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Mount Blair

Mount Blair


Postby Merry-walker » Tue Dec 14, 2010 8:27 pm

Route description: Mount Blair

Fionas included on this walk: Mount Blair

Date walked: 14/12/2010

Time taken: 2 hours

Distance: 3.5 km

Ascent: 381m

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The order of the day today, after a hearty breakfast of eggs on toast, was a wee jaunt up Mount Blair. I was meant to be up Glen Shee Sunday passed with a group I’m joining, but having just finished the night shifts a couple of days before and not being able to turn my body clock around, it would have been unsafe and very unwise to walk on only an hour’s sleep!

The road up Glen Isla was pretty good and well clear of snow. Parked up at 15404 64209 in a lay by.

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Headed back along the B951 road towards a wooden gate on the right just past the trees leading on to the hill. After going through the gate I had only gone a short way to find myself sinking into the biggest bog and soggy snow so decided to sludge my way back to the road to head along and find a different gate to go through where the ground was a lot firmer.

Went through a metal gate at 16335 64611, and with Mez now off her lead, we headed on up towards Mount Blair.


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The ground was hard with some ice patches. There was still snow dotted around here and there and roughly a foot deep in some parts. However, it was quite compact and easy enough to walk on. Like walking on firm crunchy marsh mellows. I didn’t need my spikes for even where the ice lay on the path, I skirted around it easily enough.

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About half way up, there’s a long fence which appeared from my left with another metal gate at 16308 63750. I wasn’t sure whether to go through or carry on up on this side as the fence seemed to head in roughly the direction I wanted to go but after a compass/map check, it seemed best to go through.

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From this point it became slightly more icey but the going was still good and not too steep.


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After a total of an hour’s climbing, we reached the summit.


Some views from the top.


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Mez (Long name - Merry)

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After exploring and a quick slurp of coffee, we headed home.

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Mount Blair, a sweet hill...
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Merry-walker
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Re: Mount Blair

Postby Gable Gable End » Tue Dec 14, 2010 8:42 pm

i love Mount Blair, a great wee hill with a superb view :)
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Re: Mount Blair

Postby dooterbang » Tue Dec 14, 2010 9:32 pm

Merry-walker wrote:Like walking on firm crunchy marsh mellows.


WOW!!. I gotta try that :)

Another hobby of yours merrywalker :lol: ?

Nice report, some cracking photos.

I'm away to the shops for some firm crunchy marsh mallows....
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Re: Mount Blair

Postby LeithySuburbs » Tue Dec 14, 2010 9:43 pm

Merry-walker wrote:it would have been unsafe and very unwise to walk on only an hour’s sleep!


not to mention driving to the walk :lol: .

Some nice photos here MW - good colours :) . Nae need for the antenna spoiling the summit but what can you do :? ?
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Re: Mount Blair

Postby IainG » Tue Dec 14, 2010 9:51 pm

Cracking stuff. That's a hill I definitely fancy wandering up.

Out of interest, looking at your track log on the GPS, was the path marked on the OS map the boggy route you turned back from?
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Re: Mount Blair

Postby Merry-walker » Tue Dec 14, 2010 10:13 pm

Iain, the boggiest bit was on the path that's printed on the OS map. I started a bit further along (where the wee boot is).

It is a shame about the antenna, Leithy. I did think about taking some tinsel and glittery balls to decorate it.....

Doots, you really should try the marsh mellows although something tells me you already have :wink:

Gable, a highly superb hill :D
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Re: Mount Blair

Postby dooterbang » Tue Dec 14, 2010 10:17 pm

Merry-walker wrote:Doots, you really should try the marsh mellows although something tells me you already have :wink:
:D



I have :) , but it was them soft gooey ones :( ....i want the firm crispy ones :lol:
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Re: Mount Blair

Postby Merry-walker » Tue Dec 14, 2010 10:26 pm

Now I know what to get you for Christmas :lol:
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Re: Mount Blair

Postby malky_c » Tue Dec 14, 2010 10:44 pm

Jelous of the midweek walking! Mind you, I had a day off yesterday (lovely weather it was too) and spent it christmas shopping, so I suppose I can't complain really :roll:

Nice photos, and looks like an enjoyable day out. Funny that despite the snow lying right down by the road, there is less on the summit than when I was up there in late October.
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Re: Mount Blair

Postby Merry-walker » Tue Dec 14, 2010 11:46 pm

Malky I'm on holiday this week so can enjoy my time out climbing. I remember reading your report and penciling the walk in for this week. If there hadn't have been snow, I would have liked to have done the route you took :)
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Re: Mount Blair

Postby rockhopper » Wed Dec 15, 2010 1:12 am

Nice trip there and some great colors in your photos. 8) Fully agree on the antenna spoiling the view.

Merry-walker wrote:Mez (Long name - Merry)

Now I understand where your name merry walker comes from..........and there was me thinking it had something to do with alcohol and all along it was about walking the dog :lol:
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Re: Mount Blair

Postby Merry-walker » Wed Dec 15, 2010 1:14 am

a bit of both :lol:
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Re: Mount Blair

Postby davetherave » Wed Dec 15, 2010 1:36 am

Must get round to doing this wee cracker.I have been meaning to do this for the last 16 months.
Will have another look at this report when I get home fae work . Not the same viewing reports on a small screen phone.
Get the walks in early seems a good idea for the week, we all know what's coming
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Re: Mount Blair

Postby Wanderlust » Wed Dec 15, 2010 2:50 am

Looks like a nice little jaunt that. Make the most of your time away from work :)
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Re: Mount Blair

Postby Graeme D » Wed Dec 15, 2010 5:24 pm

Nice stuff MW. Good to see the origins of the name too - I'm sure Lucy would like to walk with Mez some time. She keeps telling me that she doesn't mind walking with me, but sometimes the chat becomes a bit too deep and meaningful for her, so maybe Mez would be more on her level! :lol:
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