I am confined in Oxfordshire. I have a choice of White Horse Hill at 844 ft or Bald Hill at 842 ft, current and previous county tops. Both involve driving more than five miles, so not in guidance range strictly. Locally my residence is at 443 ft, the highest point in walking distance is 485 ft and the lowest 246 ft, so opportunities for scaling heights are a bit limited. However, the field tracks are of energy sapping mud, so my calves get a good workout.

Hi CharlesT

Darrach hill had a start point of about 600 ft so it wouldn't have been much of a climb.

Most of the field tracks around here are pretty much still frozen, like walking on concrete.

Anyway, Nicola has just shut Scotland down so even this hill will be a no go now.

Lucky we have a small hill in our local park to exercise on.

Regards.

Robert

Darrach Hill is still within your reach as was published today.

Sports and exercise
A maximum of 2 people from 2 separate households can meet outdoors for sport or exercise. Children under the age of 12 from these households do not count towards this number.

The members of an individual household or extended household can meet outdoors for sport or exercise.

You can travel for local outdoor sport or exercise such as meeting another person, walking, cycling, golf or running that starts and finishes at the same place (which can be up to 5 miles from the boundary of your local authority area), as long as you abide by the rules on meeting other households.

Indoor sports facilities are closed.

Outdoor gyms can remain open.

Outdoor non-contact sports such as golf and tennis are permitted for all age groups provided this is within a single household group, or the group contains no more than 2 people from 2 different households. Children under the age of 12 from these households do not count towards this number.

Organised sport and exercise can only take place within a single household group, or a group containing no more than 2 people from 2 different households. Children under the age of 12 from these households do not count towards this number.

Organised sport and exercise for under-12s can continue in line with workplace and socialising guidance, and sport-specific guidance agreed between the Scottish Governing Body of Sport and sportscotland. Sports providers must ensure they operate in line with the relevant guidance:

[maxie23]

Hi Giant Stoneater.

Thanks for that mate.

I heard Nicolas speech when I was out for a walk today, didn't have time to read through everything until later on.

Looks like the big expedition could be back on.

Regards.

Robert

[Caberfeidh]

Not sure of that's the Campsie Fells behind Dumbarton Rock, or the Lomond Hills, but they seem out of reach these days. I'm giving up the sea for a while to become a vaccinator (which may add a frisson of terror to your own vaccination experience!). Being a vaccinator will mean I get vaccinated first. I'm hoping that when I am vaccinated, this will mean I have a sort of passport to go where I please...

The Far Pavilions...

(oh I just realised it looks like Ben Lomond itself. Huzzah!)

[Graeme D]

Hi Giant Stoneater.

Thanks for that mate.

I heard Nicolas speech when I was out for a walk today, didn't have time to read through everything until later on.

Looks like the big expedition could be back on.

Regards.

Robert

Good luck with the big exped. You will be following in the footsteps of mountaineering legends and icons from the halcyon days. Are you taking sherpas? Oxygen? Or simply just "freestyling"? Either way, take care, especially in the Death Zone. And watch that Boaby Step - I hear it can be very awkward at this time of year.

[Sunset tripper]

I'm giving up the sea for a while to become a vaccinator

I've just noticed this, and I'm surprised the First Minister hasn't been asked about it at her daily briefing, surely this requires more attention than Celtics holiday in Dubai?

Are you taking your axe with you?

[maxie23]

Hi Giant Stoneater.

Thanks for that mate.

I heard Nicolas speech when I was out for a walk today, didn't have time to read through everything until later on.

Looks like the big expedition could be back on.

Regards.

Robert

Good luck with the big exped. You will be following in the footsteps of mountaineering legends and icons from the halcyon days. Are you taking sherpas? Oxygen? Or simply just "freestyling"? Either way, take care, especially in the Death Zone. And watch that Boaby Step - I hear it can be very awkward at this time of year.

Hi Graeme D

Thanks for the wise words mate

Provisions are my main concern.
Do I take one cheese roll or two.
What flavour of crisps should I go for.
Will my flask of chicken soup be enough.
So many unanswered questions.

Regards.

Robert