A Couple of Graham's - "Simples"

[Fife Flyer]

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Yet another of my "let's study the map" and see where I can go without having to drive very far This couple of hills fitted the bill rather well, as I had a spare morning to get some fresh air.
I had a pretty good idea where they were as the Perth to Crieff road has been a regular route on my travels west and north west.
I had a look at a couple of WR's and was basing my timings on the one and only 'Rodmeister', so I told Mrs F I would be back in 4 hours, an hour each way driving and a couple of hours walking - Rod completed the route in a shade over 2 hours and I reckoned I would be able to match that Especially as my route was more kind of direct and staying on the track as far as possible I also notice that Rod parked in Amulree, I was a wee bit cheeky and parked at the farm entrance as in my opinion there is loads of room - if you park carefully, so that would knock 15 minutes off
Set off just before 9.30am and the temperature was a balmy 8 deg in the middle of February and at just over 200m, so the fleece and gloves were not needed and stayed in my rucksack.

Was planning to park in Amulree, but a few spaces available at the start of the track so opted to occupy one

Wide track to start off

My plan was to follow the track as far as I could to the bealach, once there I was planning to follow the fence that goes directly up both hills. I reached the bealach after about 45 mins and opted to take on Meall nan Caorach first for no particular reason. I was struggling a bit on the ascent due to being unfit but was soon on the summit. It was a bit blowy but for a change I could actually see the surrounding countryside

Low level look back to the start

First low level shot of a few turbines

Looking into the sun, todays targets

Gaining height, track nice and dry higher up

Looking across to the new fence going up Meall Reamhar

Track continuing south east

Loch Freuchie in the distance from the summit of Meall nan Caorach

Looking SW towards the next summit

Large windfarm enhancing the view

Loch Freuchie zoomed

Ready for the next new fence

Ascent of Meall Reamhar was littered with old wire

I was appalled to find the ascent of Meall Reamhar was almost like an obstacle course, especially the lower slope, left over spare bits of new wire had been dumped along with the old rusty wire. If I was getting tangled up with my two little legs, imagine how any of our four legged friends are going to cope. I just hope it is a temporary problem as it looks like the fence builders are planning to return to replace the fence up Meall nan Caorach

Just in case you didn't believe me

No snow to walk through, this was all I could find

Looking west from the summit of Meall Reamhar

Looking down on Amulree

Looking back towards the first summit

Looking south west

Previous shot zoomed

Not much else to say about the walk, really enjoyed getting out and because I was hardly 'off piste' my boots stayed dry
Next on the horizon will be more of the same hopefully after this grotty weather that is due has been and gone.

[jules999]

I had been looking for a relatively close hills or hills to do as time was short yesterday,, and I found your report on these hills, so i read your report and did exactly the same as you on these,,what a cracking wee couple of hrs doing them both,, had a lovely wee saunter up them and the views were nice and clear,, thanks for putting this up

[Backpacker]

I can confirm that the wire from the old fence is still there.

Did almost the same route as you except I came back over the SIMM just to add in a bit of variation

[Graeme D]

There's a blast from the past! The start looks a bit more industrial than it did in my day though.

[bar72]

thanks for the report, you can park easily if you hug into the wheelie bin. Please bear in mind that I'm a lorry driver so I always think about trailer "cut-in" and "tailswing" wherever I park. I checked on PKCs website for bin collection dates, a Thursday, so no worries parking there any other day. No excessive wire lying about when following the fence line and bone dry on return, in trainers

[Frenchy]

Did this walk yesterday 23/03/24.
There is still old wire on the ground, up both fence lines.