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Duncolms and Slacks

Duncolms and Slacks


Postby Rocketrocket » Fri Oct 19, 2018 10:09 am

Route description: Duncolm and the Slacks, Old Kilpatrick

Sub 2000' hills included on this walk: Duncolm

Date walked: 18/10/2018

Time taken: 4.75 hours

Distance: 17.38 km

Ascent: 603m

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Really enjoyed this one as my first real distance hike with actual proper hills involved!

The weather was wonderful and the initial ascent was a great start to the walk. However it does get a little challenging towards the top due to incline, the road was still tarmac. Once at the top though, and recovered, the view behind you is stunning and the view ahead enthralling.

Past the small loch, the going starts to get boggy - our first real experience of proper Scottish bog, we learned to just enjoy solving the puzzle of not getting our feet wet. The Duncolms then come in to view, one by one, with the final Duncolm a testing, if not brief, climb to the summit.

Post-summit lunch, we could see the trig point at the top of the slacks, which was a really enticing target for the next part of the walk. We decided to tackle middle Duncolm on the way back, which involved climbing the steep 'decent' on the northside, which was a challenge. Then retracing our steps back until the little grass path just under the power cables. The terrain here is slightly different, especially once you leave the trig point (which must have the best view of Glasgow available) and start to make the epic decent back down towards Kilpatrick. However once you get back to the road, all is plain sailing down to the village, back on the train. All in all, a thouroughly challenging and rewarding climb for this hiking newbie. 9/10

Pints in Glasgow then home. :D
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Rocketrocket
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Re: Duncolms and Slacks

Postby Chris Mac » Fri Oct 19, 2018 11:49 am

Rocketrocket wrote:Really enjoyed this one as my first real distance hike with actual proper hills involved!

...Past the small loch, the going starts to get boggy - our first real experience of proper Scottish bog, we learned to just enjoy solving the puzzle of not getting our feet wet.

Duncolm is a great wee range to start out with, loads of routes to choose. Aye get used to the bogs you may aswell embrace them now as they will only get worse! :lol:

Glad you enjoyed it, that's 4 Marilyn's in the bag for you now, so where to next? If you are still building up fitness and keeping it local I recommend the Campsies and for a slight step up in challenge try the Luss Grahams... then Arrochar is only a stone's throw away and you'll soon find yourself itching to explore the bigger hills! :D
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Re: Duncolms and Slacks

Postby Rocketrocket » Mon Oct 29, 2018 10:43 pm

Thanks for the comment Chris, and the advice on where next. Yes have had my eye on the Campsies - see them everyday going to work, so they're definitely on the list.

Just looking to keep building, but also aware winter is coming, so might consider taking a winter safety course. Not every keen on sticking to flat ground for too long! :crazy:

Thanks again for the advice my friend.!

Alex
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