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I wasn't expecting too much of this walk as the 7.10am bus trundled through the traffic in the gloomy Edinburgh outskirts, across the Forth and into a Fife turned monochrome by the hard January frost.
After all, everybody's been up Ben Vrackie - haven't they? The kids go up in their sandals, your old mum takes a picnic and there's a guy on Facebook who seems to be at the top more often than he's at home. Maybe it was a case of other folk's familiarity breeding my contempt, but I was struggling for enthusiasm. I was wrong.
The frost had given way to fog by the time we rolled up to the Fisher's Hotel 11 minutes late. Pitlochry was relatively peaceful as I made a detour to the public toilets (the large coffee at the bus station was a mistake) before setting off up the road towards Moulin.
- The way up to Moulin
It was an easy ramble up the road past houses and B&Bs, the mist quickly clearing as I moved higher, the sun breaking through and blue sky suggesting the best of conditions for the walk uphill. The hotel at Moulin promised a warm fire and cold beer on the way down and it was just past 10.15 as I reached the car park at the start point for the Walk Highlands route.
- The way ahead - bit puzzled by the "y"
Two other guys were booting up by their car as I passed, cheery hellos were exchanged and that was the first of two things this Donald and Marilyn bagger had to get used to. Other people and a path! A really nice path too, which took me gradually up through the trees, Ben Vrackie peeping out above, before breaking out into open country.
- First sight of today's target
- Out of the trees on a nicely made path - a fine change for a Donald bagger
The low cloud was still clinging to the ground by the River Tummel, but even at a relatively modest height the sun was bright as I made my way along the path which aimed for the bealach between the two minor hills before Loch a.Choire.
- Low cloud over Pitlochry
The views all around were opening up, especially to the south, although threatening banks of cloud hovered out to the west and north. And, sure enough, as I passed the loch and started the steep staircase climb, wisps of cloud started to drift over the top. Even so, there was plenty to make the most of on the way up.
- Up to Loch a.Choire and a sight of the last steep climb.
- Mist blowing in as I headed upwards
- Cracking views from the path - and a good excuse to stop for breath!
- Steps make this a straightforward climb
- Towards Pitlochry again
- Steadily heading up
I made decent progress - especially considering I was still carrying a few pounds of Christmas with me - and the top came in sight rather sooner than expected. At the same time I hit the frost level about 50m short of the summit and the cloud started to come down quite rapidly.
I chatted to the only other person at the top while I waited for the clag to clear. It threatened to move on a few times, but the way over towards Beinn a'Ghlo gave us nothing but a wall of grey. Twenty minutes at the top for tea and what photos I could manage and I was back on my way down and I'm happy to report that - for a change - the cloud at the summit seemed to get thicker as I descended!
- First signs of frost as the summit comes in sight
- That's me at the top
- Ben Vrackie trig and the grey wall
- Looking south(ish) from the top
- The view to the east
The views opened up again as I dropped down the staircase. Schiehallion peered out moodily - never quite enough for the camera to focus and I settled for a gentle ramble in the sunshine down to the hotel where the beer and fire were there to enjoy before a 3.25pm bus back to Edinburgh.
- On the way down to the loch
- Farragon Hill as cloud rolls in and out
