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I must admit still being a bit wary of over-taxing my new knee so I am still choosing routes with a limited amount of the 'rough stuff' and a fair amount of track-walking. Hence today's route up Choinneachain Hill from the Turret Dam car park. I really enjoyed getting to this car park again after so many years - it was great to see the view along the loch to Ben Chonzie. The place was busy, even early on a Sunday morning. I set off for a short distance along the loch-side track before heading directly up the steep hillside to the east. I think that a few other walkers thought that I was heading 'the wrong way' but they didn't say anything.
- Heading up the hillside from the lochside track
It was a bit of a huff and puff up to the good track marked on the OS map which led virtually all the way to the summit.
- The distant cairn from the track
Further up, there were some great views of the Blue Craigs, more reminiscent of the Cairngorms than the Crieff area.
- Blue Craigs and Stonefield Hill Pan
Once across Creag Chaisean there was a final steeper section and a worn path through the heather to reach the huge cairn, which had been visible for much of the walk. This, though, was not the summit - the 787m high point was a short distance to the NW across the usual peat hags and even some lingering snow.
- Looking over to the summit from the cairn
My original plan had been to do the circuit over Stonefield Hill but, as I sat enjoying my lunch, I knew that it would be best just to accept what I had done and not overdo things. There's always another day. So, feeling slightly disappointed, I headed off back down the route of ascent. When, I left the track and headed back down the steep heathery slopes, though, I knew that I had made the correct decision. I certainly don't want a knee-setback and I had enjoyed my day.