Dumgoyne,Earl's Seat,Stronend,Carleatheran, then Stirling.

[dunrig]

A wee window of opportunity, a day and a half free, frosty ground, perfect conditions for tramping across boggy basalt escarpment.
Off the bus at Glengoyne distillary, straight up Dumgoyne, along to Earl's Seat, all way down to bridge at Gonachan, up through craigs & along edge to Stronend, had intended camping here but it was a bit breezy so cut down to Shelloch burn & camped. Up early & on to Carleatheran, down by Touch hills/muir, reservoir, Cambusbarron then Stirling.
Not sure anyone would want to follow in my footsteps but a strong walker could maybe do this in a day - preferably a summer day after a long dry spell. Not quite the Trotternish ridge but at least an answer from the Central belt.

onwards from dumgoyne

dumgoyne

out to loch lomond

earl's seat & way forward

balglass

fintry hills

crumbling escarpment

???!!!!

stronend

central belt wild camp - near enough

sunset

sunrise

back beyond ballochlean & its poor spout

view from carleatheran

reservoir touch hills

ochils

This is part of a bigger project, though thats maybe too strong a word, have realised that joining up some of my aimless southern wanders made a route - up one coast, down the other, joined by high ground (moffat - glen trool galloway hills- girvan coastal path - wemyss bay cut - greenock - dumbarton-kilpatricks,campsies,fintry hills - stirling ochils then ? to st andrews coastal path then ? to pentlands - peebles southern uplands - moffat)
struggling with last (?) sections, picking up 'the goretex national trail' by c. mcneish gave me an idea -if there is anyone among my select few readers with distillery connections I would welcome a bottle of sponsorship malt to get me through those last miles --No-- ah well just have to buy it myself.

An aimless route, I would like to do it as a continuous walk one day but need the time & would also need to tear my heart out of the highlands & islands...

[The Rodmiester]

Nice wee wild camping spot you found there, cracking sunrise! worth the walk in itself. Nice photographs

[hills]

Wow, thats quite a walk, would love to see the distance and ascent stats on that, a lot I bet... Never thought on doing it in a wunner...

[tomyboy73]

that looks like a great wee getaway you had there, some great pics but what was the one with the birds talon all about ???

[foggieclimber]

Enjoyed that, thanks. Nice photos.

[Allan77]

Walk report of the month! IMHO.

I do find walks like this more interesting than the big peaks. Maybe cause all my walking when growing up was in the small hills around Loch Lomond. Stoney Mullen, Boturich etc. Diffrent strokes for different folks I guess.

I hope to do some walks like this in the summer, when I won't be studying & working

[dunrig]

thanks for comments

that looks like a great wee getaway you had there, some great pics but what was the one with the birds talon all about ???

was a bit strange - coming down from Stronend I veered off the beaten track to get away from wind, came across a wee fenced square inside it was what looked like a frozen clump of large bird maybe birds could see brown feathers & talons but couldn't identify them & I didn't want to disturb them - you are always suspicious on ground managed for grouse but there is probably an innocent explanation, who knows?
just out of interest the only live bird of prey I saw on walk was a buzzard down by reservoir at Touch Muir

[Norman_Grieve]

Bl*ody guid effort pal, done your dumbarton-kilpatricks on Friday & campsies, fintry hills - stirling o'er last 3 months.

Reckon Malky should do you an EMap, loike wot ee done for moi a year or twa ago, reckon your ascent - distance would be interesting, as would the total depth o' the bogs ye musta crossed [hoo thick was that ice crust anyways?!]...