First hill of the year – Cairnsmore of Fleet

[johnkaysleftleg]

It’s been a frustrating start to the year in hill walking terms with the weather or other commitments getting in the way. A week in a cottage on the edge of the Galloway forest would hopefully provide us with an opportunity to kick start our efforts.

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Safe to say, we had very little in the way of expectation weather wise from our week in South West Scotland. As it turned out however the weather was great, far better than many a summer week spent north of the border. Following a walk around the Galloway forest on the Sunday we headed off up Cairnsmore of Fleet on the Monday.


Snowdrops by johnkaysleftleg, on Flickr


Finally out of the forestry plantation by johnkaysleftleg, on Flickr


View back down to the forestry by johnkaysleftleg, on Flickr

The morning was a bit grey and misty but a chat with a friendly local boosted out confidence of summit views. It was quite soggy lower down but as we increased in height the ground started to get increasingly frozen and by the time we emerged from the forest the going was good and hard.


I've found Snow! by johnkaysleftleg, on Flickr


Inversion by johnkaysleftleg, on Flickr

As hoped the sun started to break through revealing a walk that was really quite Pennine in character. In spite of the sunshine and the inversion that was coming into view to the south it looked as if we would be deprived of summit views. Right on cue however as we made our way towards the memorial the cloud started to lift and we were rewarded with spectacular views to the south that were more like what you would see out of an aeroplane window.


Out of the mist by johnkaysleftleg, on Flickr


Summit View by johnkaysleftleg, on Flickr


Frozen Cairn by johnkaysleftleg, on Flickr


Cairnsmore of Fleet by johnkaysleftleg, on Flickr

We spent a while taking in the sights from CoF’s extensive summit plateau before heading down through the melting ice back to the car.


View to the North by johnkaysleftleg, on Flickr


Summit adornments by johnkaysleftleg, on Flickr

The Walk up Cairnsmore of Fleet may not be a particularly exciting but with the extra magic that winter walking tends to provide it was a more than worthy outing.


Floating River by johnkaysleftleg, on Flickr


Rising mist by johnkaysleftleg, on Flickr

[Silverhill]

Congratulations on getting your first hill in! I will spend a few more months in frustration before I will get to the first hill of 2013
Your pictures are first class!

[SusieThePensioner]

Glad you were able to get that first one done Some beautiful photos and particularly like the last one
I was over at Ullswater for a few days at the start of the week; fabulous weather with sun every day

[johnkaysleftleg]

Congratulations on getting your first hill in! I will spend a few more months in frustration before I will get to the first hill of 2013
Your pictures are first class!

Thank you very much. Any time I can't get out to the hills is torture, been desperate for a fix

Glad you were able to get that first one done Some beautiful photos and particularly like the last one
I was over at Ullswater for a few days at the start of the week; fabulous weather with sun every day

Thanks Susie, looks like you had the same weather, the start of the week was superb but Tuesday was on another level. We could clearly see the Lake District around 70 miles away from the top of Merrick. Report hopefully later today.

[Johnny Corbett]

I like this hill, sadly it has history due to the aircraft crashes on it, but all the same nice with the big sheltered cairns.

[johnkaysleftleg]

I like this hill, sadly it has history due to the aircraft crashes on it, but all the same nice with the big sheltered cairns.

It is indeed a fine summit. We spent quite a while exploring.

[DaveB1]

Great report JK, very Pennine-like, but more expansive views I think. Glad you got the fix. Photos superb as usual

[Tinto63]

Great photos as always. Another of the hills I like a lot, I finished my main Donalds on this hill last year and then went on to complete the New Donalds on Meikle Mullltaggart. Looks like you had great weather for the half term holiday.

[johnkaysleftleg]

Great report JK, very Pennine-like, but more expansive views I think. Glad you got the fix. Photos superb as usual

Cheers Dave, I'd agree with the more expansive views, even when they were largely under cloud.

Great photos as always. Another of the hills I like a lot, I finished my main Donalds on this hill last year and then went on to complete the New Donalds on Meikle Mullltaggart. Looks like you had great weather for the half term holiday.

Cheers Tinto. The weather was as good as you could possibly hope for in Feb, Tuesday when we climbed Merrick was sensational.

[rockhopper]

very nice, JK, and some great atmospheric photos - esp "Rising mist" - cheers

[johnkaysleftleg]

very nice, JK, and some great atmospheric photos - esp "Rising mist" - cheers

Thanks Rockhopper

[soulminer]

A nice hill to start the year with Combine that with the eye for a good photo,and you have certainly won the proverbial watch Magic.

[johnkaysleftleg]

A nice hill to start the year with Combine that with the eye for a good photo,and you have certainly won the proverbial watch Magic.

Cheers