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This was a planned outing for two reasons, firstly and probably most importantly I wanted to get out before the weather changes and secondly I need to keep up my fitness level before my trip next month to Skye
My original plan was to head a bit further west and climb Dumyat, but I opted for a nearer Marilyn, which had been holding my curiosity since my first experience of walking through wind farms in the Moorfoot Hills in the Borders.
I wanted to see for myself just how bad, or good the walk near the beautiful Glen Devon up to the summit of Steele's Knowe.
I know this topic is a bit thorny and a political hot potato, but we can't just dismiss the problem and pretend everything is alright. I am still to be convinced that wind turbines are a credible long term solution to the country's energy problem. I know most folk who read this walk report will be against the constant and seemingly endless erection of more turbines.
One thought that occurred to me whilst walking this morning, is turbine spotting a hobby? Lets face it you can get an "I spy" book for just about everything
Maybe I could set up a website to start the ball rolling
Onto the walk itself, as you have probably already guessed there isn't much to report, I reached the summit in 50 minutes, which is only a few minutes longer than it took me drive to the start
I also only took 39 photo's, the majority were scenic shots on the summit and I think you can probably guess what featured in the rest
Parking area, about 1 mile from Glendevon village
A gaggle of signs at the start of the walk, just love the speed limit one
Local residents
The start of the large wide track that gradually climbs
The walk is probably one of the easiest you could undertake, if you were pushed for time and love cycling uphill on tracks you could complete this walk in under an hour, by freewheeling down - not exceeding 19mph naturally
Once you reach the last turbine in the NW you then have to leave the track and walk over grass for all of 400m, so you don't even need boots
The track initially is wider than most "A" class roads, especially the single track roads up north
I would estimate that there must be 5 to 6km of track all over the hillside. How much would the initial outlay be to prepare the land, before the turbines are built and purchased and another question what is the estimated life span of a turbine?
The track up the hillside with plenty of mesh to protect the track
A few of the 'new' residents
A neighbourly wind farm
The trig on the summit, thought I would include my poles as this may be last outing for them, as new ones are expected soon
The beautiful Glen Devon
Another neighbour, slightly further away
The view to the north with some 'proper' hills in the distance
Zoomed photo
The van in the photo, shows how huge the turbines are
Anyone know what this lump of concrete is for? There are a few of the dotted round near the summit and they look like they have been there much longer than the turbines.
That concludes the report, I apologise in advance if you are a wind farm fan. The above views are purely my thoughts on the topic
Next stop for me is Tyndrum on Saturday, not sure if I will be venturing up a hill depends on the weather and time available