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Today was my mum's 80th birthday - a reason to take a day off the hills, head through and cook her a birthday meal. Well, most of the cooking was done last night or early this morning and it was a relatively nice day - ie not raining. So why not nip up The Law, which is only a few miles away from Grangemouth, get another of my Donald Tops and a wee bit of exercise before getting stuck in to the curry?
Was later away from home than planned - stayed in bed til 7 then spent some time reading with the cat making herself comfy on my lap. By the time I'd got all the cooking done and packed up it was after 11, meaning that I arrived in Tillicoultry just before midday. I put my rucksack on, though I didn't really feel it was necessary, and set off up the path to Mill Glen. An enjoyable wee walk to the head of the glen where the footpath heads up to the steep lower slopes of The Law. I didn't have my poles with me and noticed the difference. Powering on I reached the cairn at the top, snuck down out of the wind and had my lunch, bemoaning my forgetfulness in not packing a bag of crisps.
P1200593 by
Al, on Flickr
P1200595 by
Al, on Flickr
I'd wondered about doing Ben Cleuch and Andrew Gannell Hill but there wasn't really time for both - just nip up Ben Cleuch then, it's only another km. Ground was reasonably dry with a few boggy patches. Made the trig point and turned around, ran most of the way back down the hillside. Quite a few folk making their laboured way uphill.
P1200596 by
Al, on Flickr
P1200597 by
Al, on Flickr
Back at the car before 2 - time to nip into Asda for some flowers before turning up. Nice afternoon, joined by Iain and Lorna for tea.
DSC02374 by
Al, on Flickr
DSC02377 by
Al, on Flickr