The Non-Fellowship of the Stone

[roscoT]

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A high pressure forecast of a whole weekend in February is a rarity, so ticked off a few more Donalds in a new area for me as a continuation of exploring southern Scottish hills this Winter.

A cold north wind was the compromise, but an 8am start from Meggethead saw me boost up to the Megget Stone quickly to begin the main climb of the day. I was later thankful I hadn't started at the stone -the frozen ground made for good speed, but quickly knackered my lower back, so the 5 mile walk along the road on tired legs may have broken me!

A lovely yomp over these spacious hills in cold solitude - not another person seen. The weather couldn't seem to make its mind up, blue skies for a time, then cloud intermittently taking visibility down to a few dozen feet. The wind was quite constant, so was thankful i'd packed my heavy duty down jacket. Leaky boots also means i'll need to invest in a new pair in the next few months, but at 4+ years, the salewas have done me well!

Main part of the walk allows for speedy walking across open broad ridges. Added in Greenside Law on my way back down to the reservoir, but I wouldn't recommend my route thereafter across the grouse butts on Rig Head and Pykestone Brae, it might be better to drop down to the Thief's Road straight from Water Head.

Cheers!

The Megget Stone

Talla Res from Talla Cleuch Head

Broad Law summit

to Cramalt Craig

Looking back to Broad Law

Cramalt Craig summit

A happy boy

Dollar Law summit

Hunter Hill

Back down at the reservoir

[Sgurr]

I see you are very wisely wearing glasses with plastic rims. My metal ones twice came to grief on very cold days. I suspect that they contracted, pushing the lens out. In one case my friend found it for me, but on a coastal path there were too many pebbles and too much water and it vanished forever.

[Gordie12]

Hi Rosco T - hope you are well.

You need to slow down otherwise your going to run out of Donalds

Must admit, I do enjoy the odd journey south for these hills, very underrated.

[Coop]

I never saw anyone else up that way yesterday either.
I saw a van parked by the meggat stone - yours?
No clockmore in the circuit??

Wish I'd looked at the tops more when I went round the Donalds.
Ach I suppose it's gave me an excuse to go back to some nice quiet areas

[Coop]

Edit - just looked at your date, wasn't yesterday 😆

[roscoT]

I see you are very wisely wearing glasses with plastic rims. My metal ones twice came to grief on very cold days. I suspect that they contracted, pushing the lens out. In one case my friend found it for me, but on a coastal path there were too many pebbles and too much water and it vanished forever.

I'll be honest, hadn't even thought of this before, but now you mention it, plastic rims the way forward for cold days! I would much rather not have glasses at all, but due to dry eyes i'm not able to wear contacts anymore!

Hi Rosco T - hope you are well.

You need to slow down otherwise your going to run out of Donalds

Must admit, I do enjoy the odd journey south for these hills, very underrated.

Hi Gordie,
Long time no speak - hope you are well and still enjoying the hills?
Yep, really enjoying exploring the Donalds and picking out some longer interesting routes. Have a new -found vigour for the hills this year due to getting issues with my lower back at least partly sorted. Bring on the Spring and Summer munros!

I never saw anyone else up that way yesterday either.
I saw a van parked by the meggat stone - yours?
No clockmore in the circuit??

Wish I'd looked at the tops more when I went round the Donalds.
Ach I suppose it's gave me an excuse to go back to some nice quiet areas

Yeah it was dead quiet eh? I actually quite like that though. Not me parked at the stone - I parked at the layby at Meggethead so I didn't have the whole road climb to walk in, which may have broke me! The climb and descent of Clockmore would have been one too many I think, for the same reason. And you are right - a good excuse to return!