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Catlaw, ,Duchray hill and Mount Blair

Catlaw, ,Duchray hill and Mount Blair


Postby Benaden887 » Thu Mar 17, 2016 8:49 pm

Fionas included on this walk: Cat Law, Mealna Letter or Duchray Hill, Mount Blair

Date walked: 08/04/2015

Time taken: 7.3 hours

Distance: 20 km

Ascent: 1300m

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Wed, day 3 - Up at 0600, load the car - there is clag on the hills - Catlaw is 7km 390mtr in 2.5hrs - No map for starting at the gates of Balintore castle, I wrongly head past an outcrop of trees before I spot the track rising on my far right, so cross the burn and relocate. Happily this route should take me almost to the broad top - 400mtr and into clag - Cold and wet, glad I brought my jacket- I tramp on, walking better now I pick up the pace as the mist thickens. Altimeter shows 550mtr and the map I have covers this - cooking with gas - here`s the wee steep rise and the fence compass check- and there are the cairns - box search finds the trig point, return to the fence a guide rail back to the path. Study of the1.25maps at home pays off and back we go. The weather has a damp effect on me with three hills still to do- but the clag is lifting and I`m back at the car. I drive past Balintore castle, the 16c tower house becomes a baronial mansion in the 19c festooned with turret towers yet left to decay in the 60s. Declared a danger in 2007 a compulsory purchase by Angus CC from an absentee eastern owner - the castle is now a restoration project. The clag lifting further down the road and by 1100 I`m trading Isla for Shee but not yet- the sun is out the sky is blue - I turn before reaching the narrow tower that is Forter castle - one of many in the area - worth a visit . Duchray Hill - parked at the forest taking the edge of the treeline to higher ground- Big mistake - bog and snowmelt make for a squelchy km before reaching drier ground - follow the double fence and stone wall to the large cairn at the top- the corner of the wall seems higher than the cairn - I touch them both - The views from here are stunning The Southern Cairngorm still plastered with snow - a return to the road and the long climb up in hot sunshine to the telecoms mast and trig point of Mount Blair - my thanks to Linda Ronstadt who`s music kept me going. The broad top has a C ringed walled enclosure- with a metal view toposcope of landmarks and surrounding hills - I can say without modesty, I`ve done them all - the massive cairn hides the grave of a supposed suicide - hmm. Met an older couple with a snappy pup on the way down - both looked as if they were toiling - said how far it would be to the top being the day was very warm now - the woman replied they would both make it - if slowly - she being 86 and her hunband in his 90th year - guid oan yez ! so 10km 800mtr 3.20hrs
Enough for the day. Seen enroute Nowt but sheep hill 1 Birds of prey rabbits hares in still white - many wee birds just flashes of colour and song deer and heather burning - A decent three days - did what I wanted though not in the order I`d liked - too long gettingthere - should have done Hunt and Wirren same day - missed out on Blath Bhagin - try saying that wi a drink in ye
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Benaden887
Stravaiging
 
Posts: 167
Munros:282   Corbetts:222
Fionas:153   Donalds:89
Sub 2000:7   Hewitts:46
Wainwrights:39   
Joined: Apr 8, 2012
Walk wish-list

Re: Catlaw, ,Duchray hill and Mount Blair

Postby Benaden887 » Fri Mar 18, 2016 1:07 pm

RTC wrote:Like your writing style. - To the point.

Group last week at top of Dumyat included a 90 year old woman.

See you belong to Kilmarnock Mountaineering club. Met 2 of your members last year in bunkhouse south of Ullapool. Smashing guys. One was called Bert. Can't remember his pal's name. - Very tall. If you know them please say I was asking for them.

Russell.

Hi Russell - Sounds like Bert and Andy or Michael - glad you enjoyed the craic - felt I was neglecting this site I use so much for my planning.
Benaden887
Stravaiging
 
Posts: 167
Munros:282   Corbetts:222
Fionas:153   Donalds:89
Sub 2000:7   Hewitts:46
Wainwrights:39   
Joined: Apr 8, 2012
Walk wish-list

Re: Catlaw, ,Duchray hill and Mount Blair

Postby Benaden887 » Sat Mar 19, 2016 6:05 pm

RTC wrote:Thanks. I'm almost sure it was Michael.


Yes it was - Bert chuffed you remembered him - sends his regards
Benaden887
Stravaiging
 
Posts: 167
Munros:282   Corbetts:222
Fionas:153   Donalds:89
Sub 2000:7   Hewitts:46
Wainwrights:39   
Joined: Apr 8, 2012
Walk wish-list

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