Bog Factor

[mvapesuk]

Hi all, When looking for a hill to climb i often enjoy reading other members walk reports plus looking at the route maps etc.. But one thing i think would be helpful especially as its Scotland is being able to search hills by bog factor or path quality.

I often study walk report pictures but most people tend to take pictures of the wonderful vast expansive views and tend to leave out pictures of boggy ground (totally understandable who what's to look as mush!) Well turns out me! and probably many others!

Choosing a hill to climb on a nice sunny day is fine but as is usually the case in Scotland, the previous days have been raining making under foot rather interesting.

Just my little 10 pence worth

[Coop]

Simple really

When its freezing and snowing - the bogs get covered in snow and ice- bit easier to walk on ( sometimes)

When we've had a dry spell- more than a week or 2 - the bogs dry out and harden - normally ok / good to walk over

When it rains - roughly 289 days a year in Scotland somewhere the bogs get boggier and are a pain( just a tad)

enjoy the hills

Ps - on each walk report there is a bog factor. If its 3 boots or more I tell myself it's quite boggy somewhere en route.

[KatTai]

If it is a walk on Walkhighlands it comes with a bog rating as well as a difficulty rating. A walk I did recently was through boggy ground but I got no photos. Nothing to do with lack of a view, more to do with the "if I stop I'm going to sink" factor

[scoob999]

I asked a similar question a few years ago and got told to pick my hills wisely, it kinda makes sense if you leave boggy hills till a dry spell or hard frost and do the rocky ones when it's a bit damp.

[jupe1407]

Simple solution. Climb Fionn Bheinn from Achnasheen on a rainy day, after a rainy spell. Literally every other hill will seem fantastic by comparison.

[Robinho08]

NTS or JMT owned land tends to have good paths, the Glen Coe hills are a good example of that, but I don't really worry about bog to be honest, it's part and parcel of walking in Scotland. I'll wear gaiters if I know it is a particularly boggy route.

[CharlesT]

Simple solution. Climb Fionn Bheinn from Achnasheen on a rainy day, after a rainy spell. Literally every other hill will seem fantastic by comparison.

To enhance the experience pick such a day but with a howling gale, horizontal sleet and a 20 metre crawl on all fours to touch the summit as I did. Then fall on your bum going down just to add to the indignity and wetness.

[mynthdd2]

my best bog was on jura - almost totally immersed

[jupe1407]

Simple solution. Climb Fionn Bheinn from Achnasheen on a rainy day, after a rainy spell. Literally every other hill will seem fantastic by comparison.

To enhance the experience pick such a day but with a howling gale, horizontal sleet and a 20 metre crawl on all fours to touch the summit as I did. Then fall on your bum going down just to add to the indignity and wetness.

Excellent. We did the WH "loop". Having carefully avoided any mishaps on the seemingly endless peat hags, my better half proceeded to stand on an innocuous looking patch of muddy grass on the path through the plantation about 200m from the main road and went up to her knees in muddy green slime. Needless to say I completely creased up

[Ben Nachie]

my best bog was on jura - almost totally immersed

I was walking through a forest on Jura when my companion suddenly disappeared up to his waist in bog. It was both funny and serious at the same time.