Perhaps it was their frequently disappearance behind sullen cloud (when the forecasts the night before had been much more promising), the long out and back along the same track, or the noisy start and end to the walk along the A84, or a slightly roundabout way to gain the hill track via the cycle track and what must be a brutal climb if you're on a bike! That all said, I got views from the top of both, so with a bit of perseverance I hope they appreciated my presence
I followed the WH walk pretty much to the letter all the way there and back, although in retrospect on the way back I wished I'd carried along the cycle path on the old railway and dropped down the path that leads straight to the centre of Lochearnhead. That would have saved a wet walk along a busy stretch of road.
- The minor road up to the cycle track
The track up into Glen Kendrum is being used for construction work (looks like a hydro dam?) so is pretty fast walking for the first couple of km from the railway. After that, it's more bumpy, but still gives for fast going up to the bealach between the two Corbetts.
As I ascended the track, Meall an t-Seallaidh briefly said hello as its summit cloud cleared, but Creag Mac Ranich obstinately remained hidden under some very dark cloud.
- Creag, please come out from behind that cloud now!
Yet someone must have had a word, because the cloud disappeared sometime during the steep ascent E from the bealach. The view from the summit was best down Loch Earn—all the surrounding hills were still in cloud, including Meall an t-Seallaidh again, with the exception of the hills N of Comrie.
- Shy Vorlich and Stuc a'Chroin, from the summit of Creag Mac Ranch
- The route of ascent to Cam Chreag
Retracing my steps back to the bealach was easy once I found the line of old rusty fenceposts,. They also provide a handy route, with a rough path, W through the peat hags and then steeply up onto the ridge north of Cam Chreag. I kept to the ridge, and then it was an easy wander along to Meall an t-Seallaidh's summit trig. The views W and N were still pretty limited, though most of the Lawers hills briefly came into view and Ben Vorlich and Stuc a'Chroin emerged from cloud (for about 20 minutes, and that was it for the day!).
- Slightly more visible Vorlich and Stuc a'Chroin, with Loch Earn, from the summit of Meall an t-Seallaidh
There was a more reliable view to the bright E, where I could see right through to Fife and the Lomond Hills. And from the other cairn (both of today's hills had twin summits, where the lower one—as usual—looked higher!), there was a glimpse of Loch Voil and more showers.
- Loch Voil from the summit of Meall an t-Seallaidh
The descent E was straightforward, keeping to the grass and out of the heather until the last minute, although as it turned out the heather was pretty sparse so not so tough to walk through.
- A look back to Creag Mac, without cloud!
It was fast going once back on the track, and despite all the unforecast showers around, I only got rained on for the last 15 minutes of what turned out to be a decent day's walking. Maybe it was just me, and these two hills weren't so unfriendly after all
- Showery return down Glen Kendrum
