King's Seat - A Gentle Reintroduction to the Hills

[macq23]

Forgive me for I have sinned, it has been nearly a year and six months since I was last out on a hike or a walk……………but I have good excuses! The last hillwalking experience was in August 2010, but unfortunately personal circumstances meant I had to leave the hills behind for a while but its all good now and its time for me to get back out in the hills!
I can 100% guarenteed that my fitness level dropped somewhat considerably, so I had been out walking lots lately rather than taking the car to shops, friend houses, etc to try and get that level back up a bit. But I knew that whatever walk I did, it would be tough going! I decided to do something close to home rather than spending hours driving from Dundee. As inspired by ChrisW reports on the lesser known hills, my decision was made...King's Seat it was! Only a 20mins drive from the house!!

I managed to find the parking spot okay despite various signs up saying the road to Collace was closed...(it wasn't closed at all!!) I was fronted with quite a steep incline to start the walk, and boy was I in agony within seconds!!!! It took a good 5 or 10 minutes before my body decided that it wasn't soo bad after all, and the pain in all my leg muscles finally went away!! Rather quickly I made it to the top of Dunsinane Hill, and was impressed by the views of the rocky cliff faces of Black Hill. I couldn't believe that this was here....so close to home!!!

So onwards and downwards and then upwards over the Black Hills! The old legs are now coping fine, and I'm really enjoying walking through the heathers. Loved seeing the small cairns on 2 parts of the Black Hills, loved the breezey wind, loved the cool but not cold temperature, and loved being the only one out on the hill. Yep I was certainly really enjoying myself!!

It wasn't until I reached the Grouse Butts area and it was quite boggy in parts. Oh the bogs.....I've forgotten about you bogs..You've still got one of my boots somewhere!!! It was actually fine, lots of long grass to walk over, so there wasn't any real danger of being lost in some sinkhole lol! It was a great feeling when I reached the summit of Kings Seat. And the views were something else. Man it was GOOD TO BE BACK ON THE HILLS!!!

Going back down, I just cut round the back of Black Hill, and kept coming accross random dead trees in the middle of nothing. Completely forgotten about them and how much I love seeing these trees out in the hills.

It was a fantastic afternoon out and will be the first of many this year. Even now as I'm typing this, I am still grinning from ear to ear and can't make my mind up about where to go next!! Its going to be a good 2012!!

Dunsinane Hill guide at the start of the walk

My abandoned car!!

First view of going up

At the cairn on Dunsinane Hill

The rocky cliff-face of Black Hill. Impressive!

In between Dunsinane Hill and Black Hill

Looking back at Dunsinane Hill

On Black Hill looking towards King's Seat

First Cairn on Black Hill

The Second Cairn on Black Hill

Somewhere north getting some rays :-)

Onwards to Kings Seat

The Grouse Butts area.....

Dead sheep?!

Getting closer to Kings Seat

Looking back towards Black Hill

Views toward Dundee and River Tay

View from Kings Seat towards South

Me at the trig

Looking towards Black Hill

Looking towards Dundee

Views from Kings Seat to North

View of Kings Seat and Black Hill when going downwards

Love these random dead trees scatter about the hills :-)

our_route.gpx Open full screen  NB: Walkhighlands is not responsible for the accuracy of gpx files in users posts

[Johnny Corbett]

Will have to give this little hill a go sometime. Chris W's reports inspires quite a lot of us, only problem now he's doing them from Canada and making us all jaelous

[Graeme D]

This is an excellent wee route with fine views on a good day. Very handy for me too - surprised I haven't been up there more often.

[ChrisW]

That's a fine report Mac, glad my meagre efforts provided some inspiration. I know what it feels like to return after a long lay off, the good thing is, that euphoric feeling you get at the top never seems to go away

[ChrisW]

Will have to give this little hill a go sometime. Chris W's reports inspires quite a lot of us, only problem now he's doing them from Canada and making us all jaelous

Cheers Johnny

[macq23]

Chris W's reports inspires quite a lot of us, only problem now he's doing them from Canada and making us all jaelous

LOL yes his reports and stunning photos do indeed make us all jealous!!! I actually waited in anticipation of his first report from Canada!!!

[macq23]

This is an excellent wee route with fine views on a good day. Very handy for me too - surprised I haven't been up there more often.

Kinda wished I went today.....blue skies and Sun galore!!

[macq23]

That's a fine report Mac, glad my meagre efforts provided some inspiration. I know what it feels like to return after a long lay off, the good thing is, that euphoric feeling you get at the top never seems to go away

It definitely has been too long, and the funny thing is......my regular hiking buddies have also said this. Because I haven't been out, they've also suffered!! So we're now all making plans for hikes this year. Let the good times roll Hope you're having a ball in Canada, the reports have been......well as always....inspirational!!!