free to be able to rate and comment on reports (as well as access 1:25000 mapping).
Inspired by Polly, decided it's time to do a report on this hill. I climbed it last summer with Pete who doesn't much enjoy squelching through ankle deep mud, battling against horizontal rain or being chilled to the marrow on summits with no view (strange man) but will occasionally do all of the above so his wife can indulge her passion for climbing hills on holday.
We were staying in a cosy cottage for two with no TV or signal for mobile phone or internet - but it does welcome dogs and is surrounded by miles of great walking country.
More of that later.
I thought Meall Ghaordie would fit the bill as it wouldn't take all day leaving plenty of time for a leisurely explore of Killin and a meal afterwards. I wasn't much inspired by Cameron McNeish who dumps it in "the less interesting category" and refers to "the monotony of its interminable slopes".
Not enthused by that we didn't bother with an early start, had a pleasant drive to Glen Lochay, parked at the designated spot and followed the sign pointing the way to Meall Ghaordie. It being farmland we kept both dogs on lead. Tess is totally trustworthy around livestock but farmers don't know that and get twitchy seeing dogs off lead. Fair enough. I'd rather not give them any reason to complain about folk traipsing over their fields.
Glen Lochay
On the way in this field seemed totally empty but on the way back it was full of cattle clustered around the area the path went through. I'm glad I didn't know then what I know now about cattle sometimes being spooked by dogs and going into stampede mode.
I thought with this being access to a Munro they'd be well used to walkers and the best thing to do was walk confidently (like farmers) and stick to the path with dogs on short lead. Which is what we did, the dogs very subdued (like they sensed the need to be low key) causing only a slight ripple of curious bovine interest - and more importantly we lived to tell the tale.
The dogs have been known to scramble over stiles but they prefer a gate that opens.
There must have been something going on with the sheep as they were densely packed on the hillside to the east of our path. Ewes being separated from lambs might account for the racket they were making - but whatever it was they weren't taking it quietly.
Jack still on lead because of proximity of sheep, but all he wants to do is climb this hill!
Just before the ruins of the sheilings we turned off on a path to the left to start climbing the heathery grassy slopes. It was easy walking with just a few muddy areas to be negotiated. I have to be honest Mr McNeish and say I didn't find it monotonous at all.
Green Glen Lochay and on the skyline Ben Vorlich and Stuc a Chroin
West end of Tarmachan ridge
Meall Ghaordie summit ahead
Jack never happier than on the hill
Does intensity of focus suggest there might be food about?
As we neared the top it was steeper with outcrops of rock giving the hill interest and character.
It's raining down there and we're still in the dry
As we reached the rockier section I lost the path and picked one up which I followed briefly. But it was traversing east round the rocks and not taking us where we wanted to be. So I headed straight up getting the hands a bit dirty - but in my book it doesn't feel like a proper climb without a slight scramble.
Above the rocky bit, Jack getting up a fraction early
As we reached the summit we were enveloped in cloud so no views, which I was more sorry about for Pete than for me as I so much want him to understand why I do this! We huddled inside the wind break but there was something Tess wasn't happy about. She gets spooked about things sometimes.
Tess trying not to be in summit pic
Once off the top we were in the sun again
Back at the cottage, synchronised sleeping
Nice sky that evening
The cottage owner told us where ospreys were nesting close by. So the next morning we walked up to have a look.
Osprey nest on pylon
We saw what we took to be a parent bird and a juvenile getting in some flying practice before the long flight to Africa.