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Another walk accessed from near Hessilhead. I think I've only been to Muirshiel Country Park once before, many years ago, and I have no memory of what it was like then. Left the car in Lochwinnoch and walked up the road to Muirshiel, as there was a sign saying "site closed" at the turn off from the B786. Turned out to be a very pleasant walk through farm land anyway, with virtually no traffic on the road, at least on the walk in. Lots of new born lambs in the fields, some with their umbilical cords still attached. Passed a group of three somewhat older ones, up to mischief. One "baa-d" at me, so I "baa-d" back, next thing we've got an exchange going back and for'd, with the other two joining in on harmonies. Was classic, should have videoed it.
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Al, on Flickr
Towards Hill of Stake
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Al, on Flickr
Caterpillar hitching a ride
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Al, on Flickr
A microlight passed overhead - so weird to be on the flight path for Glasgow Airport and to have no planes all day (well there was one about 3.30). Normally the sky would be thick with their drone. Did see a number of buzzards, silently patrolling their airspace. Walked into Muirshiel proper, past a worker doing some tree planting and along to a waymarked path for Windy Hill. I got excited, momentarily, when I saw the sign - Windy Hill 1000m. A thousand Metres?! Was this a secret Munro hidden away on my doorstep? Sadly, it was 1000m to get to the (316m) hill.
Windy Hill
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Al, on Flickr
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Al, on Flickr
Across the valley the hills did look impressive, with Hill of Stake the prize peak. I shudder to remember our adventures climbing that, one foul December day years ago. Looked an enjoyable prospect currently. The weather was getting really hot - I was regretting not digging out my shorts instead of wearing black Chinos.
Windy Hill was reached via a nice path - sat at the top for a while having lunch and gazing across the water to the hills. Peaceful and quiet - another walker had passed near the summit, but there was no-one else in sight. Although it's hard not to think where else we could have been on a day like today, it was still uplifting to have this scenery around. Continued on to the craggy lump of Craig Minnan, which afforded a scrambling option, even if very short. Could see three electricity pylons on their side, part of the project to remove them which was supposed to have been completed last month...Then over to The Heddles and Craig of Todholes, passing some lizards in the grass, which were moving very rapidly today in the heat.
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Al, on Flickr
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Al, on Flickr
Top of Windy Hill, looking towards Craig Minnan
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Al, on Flickr
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Al, on Flickr
Assessing scrambles..
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Al, on Flickr
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Al, on Flickr
Returned to a good track on the west of Todholes and returned to the visitor centre along the River Calder, which was sorely depleted of water. A nice walk back down the road - busier by now, including a farmer with two unusually friendly Collie dogs on the back of his quad bike. Would have been more than pleasant to sit outside a pub in Lochwinnoch with a cool pint, but that's for the future
Mossy Bicycle
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Al, on Flickr
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Al, on Flickr