Tinto Circular via Lochlyoch Hill
Posted: Sun Mar 02, 2014 7:51 pmMy original hill plans for today were put on hold when I had forgotten to set my alarm and overslept. Rather than miss a jaunt out, I looked for something closer to home and choose my old faithful hill Tinto. I've climbed Tinto many times, from the North and South routes, but today I wanted something different and decided on a circular route, starting from the north Tinto car park, ascending from the west ridge and returning on the standard north track.
Since i was doing something slightly different from the 2 standard routes, I thought it was about time I post my 1st walk report
Starting from the Tinto car park off the A73, head along the road which initially runs parallel to the Tinto hill path, heading for Lochlyoch:
Passing through the trees at Woodend:
To the left of the road, a view of Maurice's Cleuch:
At a fork in the road, the left goes to the Lochlyoch Reservoir and Trout farm, however, follow the road to the right, going through the farm:
The road continues on the other side of the farm, following the Lochlyoch Burn:
Take a left at the junction, heading for Howgate:
Looking across to Tinto:
The road passes by a small farm:
Continue past the farm, through a gate, onto a trail:
After dodging the obstacles, I took a sharp left at the gate, following a dry-stone wall and fence, gaining height heading for Lochlyoch Hill:
At the edge of a forestry plantation, a wobbly style takes you across the other side of the fence to continue:
Looking back down to Howgate Mouth:
And looking on towards Lochlyoch Hill:
Looking across to Lochlyoch and Cleuch Reservoirs:
Some kind of mast ... a weather station maybe? on Lochlyoch Hill:
Heading on for Tinto. Navigiation is pretty easy, just follow the wall:
Continuing up Tinto and into the clag:
Reaching the trig point:
And on to the massive cairn and view finder:
There wasn't much need to use the view finder today ... no views to be had in the clag:
From the summit cairn, I followed the normal Tinto hill path for the descent:
Almost back to the car park, and navigating the muddy paths which have been churned up into a quagmire after the recent rain:
It was good afternoon out and mostly avoids the usual weekend hoards until the return.
Since i was doing something slightly different from the 2 standard routes, I thought it was about time I post my 1st walk report
Starting from the Tinto car park off the A73, head along the road which initially runs parallel to the Tinto hill path, heading for Lochlyoch:
Passing through the trees at Woodend:
To the left of the road, a view of Maurice's Cleuch:
At a fork in the road, the left goes to the Lochlyoch Reservoir and Trout farm, however, follow the road to the right, going through the farm:
The road continues on the other side of the farm, following the Lochlyoch Burn:
Take a left at the junction, heading for Howgate:
Looking across to Tinto:
The road passes by a small farm:
Continue past the farm, through a gate, onto a trail:
After dodging the obstacles, I took a sharp left at the gate, following a dry-stone wall and fence, gaining height heading for Lochlyoch Hill:
At the edge of a forestry plantation, a wobbly style takes you across the other side of the fence to continue:
Looking back down to Howgate Mouth:
And looking on towards Lochlyoch Hill:
Looking across to Lochlyoch and Cleuch Reservoirs:
Some kind of mast ... a weather station maybe? on Lochlyoch Hill:
Heading on for Tinto. Navigiation is pretty easy, just follow the wall:
Continuing up Tinto and into the clag:
Reaching the trig point:
And on to the massive cairn and view finder:
There wasn't much need to use the view finder today ... no views to be had in the clag:
From the summit cairn, I followed the normal Tinto hill path for the descent:
Almost back to the car park, and navigating the muddy paths which have been churned up into a quagmire after the recent rain:
It was good afternoon out and mostly avoids the usual weekend hoards until the return.