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Another nice day for venturing out, dry & sunny - the forecast was actually right for a change. I had a very cunning plan which after very careful planning studying previous reports the plan was to head to Dumglow & tackle it the "short & quick way", following in 'Rodmeisters' steps by parking on the unclassified road a couple of miles on from Cleish.
The careful planning was working a treat and then the plan backfired big style, logic told me to start climbing via the gate so off I set & after less than 50 yds I was wading through mud & clambering over twigs, trees, tree stumps and trying very hard not to sink up to my knees in mud. There was no sign of any forestry vehicles, in fact there was no sign of anything at all, all forms of wildlife had more sense than me
The forestry vehicles had gauged out big tracks which were filled with lovely muddy water and whilst struggling uphill very slowly I was thinking about how amusing the report would be - at my expense. It would have been quicker to retreat back to the car & drive round to Loch Glow & conquer the hill from that direction.
Whilst struggling very slowly uphill I was comparing the progress or lack of it, to wading through knee deep snow.
Four examples of how the terrain had been rearranged, not good to look at and clamber over.
After struggling for what seemed like far too long, I reached the top of the deforestation area & was on familiar underfoot territory, long wet soggy grass. After reaching the top of the forested area, I picked up a faint path & the summit could be seen in the distance.
The summit trig point with Loch Leven in the background.
Black Loch, Loch Glow is to the left & out of sight.
The views on the summit were certainly worth the extra effort. One thing I didn't mention, I was travelling ultra light, camera, map, compass & whistle, nothing to eat or drink & after expending extra energy & taking longer than I had planned I was rather thirsty. Memo to self - always carry a drink, you never know what unexpected surprises could delay your little stroll.
Whilst on the summit I studied the terrain in the direction I was intending to descend, I was definitely not going back the same way, so I headed down & came across the first living things I had seen for over an hour.
The descent involved going through the forest & appearing back in the sunshine on a clearing that runs down the side of the forest, with the occasional obstacle. With more luck than judgement the descent actually brought me out in a field right next to where I had parked my car
In a strange sort of way I enjoyed the struggle, now it was off to Benarty Hill
Report to follow very soon.
