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The Forestry Commission have helpfully left a map indicating where Balloch tree felling operations are taking place and which paths are closed (or have they?). However, I couldn't at the time make sense of the FC map; it was only after checking a photo of the map at home that I noticed the ovbvious feature I could have used as a reference point: the sewage works. However, that feature is on the top left corner of the felling map, meaning the rest of the area covered is outwith what I assume are the normal routes up Meikle Balloch, though I dare say plenty of folk just walk along the forest tracks in that area to the south of the hill. Also, there was no legend on the felling map as displayed (though it may have been on the back or otherwise obscured) to tell me what the yellow area was, what the orange hatched circles were etc.. That explains partly why I couldn't at the time make sense of what paths were closed. But even now I'd be taking a guess by saying it's the orange circles that indicate the felling operations and yellow for a protected area (though where they are getting "Keith Woods" from I do not know; even the Forestry Commission's own (OS) online mapping has it as Balloch Wood). What's more, even if the orange circles indicate tree felling they don't in themselves make it entirely clear which paths are closed.
Also, since the FC map was pinned to the board indicating the two waymarked trails, it was a natural mistake to make to assume that the felling map related to both of those in some way but after ten minutes of trying to make sense of it I gave up and decided on a route based on prior experience which told me that sticking to the north side might keep me out of trouble.
Never mind, grumble over. I set off north, fully expecting to encounter lost forestry workers and walkers but I only passed a couple of folk who seemed untroubled about whether they were "there" or not. Indeed, the still afternoon air was entirely free from the noise of felling machinery and, despite all the dire warnings, there was no sign of any tree felling at all. Well, that meant I had chosen my route sensibly, albeit it was inadvertent sensibleness; I hadn't realised that this was what the FC map had been trying to tell me -two different things in one message: both to head north and that the absence of clearly explained felling areas and path closures on the felling map was simply a reflection of the fact that there was no felling going on despite proclamations to the contrary! A quantum map, no less.
The noticeboard near the start and. pinned to its right right, the innocent looking Forestry Commission felling map of doom.
The Forestry Commision map, or should that be Forestry Omission map. Orange circles = felling operations, yellow = protected wood (I think).
My decision is to head north though this supported by meagre evidence from a previous visit that there might be less woodland north of the car park and not based on anything useful gleaned from the Forestry Commision Map (though that is partly through my own lack of care in reading that map).
I am soon at the ninety degree, blue, waymarked turn aiming directly for the top.
Above the trees the previously straight path turns into a short series of hairpins.
Bin of Cullen to the north.
Path straightens out again near the top.
Knock Hill to the north east.
Ben Rinnes from near the top.
Keith.
Summit trig point with Fourman Hill in the background and to the east south east.
Foudland Hill to the south east.
Tap o' Noth to the south.
The Buck, also to the south.
Looking south westish towards Ben Rinnes from the trig point.
I take a new (for me) descent route north east, believing/guessing that this will be likely free of tree felling operations.
Helpful sign.
Lots of fungi on the north and west side of the track but none on the other side.
Lots of butterflies too.
And someone hovering above.
