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Well, after recently rediscovering my love for our hills & mountains, the big day had arrived!
Myself, accompamied by my better half, Lisa, set off from Dundee at 8.30am, arriving in Glendoll at 9.30am.
The forecast had looked promising and as we donned our gear at the car, the sun broke through the light cloud which had been touching the high tops as we had made the drive up the glen. After a quick hello to the only other two people in the car park we set off, myself buzzing with the anticipation of what I knew lay ahead, Lisa, slightly apprehensive but no less excited about the prospect of 'bagging' her first ever Munro's (or any hill of significant hieght for that matter)!
Having previously done both Driesh & Mayar alone, approaching from The Scorrie, this time was to be through Corrie Fee, up the side of the prominent waterfall to Mayar then on to Driesh before descending by the Shank of Drumfollow.
walking up gently through Glendoll forest the place was alive with the sound of small birds and we stopped for a while to watch a Crossbill who was mopping up some seeds which had falling on the path just a few yards in front of us, just beautiful.
reaching the edge of the forest and the start of Corrie Fee, we stopped again, as all must do, to take in the beauty of this wonderful place. The camera came out for the first few snaps of the day.
High to our right, five Buzzards circled making there unmistakable call, no doubt warming there wings in the morning sun and thanking the gods of all things feathered that they are blessed with the freedom to explore this stunning area.
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- Our first view of Corrie Fee
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- The pocket dynamo
On through the Corrie with a real spring in our steps, our heads on permanent 'swivel mode' as we pointed left then right exclaiming one wonder after another, the magnifient waterfall at the head of the Corrie coming ever closer.
as we reached about level with the fall to our right we stopped to take in the view back and i snapped another few for the album, the first mountain Hare scampered towards us, prominent still in it's winter coat.
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- The view back down Corrie Fee - stunning
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- The Fee waterfall
As we swept to the left to begin the trudge up over boggy ground and grass to the summit of Mayar, always accompanied by bird song, we saw several more Hare in the distance, apparently not put out at all by our presence on their mountain.
Finally reaching the summitcairn, Lisa could not keep the smile from her face as she absorbed the fantastic 360 panorama and the acheivement of climbing her first Munro, it was a fantastic moment that will stay with me forever. Well done Lisa!!!!
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- one down.......
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- one down.......
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- Courtesy of New Cumnock fellow walkers!
We sat down, poured a coffee and unwrapped the sandwiches, it was still reasonably warm here and the wind was surprisingly light, we really could have sat here all day I think but straight ahead, Driesh was calling and we packed up ready to set off. Just then the couple who we had spoke to in the car park came into view, trudging up the slope toward us so we decided to wait to say hello and well done. These guys had set off from New Cumnock at 4.30am! we blethered for a while before wishing them well and setting off down the slope with Driesh ever present in the distance.
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- Driesh from Mayar summit
From this point on, at least until our descent to the forest we were never alone, I think a good few people had come up the shank taking in Driesh first before moving on to Mayar.
As we skirted round the left of Little Driesh with the drop to the Corrie floor to our left I got the feeling that Lisa may have preferred the more direct route further to our right where several people could be seen striking down toward Mayar, shes not good with hieghts but huge respect to her as she knickled down and pressed on, even if she had developed a distinct lean to the right at this point!!
As we began the easy climb from Little Driesh up to the summit of 'the big one', we stopped and watched as a large bird of prey came into view in the distance over the Scorrie before turning and soaring over toward Glendoll Lodge. No bino's with us today so I cant be certain, but I'm pretty sure we were looking at a Golden Eagle which I have seen before more than once in this area.
On again to the summit, trig and shelter of Driesh, Lisa now doubling her Munro count in little more than half an hour! What a girl. Out with the flask again and as we sat with our backs to the shelter looking west, another Hare came tearing toward and past us not ten meters away clearly spooked by something. About ten seconds later a small brown dog (Harry we later found out), came bounding on in pursuit. At this point we joked that they would both appear back in the opposite direction next, accompanied by the Benny Hill music - yip, about five minutes later back they came, Harry a little further back now with tongue hanging out but still looking determined to catch the pesky Hare! You probably had to be there but this was one of the funniest things we had seen in a long time and we were both in stitches watching, especially as after a short spell back they came again!! We spoke, between fits of laughter with Harrys owners, who were not impressed by this and didnt seem at all amused by the performance, they are probably still up there trying to catch him!
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- the walk up to Driesh with the steep drop to the left
Leaving the summit behind us we enjoyed the drop down to pick up the path to our right which would lead us down into the forest. We stopped again briefly to talk to our Ayrshire friends as they began the haul up to Driesh then carried on down the narrow path with a steep drop to our right. We passed several intrepid individuals and groups, slugging there way up and while we were enjoying the descent we couldnt help thinking that we had done this the right way round, judging by there faces, rate of breathing and perspiration, I think they may have agreed.....
As we hit the edge of the forest I was overcome by a sense of sadness which Lisa said she felt as well as we realised that we were nearing the end of a magical day together in this truly breathtaking place, we warmed our hearts by agreeing that this was only the start, the first of many adventures together in these hills & mountains.
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- The path looking up the Shank of Drumfollow, Driesh summit in the distance to the left
The walk down through the forest was pleasant though spoiled somewhat for me by a bit of pain from an old war wound, as Lisa kicked on ahead for the first time, I felt proud of her and what she had acheived and pleased with myself for introducing her to this magnificant passtime which I know will now grab her as it grabbed me many years ago.
We drove back from Glendoll, just a short journey back to Dundee, both of us tired but still dreaming of the day we had just had. A quick shower back home then down the pub for some fish & chips and two three well earned cheeky wee pints. Perfect, just perfect.
