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Continuing knee problems means that I have to keep picking easy hills with good tracks so this time it was Meall Tarsuinn to the north of the Falls of Monzie. It was forecast to be a hot day so I left Glasgow at 7am and parked at the beginning of the track at NN890262. I started walking at 8.30 when it was still refreshingly cool. It was easy walking on the track and the scenery all around was very green, lush and pleasant.
- Meall Tarsuinn in the distance
The track led to a few little dams and I had go in a bit of a loop, cross a ford and then a rickety bridge before reaching the steeper parts of the track which rounded the hill to the west. I knew from my Google Earth research not to leave the main track till the very highest point where a rough, boggy ATV track led off towards the summit. This went part of the way but there were a few wet, long,grass sections and some hags to negotiate but nothing too much to bother about, even with my painful knee. The views by this point were excellent but I could not pause long at the top because even here the midges were fierce in the still heat.
- Glen Almond pan from Meall Tarsuinn
- The Scurran pan from Meall Tarsuinn
I had hoped to have a walk up Cnoc Beithe and Craig Kipmaclyne on the way back down but by the time I was half way down I knew that wasn't possible. I was having to endure terrible knee pains and I wanted to make it back to the car and still able to drive home so I had to make do with taking photographs and promising myself to return to have a walk on these hills sometime in the future.
- Criag Kipmaclyne
Despite my problems and my limited day, I still had a great time on a hill that I don't think many people would pay much attention to.