Addicted to Recovery (102), Glendevon & 3 Ochils

[UrbanExplorer]

So my plan for the year is to summit 50 Munro's, Ive been training indoors for the past 4 months and since the turn of the year I've been building up my fitness and experience in the hills near home, today it was time to up my distance again and increase my total ascent to near Munro level. For this I decided to head for Glen Devon and the Donalds close by Innerdownie, Tarmangie Hill and King's Seat Hill, if time, weather and fitness permitted.

As usual I was up and off quite early, Glen Devon is only a 30 minute drive from home, so I was parked up at Green Knowes WIndfarm and on my way for 10:15.
20180127_101346 by IainHamiltonPhotography, on Flickr

The weather report didn't look too good, the forecast was for rain, 15-25mph winds and a possible cold front moving in later on in the afternoon. I would make the decision about King's Seat Hill at my escape point when I stopped for lunch. The sky was grey.
20180127_101352 by IainHamiltonPhotography, on Flickr

Across the road from where I parked up there is a church, according to the OS map there's a small bridge at the bottom of the graveyard I could use to get onto the hill. As I've started to learn, the maps are not always so up to date.
20180127_102947 by IainHamiltonPhotography, on Flickr

So after following the edge of the river to make sure I hadn't misread the map I had to concede and return to the road briefly until I reached the bridge at The Lodge, I crossed over then headed left into the fields and soon enough I found the path I was looking for.
20180127_103841 by IainHamiltonPhotography, on Flickr

It's a gentle ramble at this point as you start to circle the base of the hill, but soon enough you find a sign pointing you to the right for Innerdownie, the path steepens and you soon find yourself climbing out of the valley.
20180127_105036 by IainHamiltonPhotography, on Flickr

The higher you go the more the views open up.
20180127_105438 by IainHamiltonPhotography, on Flickr

You eventually find a fence on your right and you handrail this until you reach the summit of Innerdownie. As I came over the rise on the final section, the wind hit me full blast, at the cairn on top it took the phone out of my hands twice before I managed to get the picture I wanted.
20180127_113707 by IainHamiltonPhotography, on Flickr
20180127_113733 by IainHamiltonPhotography, on Flickr

Glenquey Reservoir.
20180127_114119 by IainHamiltonPhotography, on Flickr

Innerdownie was done in just over an hour, so I was on track. There is a path the continues beside the fence, but the wind was so bad that I decided to descend a little to make the walking easier, from here I would gradually cross the moss field until I would rejoin the fence. The hill infront of you is Whitewisp, I was going to pass this to the right as I headed towards Tarmangie.
20180127_115649 by IainHamiltonPhotography, on Flickr

On reaching the high style at the fence (there is also a dog gate close to ground) and clambering over, I then somehow managed to follow the wrong fence line (failed to check the linear feature) I didn't walk too far before I noticed and turned back. As with Innerdownie you can handrail this fence, the wind was blowing, the ground very wet, but I soon reach my 2nd summit of the day Tarmangie Hill
20180127_130538 by IainHamiltonPhotography, on Flickr

Looking back at Innerdownie.
20180127_130500 by IainHamiltonPhotography, on Flickr

Looking back to the windfarm at Green Knowes and Glensherup Resevior.
20180127_130623 by IainHamiltonPhotography, on Flickr

Kingseat to your left.
20180127_130508 by IainHamiltonPhotography, on Flickr

Enough of the wind blowing up here, it was time to head down for some lunch and to decide if I was going to try for King's Seat. I took the quickest route I could, roughly SW from Tarmangie into the Glen of Sorrow. NN933008 the meeting point of the burns that are tributaries to the Burn of Sorrow.
20180127_132402 by IainHamiltonPhotography, on Flickr

I'd been reading another walk report on WH as I was preparing my lunch, so I must admit I'd copied the writer, lunch was tuna sandwiches and Jelly Babies.

My walking pace had been good, I'd covered about 6 miles of my planned route and it was only half 1, I made the choice to go for King Seat as well. I jumped the burn and deciding to keep behind the ridge line, I was quickly climbing again.
20180127_133917 by IainHamiltonPhotography, on Flickr

Within 30 minutes I'd reached my 3rd and final summit for the day, King's Seat Hill.
20180127_135922 by IainHamiltonPhotography, on Flickr

As you can see behind me the weather didn't look to good, this shot will let you see the front that was coming in.
20180127_135954 by IainHamiltonPhotography, on Flickr

I didn't hang about, I quickly made my way over the hill and started to descend towards the Banks of Dollar and then Castle Campbell, with 20 minutes I had hail & snow. I quick shot of the Spitfire Memorial and I carried on.
20180127_140943 by IainHamiltonPhotography, on Flickr

Eventually I came round a hill and the remains of Campbell Castle appeared.
20180127_143905 by IainHamiltonPhotography, on Flickr

And a stunning view back up the Glen of Sorrow.
20180127_144515 by IainHamiltonPhotography, on Flickr

From here I followed the path until I reached Jacob's ladder, this leads you down into Dollar Glen.
20180127_144705 by IainHamiltonPhotography, on Flickr
20180127_144917 by IainHamiltonPhotography, on Flickr

As I step out of the Glen and head towards the finish, I catch a final shot of King's Seat in the sun.
20180127_150620 by IainHamiltonPhotography, on Flickr

Following the Burn of Care I head up the valley between Saddle Hill & Burnfoot Hill.
20180127_150106 by IainHamiltonPhotography, on Flickr
20180127_150026 by IainHamiltonPhotography, on Flickr

The last view of the castle.
20180127_145714 by IainHamiltonPhotography, on Flickr

I know Im getting close to Glen Quey Reservior as the valley opens up.
20180127_151943 by IainHamiltonPhotography, on Flickr

The Crepuscular rays look stunning as I walk on.
20180127_151949 by IainHamiltonPhotography, on Flickr

Until at least I near the end and my phone dies.
20180127_153716 by IainHamiltonPhotography, on Flickr


Back at the car for 16:12, 13 miles & 850m of ascent in just under 6 hours. A good day out

Still living "Just For Today"

[Dave McG]

Good hills those. I've only visited them once (30 years ago) when I'd a great but long day walking them over to the youth hostel in Glen Devon. Got home feeling very rough the next day and ended up in bed for a couple of weeks with pleurisy.

Was talking to my pal when walking this weekend and we were saying we enjoyed your reports so keep them coming, look forward to hearing how you get on with the Munros this year, cheers Dave

[Alteknacker]