
The reflection of Schiehallion is out of line with the real Schiehallion.
Has it been pulled sideways by the force of gravity?
"Read the scene where gravity is pulling me around
Peel back the mountains."
(REM, Feeling Gravity's Pull)
Of course, my walk had to start with the memorial.

Much of my doctorate dealt with the history of science, and I'm always astonished by what was achieved in past times with rudimentary equipment and sheer hard work. The Schiehallion Experiment is a classic example of that heroic age of science. Wikipedia states:
"The density of the Earth had been computed with an error of less than 20%... a testament to the accuracy of Maskelyne's astronomical observations."
And Hutton's calculations (apart from its by-product, the invention of contour lines) led him to conclude correctly that the core of the earth must be made of dense metal.
I took no photos on the gradual ascent to the summit ridge. The morning was overcast and dull, with a steely brooding sky. The surrounding hills were featureless dark outlines against the sky. After a full-on soaking the previous day on Ben Ledi, I was glad that at least I wasn't being rained on... but it would be nice to have some sunshine.
Ben Chonzie on the left hand skyline, and Ben Lawers on the right.

And then, just after I reached the high cairn where the constructed path ends, I glimpsed some gaps in the clouds, and could see Dunalastair Water below.

A tiny speck of blue (top right of photo)

I walked along the summit ridge, with hopes of improvements in the view. This is the circular shelter just before the final rise towards the summit, with a view of distant sunlit fields in the valley of the Tay.

And then - some spots of real sunshine.

Looking down towards the River Tummel.

And then, as I reached the summit, the magic happened. The clouds all ripped apart.

Loch Rannoch stretching far into the west.

Looking back along the summit ridge.

Cloud still swirling around the Glen Lyon hills.

Dunalastair Water

A small bit of magic close to hand - this fern was growing in a crevice right next to the cairn.

Kinloch Rannoch.

A wider view.

On the way down - note the circular lichen on the nearest boulder.

After getting back to the car, I drove over to Loch Rannoch to see the famous view of Schiehallion. There was a sense of the loch stretching out towards the open wastes of Rannoch Moor, and glimpses of peaks in the faraway west. And the little bays and shores of the loch had their own kind of magic...






