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Afton Hills again, anti-clockwise

Afton Hills again, anti-clockwise


Postby Fife Flyer » Wed Jan 19, 2022 8:51 pm

Fionas included on this walk: Blackcraig Hill, Windy Standard

Donalds included on this walk: Alhang, Blackcraig Hill, Blacklorg Hill, Windy Standard

Date walked: 16/01/2022

Time taken: 6.1 hours

Distance: 20.6 km

Ascent: 1079m

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My 2nd visit to these hills on my quest to visit all the Donald's again, along with George and Parminder on their first round.
My last visit was 5 years ago and the landscape has certainly changed since then, mainly around Windy Standard and to the east of Blacklorg Hill.
I knew plotting a route would be a bit hit and miss as most maps are out of date.
The plan this time was to tackle them anti-clockwise so we would have a nice relaxing walk along a track to get our legs moving.
As with all hills in the SW, getting to them from the east is challenging.
We arrived at the marked car park just past Afton Filter Station at 8.30 and were soon on our way. The car park appears to be well used at weekends, I presume by dog walkers as we didn't see any other walkers all day.


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Parking area

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The way ahead for us - to Windy Standard

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Sun about to rise over Afton Reservoir

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Not much water leaving the reservoir

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The dam, appears to be well kept

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Not sure what that building is/was for

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Tiny old building all bricked up

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Closer shot of the dam

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The way up the side of the dam

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Not even a trickle running under the bridge

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Sun rise again

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Looking along the dam

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Looking nice and calm

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Anyone got a key?

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We followed the track created for the wind farm until just past the old quarry, before turning left

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The reservoir again

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Arty shot

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New pylons to accompany the turbines

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Windy Standard in the distance, a few undulations before we get there

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We are now off piste on mushy soft tufty stuff

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Following an ATV track which is very soggy

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One for the turbine lovers

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Follow the fence

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Looking across to our second hill - Alhang

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Looking SW

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One of the older wind farms

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Summit of Windy Standard is on the right

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Looking westish

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North westish

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Arty shot

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An expert at work

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It had to be done

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On our way up the pathless grotty stuff to Alhang, looking back across the glen we descended into

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The reservoir appearing again

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Looking back - west

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Alhang cairn, needless to say Parminder's camera didn't appear

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Do they look impressed?

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Reservoir again

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Alwhat summit

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Blacklorg Hill, newish mast in the foreground and a new windfarm in the distance still under construction

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Blacklorg summit cairn

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The new windfarm a bit closer

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Blackcraig Hill, bit of going down before the final push up

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My colleagues loving the final ascent

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Blackcraig trig appearing

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A video taken on the summit before George and Parminder arrived

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Parminder a happy bunny, two trigs on one walk

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A long way down

The normal way down / up is via the shoulder of Blackcraig which is to the north, we don't do normal so we were going to descend down the west side of the hill. The main and obvious problem is crags, not only is the west side steep it is also littered with either scree, heather and the odd blade of grass.
I had plotted out a route avoiding the crags, which would mean traversing slightly to the SW and that worked a treat.

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George admiring the view. The car park is near the big white (ish) building in the distance

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Kind of shows how steep the west side is

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Action shot of Parminder descending

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Still a bit of height to lose

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Looking up the glen

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Another action shot

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Not quite as steep now

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George racing away now that the terrain is better

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Next problem, there is a bridge about 800m to the north but we opted to clean our boots

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Not really jungle stuff

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The safety of the track that takes us to the car park via Craigdarroch

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The west side of Blackcraig Hill

Another cracking day, we all found it tough especially the last 2 ascents. It highlights the fact that taking a week off makes it difficult, hopefully our next outing will be easier.
User avatar
Fife Flyer
Munro compleatist
 
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Re: Afton Hills again, anti-clockwise

Postby Robertgee » Mon Jan 24, 2022 1:00 pm

Another good report along a great route. I did this clockwise, though missing Windy Standard, due to the windmill construction, a couple of years ago when doing my Donald round. A superb group of hills. :D
Robertgee
Walker
 
Posts: 81
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