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We booked this up via Walk Highlands, navigation course in conjunction with MCof S.
In the company of Di Gilbert, (impressive CV) and Heather Morning taking on the quieter group, we had a smashing time on the Ochils . Myself, Tomsie, Davy Sothern, Ross, Parminder and Derek.
A great crowd but caused Di much frustration as we just wouldn't stop having a laugh.
We started the day getting to know each other, wee cuppa and a biccy, then some basic map work in the Ochils Mountain Rescue hall before driving up to Dollar Glen to start our time out on the hills. Classroom work covered reading map features, contours, map grid references and also registering with the Mountain Rescue sms service. Ross forgot his boots so had a lovely pair of Hushpuppies with gaiters lol
Once out of the cars, we took opposite directions round a smashing circuit, using our maps to read the area from the car park round to Castle Campbell, then on up to the hill, stopping to identify features etc. Covering the importance of assessing your decisions and retracing your steps if necessary.
Our wander took us round Bank Hill and on up to Kings Seat. We worked on pacing here, having marked out how many paces each of us took to cover 100mtrs, this was the only 6 mins of peace that Di got as we all had to shut up and count lol. This saw us down to the junction of 2-3 small burns where we stopped for some lunch, a chat and met up with the other group on their way round in the opposite direction.
Using our newfound skills, we took our bearings from the stream junction and on up the steep side of Tarmangie Hill, picking out features on the map and locating them on the ground. Our 100mtr distances got a bit iffy up here,,some people may have been striding out a bit further as at one point we all ended up scattered over about 50 mtrs
![Tarmangie Hill 03-05-2014.jpg]()
- Few of us pouring over our maps
![Kings Seat Hill 03-05-2014.jpg]()
- John on Tarmangie Hill, pointing back to the other 'Blue Balloon', Kings Seat Hill
Our last section found us using bearings over Whitewisp Hill, then down to reach a col, and on down the side to a 'building' marked on the map, some old sheep pens, then on to the landrover track and back down to the cars.
I didn't take any pics today so adding 2 from Tomsie,
A great day out, weather fine, company fine. Thanks very much to Di for putting up with us lol
