Page 1 of 1

One Day At A Time

PostPosted: Wed May 01, 2019 8:32 pm
by Jaxter
Thursday 7th February 2019 – Arthur’s Seat
6.27km
273m ascent
1 hour 50 mins

It was the final Edinburgh trip before the February holiday, a beautiful afternoon and the perfect opportunity to pop up Arthurs Seat on the way home to test out the injury that just kept on giving….

Arthur’s Seat ahead
Image

I climbed through the woods – a muddy path – before heading out onto the open hill. Glasgow is superior to Edinburgh in every way except for the mountain in the middle of the city thing 8)
Image

Looking back – North Berwick Law visible in the distance
Image

Dunsapie Loch
Image

Image

The loch was frozen so the birds were standing on the ice :lol:
Image

I crossed the road and climbed carefully up towards Arthur’s Seat
Image

It was windy but a beautiful afternoon 8)
Image

At the top it was super busy as always :lol:
Image

Image

I did a thing!
Image

I dropped off the other side – looking back to the summit
Image

It was somewhere around here where I remembered that I wasn’t wearing boots and it would be a bit embarrassing to need a rescue :lol:

I felt ok so decided to head over the Salisbury Crags – despite being over Arthur’s Seat many times, I’d never been over the crags themselves.
Image

Image

It was an easy walk to the station to get home – I seemed to have survived my first foray up a hill 8)


Arthur's Seat.gpx Open full screen  NB: Walkhighlands is not responsible for the accuracy of gpx files in users posts



-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sunday 10th February 2019 – Earl’s Seat
10.91km
770m ascent
3 hours 40 mins

After surviving Arthur’s Seat, Malcy and I decided a wee Sunday afternoon excursion was in order. We were actually heading for the Menteith hills but as we approached the Glengoyne distillery I got bored of driving so we decided to go up Earl’s Seat instead :lol:

Malcy playing with my poles
Image

As we climbed gently across the fields we could see across to the Trossachs
Image

It was nicely atmospheric in the distance but still nice here
Image

It was steep as we climbed – we’d decided to leave Dumgoyne for the way back so took the left hand path
Image

I was supposed to be taking it easy so stopped for plenty of photos – Loch Lomond looked lovely in the distance 8)
Image

Image

Image

The worst of the climb done, the gradient eased as we walked around Dumgoyne which was sparkling in the sunlight
Image

Looking ahead to Garloch Hill
Image

Dumfoyne
Image

Looking back to Dumgoyne as we climbed
Image

I see a little silhouetto 8)
Image

This was a very familiar route for me but it was Malcy’s first time up the Campsies and the weather seemed to be pulling out all the stops 8)
Image

Loch Lomond
Image

It wasn’t as squishy along the top as I’d expected – we could see Earl’s Seat in the distance!
Image

Looked like there might be a shower coming in….
Image

The Menteith hills with Ben Venue and Ben Ledi behind
Image

The summit of Earl’s Seat looking closer
Image

We felt spots of rain as we approached the top – hoping it would pass quickly, we carried on. We met a runner who warned us about man-eating peat bogs near the top. Thankfully we managed to avoid these but not the snow storm :roll:
Image

We waited around for a few minutes and were rewarded by the snow calming down enough for a few photos
Image

Loch Lomond
Image

Looking North – some lovely windfarms :roll:
Image

It was time to head off as the snow was starting up again
Image

Looking back to the summit – amazing how a few minutes of snow can make everything look really wintery again!
Image

For the next half hour or so we were walking into the wind which battered us relentlessly with snow and caused me to put on my classy 50p Primark sunglasses to help me keep my eyes open :lol:

Eventually we were out of the snow and rain and the views opened out again
Image

More bad weather
Image

Looking back
Image

Looking down to Dumgoyne
Image

I’d decided that Dumgoyne was probably too much for me as I was starting to feel my injury but Malcy was contemplating it
Image

Off he goes….
Image

I carried on down – the sun coming out again 8)
Image

Looking back to Dumgoyne – Malcy playing catch-up but avoiding faceplanting :roll:
Image

Image

Heading down the last wee section
Image

Looking back to Dumgoyne before reaching the car, and a shorter than expected drive home :D
Image


Earl's Seat.gpx Open full screen  NB: Walkhighlands is not responsible for the accuracy of gpx files in users posts



------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tuesday 12th February 2019 – Old Drove Road from Peebles to Traquair
13.81km
508m ascent
3 hours 35 mins

It was the February holiday so after a day of rest I decided to have another adventure – meeting my friend Neil in Innerleithen we left one car in Traquair and drove back to Peebles where we left Colonel Mustard. We headed up the drove road where I’d been before to get to the Peebles Donalds. It was a steeper climb out of the village than I had remembered but before long we were out of the trees
Image

Admiring the views
Image

We climbed higher, following the Cross Borders Drove Road which bypassed Craig Head and Kailzie Hill
Image

Looking back – it was super windy and I was having to hold my hat to stop it blowing away :lol:
Image

I slowed down for the final climb up to Kirkhope Law – I was supposed to be taking it easy after all!
Image

Sun in the distance 8)
Image

We dropped off Kirkhope Law and followed the track to the end of the forest where it took a left – we followed this a distance downhill until we were sheltered enough to stop for lunch without getting blown around too much :lol:

We carried on, climbing out of our little hollow and onto the open hillside again. We were hit by the wind again. Finally we started dropping down again.
Image

Looking down towards Innerleithen
Image

Neil’s monster dog was a bit excited by the sheep in the fields so he put her on a lead…unfortunately she then tried to take off taking him with her…. :lol:
Image

From here we slightly lost our way and walked the wrong side of the farm but found our way onto the track and walked along a few miles on the road back to the car. Neil then ran me back to Peebles before the long drive home. Still, it was great to get out despite the crazy wind :lol:


Peebles-Inerleithen.gpx Open full screen  NB: Walkhighlands is not responsible for the accuracy of gpx files in users posts



---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thursday 14th February 2019 – Kelvin Walkway
22.5km
159m ascent
4 hours 20 mins

I had a lazy morning then eventually got my act together and jumped on a train to Mingavie. I decided to walk the Kelvin Walkway backwards so if I had to stop part way at least I’d get to do the most interesting bit!

It was easy enough to find my way out of Milngavie itself and before long I was following the Allander Water. It was already fairly green, even if it was a golf course :lol:
Image

Image

I wasn’t far from the main road (could actually hear the cars going by) but it felt pretty remote
Image

Looking back
Image

This bridge marked the route of the Antonine Wall and there were lots of Roman Forts marked nearby
Image

The route then steered away from the road and I was back in the middle of nowhere – it wasn’t a difficult walk but it was nicely interesting
Image

A murmuration


There were some very boggy sections after this and I was wondering if the light boots would turn out to be a bad idea :lol: Fortunately it was ok and I was able to avoid the worst of it.

Coming into the west end I passed the impressive weir near the Maryhill locks
Image

Coming through Kelvingrove Park the sun came out and it was getting really warm
Image

Image

Image

Coming out on the road I was thinking about jumping on a train or a tube to get home to save myself a bit of distance, then I saw this…. Why not?!
Image

Dippy the dinosaur
Image

Image

After admiring Dippy, I decided I would be annoyed if I hadn’t walked all the way home so I carried on. The Clyde looked beautiful 8)
Image

The Waverley
Image

Image

Image

Image


Kelvin Walkway.gpx Open full screen  NB: Walkhighlands is not responsible for the accuracy of gpx files in users posts



----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Saturday 16th February 2019 – Glen Loin Loop, Arrochar
22.38km
677m ascent
5 hours 15 mins

Not a day for high tops, Malcy was once again persuaded to potter around low level with me – we eventually decided on the Glen Loin loop from Arrochar although in an effort to avoid the car parking charges we parked at the Slanj and walked the extra few kilometres.

There was tree felling going on so we actually ended up walking most of the way down the road into Arrochar but when we arrived we were rewarded with a rainbow over Loch Long
Image

Looking back to the Glen Douglas Grahams over Loch Long
Image

We headed along the road and found a wee path steeply uphill alongside the burn. This was a lovely interesting path and it cut off some distance but steeper than I would have liked :lol:
Image

We came out on the track and suddenly the walking became a whole lot easier. However it was steadily uphill and we were getting warm 8)
Image

Glen Douglas Grahams
Image

Cruach Tairbeirt – Malcy was making daft noises about going up there on the way back…. :roll:
Image

Me doing a silly thing :lol:


We finally started to climb out of the trees and were able to see over to the Sloy Dam and Ben Vorlich – however without the shelter of the trees the weather was a bit wild :shock:
Image

Malcy looking super unimpressed :lol:
Image

As we reached the top of the glen, the path started to bend around and we both got very confused about which hills were which (Malcy tried to claim he wasn’t confused at all but I wasn’t having any of it :lol: )
Image

Approaching the dam with Beinn Ime behind
Image

How about you walk along there and I’ll film you falling in?


Image

I was less daring and easily hopped across the trickle of a burn. Then it was through a gate and we were on the main track again. They clearly knew Malcy was coming….
Image

Now less sheltered we could see towards Loch Lomond
Image

Back to Beinn Ime, looking a bit cloudy up top
Image

As we walked on we could see up to Ben Vane – also looked pretty unpleasant up there 8)
Image

We passed what looked like a makeshift bike-park, which explained the bikers that shot past us earlier. Then we met the Loch Sloy track which we followed until the turnoff which was signposted. This soon became a much nicer footpath (although also a little boggier in places :roll: )
Image

Again it was mostly easy walking – most of the boggy sections were easily passable but there was one section where Malcy gave me a piggy back across a large sinky bog to save me getting wet feet (I’d gone out in my trail runners :lol: ) What a gent 8)
Image

The views were a lot more open from this side of the glen which was nice
Image

Image

We avoided dropping down into Arrochar and stayed high – we gambled on the tree fellers being finished by now and followed the forest path. We witnessed a frog orgy :shock:
Image

An atmospheric Loch Long
Image

There was a lot more ascent on this trail than we thought and we were very relieved to drop down to Tarbet station and back to the car. A grand day out though, and a nice end to the holiday 8)


Glen Loin Loop.gpx Open full screen  NB: Walkhighlands is not responsible for the accuracy of gpx files in users posts


Re: One Day At A Time

PostPosted: Wed May 01, 2019 10:22 pm
by Collaciotach
An interesting selection of walks :clap:

Best wishes on the injury and its swift recovery.

Re: One Day At A Time

PostPosted: Wed May 01, 2019 10:27 pm
by Alteknacker
Hope the injury continues to heal.

After those incredible days on Skye, I couldn't help feeling a little Schadenfreude that you didn't have quite such fantastic weather on the succeeding days :mrgreen: :oops:

Re: One Day At A Time

PostPosted: Wed May 01, 2019 10:30 pm
by mrssanta
some lovely pictures there and you look like you are enjoying being out even if they are not your usual epics!

Re: One Day At A Time

PostPosted: Wed May 01, 2019 10:36 pm
by malky_c
Alteknacker wrote:Hope the injury continues to heal.

After those incredible days on Skye, I couldn't help feeling a little Schadenfreude that you didn't have quite such fantastic weather on the succeeding days :mrgreen: :oops:


This was all back in February. Don’t worry, there’s more reports with great weather on (or near) Skye to come :lol:

Re: One Day At A Time

PostPosted: Tue May 14, 2019 8:49 am
by Jaxter
Collaciotach wrote:An interesting selection of walks :clap:

Best wishes on the injury and its swift recovery.

Thankyou - I am (very slowly) getting there.... 8)



mrssanta wrote:some lovely pictures there and you look like you are enjoying being out even if they are not your usual epics!

Cheers - it was so good even to be able to get out and do something :roll:



malky_c wrote:
Alteknacker wrote:Hope the injury continues to heal.

After those incredible days on Skye, I couldn't help feeling a little Schadenfreude that you didn't have quite such fantastic weather on the succeeding days :mrgreen: :oops:


This was all back in February. Don’t worry, there’s more reports with great weather on (or near) Skye to come :lol:

Within the next year....honest :shock: :roll: :lol: