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Three weeks ago, I drove up to this part of the country to do three hills and this was due to be the first of the day, I hadn't taken my usual maps and was just working off my WH notes. I searched for Ellivreid Farm, driving slowly up and down the glen road but I just couldn't find it so parked up in the area in the picture below to try and figure out where I was going wrong. In the end, I gave up and headed for my 2nd hill.
Today, I was taking no chance and read other reports and was armed with all my maps. So with all the additional info I was able to find the correct parking area quickly as can be seen below.
Yip, 3 weeks ago I spent ten minutes out of the car looking around me from the exact spot I should have been parked in
Anyway, this is one of those walks where another hill dominates the views, in this case Ben Rinnes is very close by.
- Ben Rinnes from the parking area
It's around 100 yards from the parking area along the dead end road to the gate opposite Ellivreid Farm.
- Looking up the road towards the farm
Once in the field I could see a large herd of cattle over to my right but most were lying down and completely uninterested in me so I was able to keep to the track and get through the field quickly.
- Heading for a gate just to the left of these trees
- Looking back down the field
- Track beside the trees
Once through the field of cattle I kept to the left of some fir trees before going through another gate and a second field this time with sheep in it.
Using the WH notes I followed the track through the second field then took the right fork. My notes suggested the grassy track would peter out but I was able to stay on it all the way to the fence where I could se the higher post that I was aiming for. Close to the high post there are some stones close to the fence and a cover over the barb wire making it easy to cross over on to the open hillside.
- Following the grassy track
- Fence crossing
Once over the fence it was pretty much choose a route and just head on through the heather. The ground was wet without being boggy so no great hardship as I climbed fairly gently on to the wide top that headed directly towards the obvious steep part of the climb. This is where there are a few hidden holes well disguised by the heather and if concentration slips, this can happen.
By now, the sunny start to the day had given way to rain and with the wind picking up on the higher ground it felt quite hard going trudging through the heather and I was pleased to get to the tougher part of the climb as I could now see exactly where I was putting my feet.
The steep section was quite short and the final climb was now in sight.
- The final climb
- Small area of hags easily avoided
Crossing a very small group of peat hags and negotiating an easy little climb on a track there was a final short walk to reach the summit.
- The summit
- Surprised to see this at 781m
Rod - if you read this, your 1hr 15 mins is safe as I came in at 1:22. I put this down to finishing the Cleveland Way in mid June and since then being on a diet of lager, wine and raspberry magnums!!!
I spent longer than normal at the summit, the rain had stopped and I was hoping the views might improve but there was just too much cloud cover so eventually headed off.
- Ben Rinnes and the Convals
On the way down and overlooking the grassy heathery wet section I could see a path over to the right. I made for it and followed it back to the point where wooden posts cut across the hill - life would have been easier if I had found it on the way up.
Everything went well till I got to the last field with the cattle. With the exception of half a dozen they had all crossed the field and were to my right but closer to the track than this morning. I chose just to keep a little bit of distance between us so left the track and headed a little bit to my left. Watching the cows I could see one of the bigger ones at the front watching me then he started heading towards me and the others all followed. Before I knew it they had all broken in to a trot and were heading straight for me. It's a bit nervy when this happens but most of the time it is just curiosity and luckily that was the case today and they all pulled up when they got within about 30 yards of me. I turned round for a quick picture and walked the last 50 yards to the gate and the road back to the car.
- All calm again
