Walkhighlands

I found myself restless this afternoon - the unexpected sunshine triggered an urge to get outside. So it was that at 3pm I set off just up the road to a corner of the Ochils which I had never visited and a glen that looked really interesting on the map.

The glen in question was Glen Queich - a pathless river gorge running from Carnbo through to the B934. I set off from Myrehaugh with the plan of heading as far as long the glen as I fancied and then cutting up onto Lendrick Hill where I could see a suitable route. As it was, the routefinding wasn't as easy as I'd expected - my 1981 OS map shows the hill to be a treeless mound but, as it transpires (and as I can now see on the up-to-date map on the GPS planner!), it is covered from head to toe in dense forest on the N and E sides. Anyway, I proceeded along in the hope of finding an obvious route up a break in the trees.



Within a few minutes I was engulfed in the glen - the walls quickly sealing around me. I found it surprisingly difficult walking - the river which ranged from between 2-3m wide was meandering like crazy and I often faced the choice of either risking a soaking or traversing along the steep valley sides at times. In the course of the walk, I took both options (and ended up with a very wet foot and a very muddy backside!). The glen is a cracker though, I came across all array of wildlife - a fox, a couple of circling buzzards, a few deer and a wee lizard of some sort. Unfortunately my limited camera skills only allowed me to come away with proof of the lizard.



There were lots of nice wee features in the glen actually.









I headed along the glen until I was just opposite Fisher's Stone. Although I was keen to check out the rest of the gorge - the narrower end - I was also keen aware that I didn't have all the time in the world. It didn't take long to get up onto Thornton Hill and I could now see that fortunately my route up onto Lendrick Hill wasn't blocked by a wall of conifers.

It didn't take long from here to the summit - a couple of fences and some sheep to negotiate but nothing too threatening. There was a fair wind on the summit - I had considered heading up north to do some more substantial hills but, judging by the gales on Lendrick Hill, I was glad I didn't. Some nice views opened up around as I ascended.


Mellock Hill


S from the trig point


West Lomond and Loch Leven


A productive day for the windfarm on Steele's Knowe


W towards Ben Cleuch et al

So after a cup of tea and a bit of time to enjoy the views, it was just a matter of negotiating a way back down to the start through an enormous see of afforestation. Without the firebreaks marked on my map it was going to be an interesting route whatever I did. Fortunately a path of sorts leads from the summit cairn down through a firebreak for a fair distance. Eventually it led to a bulldozed track which I followed down the hill before cutting down a firebreak back to the road. From here it was just a wee walk back to the car at Myrehaugh.

A really nice wee short walk then - an interesting glen and one that, I imagine, is rarely visited. A nice wee hill tagged on the end to make it a great little circuit.

Glen Queich is a great glen to walk, but by turning back where you did to climb up Thornton Hill and Lendrick Hill, you missed the most spectacular part of the gorge, downstream from Fishers Stone. Wearing wellies, when conditions are right (not too overgrown, and water levels not too high), it is possible to follow the burn all the way to the A91 road near Carnbo. It's not an easy walk, though - there is no path, and multiple crossings of the burn are required, so pick your day carefully. After heavy rain or melting snow, the water level can be at least a metre higher, and the route would be impassible and dangerous. In summer, head-high tick-infested bracken would be a hazard. After passing Dropping Craig, a wet cliff covered in lush vegetation, the gorge ends at Kalesquy Linn, a small waterfall. Between here and the A91, the north side of the burn is mostly sheep pasture, and much easier walking, but with a number of fences so some zig-zagging around field boundaries will be needed to find gates where these can be crossed safely & responsibly. If the water level is low, it might be easier just to keep to the water - chances are you'll already have got your feet wet in the gorge! The distance from the B934 Dunning road to the A91 is less than 5 km each way, but it's challenging enough to make a good day's walk.

It is a beautiful wee glen, a few weeks ago I passed briefly across it while walking Lendrick, Mellock and Innerdouny. Although I was able to find a fire break through the trees from the summit of Lendrick onto the landrover track, then another towards the glen, it wasnt easy going. The final drop to water level was a short down scramble through the crags. The route reversed upwards would definetly have been hard work. I had thought about walking further up the glen to investigate the house, but my time was a little short. I might just have to back and revisit.

Nice walk and report

Explored this glen yesterday; fascinating with its many twists and turns, but the roughest two hours walking I’ve had in Scotland, with neither man nor dog enjoying the malevolent clutches of the bracken. Wellies essential, and at times we found it easier to paddle in the stream rather than force a way along either bank. Heron and dipper and deer seen. Returned to Myrehaugh via the charming Keerie Glen and over Broadhead, but the way to Nether Town Hill was blocked by the deer fence around new forestry. Followed its perimeter round to our start point. 3h 45m in total. Whew!