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Spot the wind turbine from Blackcraig Hill not hard

Spot the wind turbine from Blackcraig Hill not hard


Postby desmondo1 » Wed Mar 28, 2018 8:06 pm

Fionas included on this walk: Blackcraig Hill

Donalds included on this walk: Blackcraig Hill, Blacklorg Hill

Date walked: 28/03/2018

Time taken: 4.48 hours

Distance: 14.5 km

Ascent: 655m

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The forecast for the day was better than the reality when we arrived. Heavy cloud covering Blackcraig Hill, maybe it will blow away.
We parked exactly 4 miles into Glen Afton, marked parking area is on the left, deep potholes drive carefully. It can be a remote and wild place, a windfarm worker died here this winter trapped by the snowstorms.
Then walked back the .3mile to Blackcraig farm entrance, a camper and car parked up, boots outside long lie today, well the clocks did go forward?
QH ahead.jpg

Quintin Knowe cairn in distance
Now we followed the normal track, climbing gradually until we reach Quintin Knowe. A bulldozer track has been dug in for most of this climb before ending abruptly, more turbines I wonder. Rather a bleak section of countryside.
QH cairn.jpg

Blackcraig Hill from QK cairn
We spot a runner with his dog coming down the flanks, a lot faster than we were ascending.
Snow patch.jpg

Some new turbines below
Then up to Blackcraig Hill, staying close to the fence and crossing the soft snow patches. As we spot the cairn it drifts in and out of cloud, likewise the trig when spotted.
trig in distance.jpg

Trig in distance
Patchy wetland but not too bad. At the summit hide in the small structure to have a snack, a cool wind blowing. Sadly the vista is wind turbine city, not pretty.
IMG_7212.JPG

Turbines on flanks of Windy Standard
The clouds have lifted so down and up to Blacklorg, staying to the right of the fence following old sheep trails. Nearing the top we look back and spot 3 walkers coming over the top of Blackcraig, so not alone today.
Arch in distance.jpg

Striding Arch zoomed in
I wander a bit and look down at the wind farm tracking cutting below us and continuing way south. It is clear enough to spot one of the Striding Arches, probably Benbrack.
BC hill.jpg

Blackcraig Hill from Craigbraneoch
We decide to omit Cannock and make a moorland beeline crossing directly to Craigbraneoch. At the tree plantation we stop for another break and spot yet another couple of walkers topping Blackcraig, busy today.
dark clouds Glen Afton.jpg

Summit Craigbraneoch
Although rough ground the walking was fine. Super views from the top down Glen Afton and surrounding land.
Glen Afton.jpg

Glen Afton
Descend to the dam from cairn heading for the tree line at the reservoir. Now the boring bit 25mins downhill tarmac walk back. Looking back it is possible to descend the crags without cutting back to the dam, thus reducing the road walk.
CB hill.jpg

Looking back to Craigbraneoch
I enjoyed the walk, turbines excepted, but minimal wildlife: raven; buzzard and skylarks.

Reminder do Windy Standard & Alhang soon before more construction, nae planners live here for sure.
desmondo1
Hill Bagger
 
Posts: 207
Munros:107   Corbetts:100
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Joined: Nov 6, 2012

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