Glen Sherup horseshoe, Glen Devon

[matt_outandabout]

Under our ‘kind of local, take care’ period of restrictions we decided to complete our last few Ochil tops. We now only have north of Glen Devon to do – and have to wait for the spring and a change in lockdown.

A lovely autumnal day brough some mixed emotions – this was the first time out at a weekend as a foursome, with our eldest now living away at uni and limited in meeting up with us. A lovely brisk day was had around this pleasant and straightforward trip.

Leaving a near empty car park (unusual for here) we headed up in the first frost of the autumn. Leaving the marked reservoir trail we followed around the forest track in brightening sun and no wind.
Glen Sherrup Horseshoe by Matt Robinson, on Flickr

Soon the forest road wander became a steep push through forest overgrowing each side – I think post lock-down I might take some ‘volunteers’ and loppers to help out…
Glen Sherrup Horseshoe by Matt Robinson, on Flickr
Glen Sherrup Horseshoe by Matt Robinson, on Flickr
As we reached the ridge our shelter was blown and the (cold) wind really blasted in. The rest of the day would see us bundled up in this relentless breeze, highlighting that for ‘small’ hills the Ochils do require preparation and awareness.
Glen Sherrup Horseshoe by Matt Robinson, on Flickr
As we topped out on Whitewisp hill a phone call was made to eldest son stuck in Edinburgh to say we could see the sports hall roof on the uni site, next to his halls room.
Glen Sherrup Horseshoe by Matt Robinson, on Flickr
A warm lunch in the sun and tucked out the breeze behind a wall was welcome and we lounged a while, not keen to move out into the cold again. Tarmagie hill was a lovely point, feeling deep in the hills here.
Glen Sherrup Horseshoe by Matt Robinson, on Flickr
Glen Sherrup Horseshoe by Matt Robinson, on Flickr

From here the undulating path took us through the Woodland Trust’s new woodland area. It is so nice to see a new upland ecosystem emerge and I look forward to revisiting in another decade.
Glen Sherrup Horseshoe by Matt Robinson, on Flickr

Ben Shee is a last steep pull up, followed by increasing scrub and trees as we descended into older regrowth. We decided to avoid the stream of Reservoir lapping families and headed out onto the road to finish our loop – not ideal and I think in future I would go back across the dam.
Glen Sherrup Horseshoe by Matt Robinson, on Flickr

A grand day out and the last of the tops in the Ochils south of Glen Devon now ‘complete’ after 6 years of living in their shadow.