free to be able to rate and comment on reports (as well as access 1:25000 mapping).
No pictures folks, camera has been busted for a while. Hopefully the words can describe how great a day I had.
Firstly, I didn't care what time I left to start walking at, I was getting my lie in this morning. Starting work early each morning (6.45am to be precise) can leave you feeling a bit busted at the end of each week, but not too bad. Getting into the routine is what is hard though. As normal, I woke at 6am but today was my day off, so back to sleep I went. Next thing, 11.30am. Got up, sorted my stuff and me and the old man bounced off towards Culter Fell at about 1.30pm.
The sun was literally splitting the tree's and it was great. I knew I was getting a good view today, possibly the best I had ever had. Pulled up at Culter Allers farm, dawned the boots and started walking. Met a couple looking for directions and gave them a few pointer as to routes towards the summit (If your reading, hope you had a great day). Fell Shin loomed large as it always does. Problem with Fell Shin is that you go straight from a tared road and BANG, onto a 35-40 degree slope and it does no good for the legs, even the young and fit nigh 18 year old's have to have a wee stretch at the top to get the calfs and ham strings in working order
It gains you height quickly though, about 20 minutes saw me at the top of Fell Shin, and with height, the views also open up. The sun was still blazing down but I wasn't sweating too much thanks too the chilled wind and also too my nike tech tee that does a great job keeping the sweat at bay. I was a good 5 minutes a head of my dad, and was stopping every few minutes to let him catch up. He does a good job keeping up. I even had extra time to have a mini scramble on the rock band at the top of Fell Shin.
The hardest of the day was over and bar one push, the summit was in clear view. It wasn't the summit that got me excited though. The view north was simply jaw dropping. The whole of the most prominent Southern Munro's were in clear view. Ben Vorlich and Stuc a Chroin, Ben Lomond, Ben More and Sob Binnien, An Casteil and Beinn A Chroin (I think). The whole lot of them could be seen. The view was just amazing and simply the best I have ever seen in person. The view south was fantastic aswell, with the big hills in Moffat prominent, as was Broad Law. I could even see as far as the Lake District and what I presume to be Scaffel Pike as it was the most prominent peak on that horizon. The big Corbetts over to the west could also be seen.
After a bite to eat, we dropped down to the left of the summit and headed out over King Bank Head which was a bit of a bog fest. We followed the fence line out onto Cardon Hill which sits at 675m, a fine effort of a hill but is very easy as all the height has already been gained bar maybe 50 meters. With Tinto even further west now we could get a better view of the Southern Highlands and the Arrochar Alps popped into view aswell. I could see as far west as what I guessed was Arran, as if the highlands could be seen on that horizon surely the coastal islands could be seen also. The view was really something else. Not even a picture could have captured it like the eye could.
We dropped back down off Cardon Hill and followe the fence line the way we had came in and onto Tippet Knowe and followed the ridge back down to the road and out to the car.
Another Southern Upland day is done and my 6th time at the summit of Culter Fell. It just show's you, you don't have to go far to get the views, but it has got my appetite in the mood for another Highland adventure
