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Slacking around Duncolm

Slacking around Duncolm


Postby Jaxter » Wed Jan 18, 2017 7:16 pm

Route description: Duncolm and the Slacks, Old Kilpatrick

Sub 2000' hills included on this walk: Duncolm

Date walked: 18/01/2017

Time taken: 3.5 hours

Distance: 15 km

Ascent: 490m

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A sneaky wee Wednesday morning arrived and miraculously I had nothing scheduled…well, plenty of things needing done but nowhere I actually had to be :D Further incentives (if any were needed) to get out was the return of my camera (whoopppeee!! :D ) and a skiing holiday in 10 day’s time that my knee needed to be ready for :thumbup:

The weather also looked favourable so I decided to continue my theme for the week of small hills. The circuit of Sub2000 Duncolm and the Slacks from Kilpatrick looked like a plan. I couldn’t be bothered with driving at that time of day so jumped on the 7.02 train and was in Kilpatrick for just after half past. Say what you will about Scotrail, but growing up with South West Trains in the deep south…believe me, Scotrail is the best thing that ever happened to trains :lol:

It was dark and I was sleepy and I stumbled along the road, through the underpass and followed the road past the Gas Works (mmmm :D ) It was well sign-posted but as it was still dark I had to be a bit careful not to miss anything :lol: But it was easy navigating and I soon found my way onto the track and from here it was simple.

A steep wee section really got the blood pumping early on but it was worth it as I turned round and had this view of the Erskine Bridge, with the plus side that the darkness was hiding Erskine itself :lol:

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The track continued and I mused on the enjoyment of being out midweek and how thankful I was that my knee was on the mend :D

Loch Humphreys finally came into view, I noted the fence I was the follow for the return and made my way past the dam and along the shores of the loch.

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Here the track became grassy and increasingly soggy. Soon it reached Yoda’s swamp levels of sloppiness and I was bemoaning my lack of gaiters; I’d been drying them out after the weekend and forgot to repack. At least I had waterproof socks which should keep be dry to mid-calf :lol:

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Fortunately the path became merely boggy after a while and I was able to make progress without a need for waders. I passed Berry Hill and Little Duncolm on my right and was onto a pleasing grassy ridge. Middle Duncolm was ahead. The option to go around it was never even considered – why would I go around when I could go over?! (The answer to that one was on the other side – a very steep descent :lol: )

Duncolm itself
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I made it down unscathed :lol: Duncolm was straight ahead and and easy walk to the summit. It was a wee bit chilly, but it wasn’t raining, I had views and it was Wednesday and I wasn’t working :D :D

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The Campsies
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Towards Loch Lomond was a bit misty :lol:
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But I did have a deadline, so I pressed on, retracing my steps and wading back to Loch Humphreys…

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As I started to climb away from the loch, I passed the pylons and spied the path up to the escarpment. It was an easy walk to follow the fence, cross another bog and climb up to the trig point at the Slacks. It was a fine viewpoint in all directions, almost able to forget how close to Glasgow I was, until I heard a siren wailing in the distance :lol:

Looking back to Duncolm
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The way home
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Any excuse…
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Here I took a bearing, just for fun :lol: and followed the path South, over a completely redundant stile…
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…and downwards. Another great view of the Erskine Bridge (Erskine now visible :shock: )
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…and I made it back to the track and the easy stroll back to the station where I caught a train back to Glasgow in time for a shower and lunch before work. A great wee hill and enjoyed a train hike which I hadn’t done in a while. Small hills are great – it’s not all about size :wink:
Last edited by Jaxter on Fri Jan 20, 2017 12:06 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Jaxter
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Posts: 1486
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Location: Glasgow/Inverness

Re: Slacking around Duncolm

Postby StevieC » Thu Jan 19, 2017 3:44 pm

These are my local hills - about fifteen minutes on the train for me :D Last time I was up Duncolm I met a bloke who was running up there and back in order to shift a hangover :lol:

The last time I was up that way I visited the wonderfully named Doughnot Hill - a horrible schlep through the bracken from Loch Humphrey, but who can resist somewhere called Doughnot Hill??
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Re: Slacking around Duncolm

Postby Jaxter » Thu Jan 19, 2017 6:39 pm

StevieC wrote:These are my local hills - about fifteen minutes on the train for me :D Last time I was up Duncolm I met a bloke who was running up there and back in order to shift a hangover :lol:

The last time I was up that way I visited the wonderfully named Doughnot Hill - a horrible schlep through the bracken from Loch Humphrey, but who can resist somewhere called Doughnot Hill??

Hill therapy eh :crazy: :crazy:
Doughnot Hill sounds awesome. Worth a visit just for the craic :thumbup:
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Jaxter
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Posts: 1486
Munros:229   Corbetts:152
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Wainwrights:81   Islands:40
Joined: Aug 8, 2011
Location: Glasgow/Inverness

Re: Slacking around Duncolm

Postby teaandpies » Thu Jan 19, 2017 9:46 pm

I had an enjoyable wee jaunt around these hills a while ago. It was a scorching hot day and the walk up was a work out :lol:
teaandpies
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Posts: 990
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Re: Slacking around Duncolm

Postby Jaxter » Thu Jan 19, 2017 11:22 pm

teaandpies wrote:I had an enjoyable wee jaunt around these hills a while ago. It was a scorching hot day and the walk up was a work out :lol:

It's surprisingly hard work isn't it!! Worth it tho, great wee hills :D :D
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Jaxter
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Posts: 1486
Munros:229   Corbetts:152
Fionas:106   Donalds:49+13
Sub 2000:160   Hewitts:69
Wainwrights:81   Islands:40
Joined: Aug 8, 2011
Location: Glasgow/Inverness

Re: Slacking around Duncolm

Postby teaandpies » Fri Jan 20, 2017 1:12 am

Jaxter wrote:
teaandpies wrote:I had an enjoyable wee jaunt around these hills a while ago. It was a scorching hot day and the walk up was a work out :lol:

It's surprisingly hard work isn't it!! Worth it tho, great wee hills :D :D


Well worth it :thumbup:
teaandpies
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Posts: 990
Munros:128   Corbetts:22
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Location: Glasgow

Re: Slacking around Duncolm

Postby jamesb63 » Fri Jan 20, 2017 10:01 pm

Thanks for bringing back a LOT of memories :clap: :clap: I was brought up on these hills
I don't think theres any part ive not been on from I was a tot my dad would take me
and I just never tired of them :D now stay at the far end on them in fact I open my back gate
and I am on them ,will definetly need to get back on them sometime THANKYOU
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Re: Slacking around Duncolm

Postby Mal Grey » Sat Jan 21, 2017 12:03 am

Sometimes these little local jaunts are such a tonic to the soul, looks like a good 'un.

I would almost definitely have climbed over the style anyway, if nobody else was watching. Did ya? :D
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Mal Grey
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Location: Surrey, probably in a canoe! www.wildernessisastateofmind.co.uk

Re: Slacking around Duncolm

Postby Jaxter » Sun Jan 22, 2017 8:47 pm

jamesb63 wrote:Thanks for bringing back a LOT of memories :clap: :clap: I was brought up on these hills
I don't think theres any part ive not been on from I was a tot my dad would take me
and I just never tired of them :D now stay at the far end on them in fact I open my back gate
and I am on them ,will definetly need to get back on them sometime THANKYOU

Aww happy times - you should definitely pop up again :D Take yer wellies :wink:
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Jaxter
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Joined: Aug 8, 2011
Location: Glasgow/Inverness

Re: Slacking around Duncolm

Postby Jaxter » Sun Jan 22, 2017 8:47 pm

Mal Grey wrote:Sometimes these little local jaunts are such a tonic to the soul, looks like a good 'un.

I would almost definitely have climbed over the style anyway, if nobody else was watching. Did ya? :D

Of course, because it was there :wink:
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Jaxter
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Posts: 1486
Munros:229   Corbetts:152
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Wainwrights:81   Islands:40
Joined: Aug 8, 2011
Location: Glasgow/Inverness

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