free to be able to rate and comment on reports (as well as access 1:25000 mapping).
A snowy Sunday in Glen Isla, and an attempt with jackfrost on one of WH’s most celebrated Sub2ks. It would have been a doddle if we hadn’t been insistent on making it a loop walk
The B951 up from Kirriemuir wasn’t in the greatest condition, even though the thaw had started. At one point shortly before Kirkton of Glenisla we had to wait for a VW Beetle coming the other direction to turn around, as it couldn’t get up a short steep hill. The minor road up to the houses at Freuchies was covered in snow, but thankfully for us was easily negotiable up to the FC car park.
grmcmpbll's WH report promised us a clear route up to Crock from the west, due to a large amount of recent felling. I’d seen this when I was up Badandun Hill just over a year ago, so we set off up the forest road confident of an easy route to the top. Despite a thick covering of soft snow, we made good progress up past Loch Shandra and the house at Tulloch, and soon saw the felled slopes to our right.
- Once there were trees up there…
Thankfully the slopes had been reasonably well cleared of brashings, so we plodded directly E uphill, eventually reaching the heathery upper slopes of Crock, and easing off to the summit cairn. As a foothill of the Grampians, it’s a great viewpoint, and the surrounding trees are low enough that they don’t obscure the panorama.
- South from the summit of Crock
Crock had been kind to us so far, but we weren’t too keen to turn round and follow the same way back to the car. Nether did we want to descend W and then follow the signposted circuit back round to Freuchies, although that might make a nice walk for another time. Instead we continued E off the top, where it looked like there was another cleared area that would give us a way back down to the track.
- Looking E to Hare Cairn, and a nasty surprise hidden just downhill…
As the slope steepens, Crock’s trap revealed itself below us—a band of felled trees, creating a jumble of snow-covered branches. Negotiating this was tricky to say the least, climbing up, over and under a real mess of tree detritus, and getting plenty of snow in my boots for my troubles.
- Mmm, fallen trees…
But we made it through, and then it was slightly faster going, down to the track junction.
- Crock's eastern defences, finally breached
The walk back to Freuchies was made easier as we had tyre tracks in the snow to walk in. No crawling this time, but Crock definitely didn’t give up its blue WH pin too easily
A quick lunch, and then up to
Mount Blair for something a bit more straightforward…
