free to be able to rate and comment on reports (as well as access 1:25000 mapping).
Couldn't face another afternoon in the chair in front of the screen so even though time was really getting on I thought well it's more or less solstice, so it's not really going to get dark anyway.
Where can I go
Looking at the blue and red dots I realise there are actually a lot of Munros in what I am now terming the lower eastern sector that I still haven't done.
E.G. Mount Keen
Quickly packed the bike in the car and the ruck sack with the essentials, I could get a sandwich on the way, duly stopped at Edzell and collected a Tuna and Cucumber sandwich, a packet of ready salted crisps and a sultana and cherry cake
Took me longer than I'd thought to get to the car park start, but not long to get the bike out and put the ruck sack on. Met a couple of walkers at the far entrance to the car park who glowered at me on the bike, oh well. Cycled past the church
and on to take a quick look at the bridge and flood prevention device I assume
Then back and the path to Mount Keen is sign posted. Not long before I met another more friendly couple who wished me a pleasant cycle. And it is pretty pleasant with a nice path
Didn't take long to get to the first landmark
where I very briefly chatted to a couple on their way back and asked if the path I was seeing just beyond the Queens Well was the way to Mount Keen
They confirmed it was and I set off and waved at yet another couple of walkers making their way back, busy place
Just before the ford a small bird tried quite hard to pose and get it's photo taken, but I didn't manage to get a focus on it
The wee bird was persistent though and eventually I got what I considered to be it's best side; it did turn both sides for alternate shots
Crossed the stream again via the substantial cattle grid
and continued up taking in the view of Craig o'Doune which looks no where near as impressive as this on Google earth
It dominates the head of the Glen.
Onwards and upwards, pushing mainly towards the hairpin. I was hoping it would get a little easier from then on, I was sweating and panting
Wonder if there's a swimming pool up there
A first view of Mount Keen
Got to the hairpin and cycled the next short stretch, but then it was pushing for a bit further, fit younger people would probably manage to cycle the whole way up. A view back down from the hairpin
Pushed and cycled to the top of the next rise and a big cairn and a bigger view of Mount Keen
It is a pleasant evening and the sky is shaping up nicely, and I'm hoping for a creamy yellow sunset
although at this stage it is softer blues and hints of pink amongst the grey.
Another cairn and a few deer on the horizon
and some more pink in the grey clouds, and just a hint of creamy yellow
There's a slight fork in the track, but there's no mistaking which is the right path. It's a very well made path leading directly to Mount Keen
It doesn't take long to get to the bottom of the first stair case, the sat nav says I've still got 600m to go
and yet it looks like it's only a few 10s of m away
Anyway parked the bike and up the stair case and onto another section of finely graveled path and another stair case and another section of finely graveled path etc. not to long to the summit cairn though
I had planned to do supper, but it's rocky up here, a bit chilly as the breeze has picked up and I'd prefer to get down to the flat track while there is still good daylight, so a couple of holiday snaps.
Looking Northish along the summit ridge
Looking Southish along the summit ridge
and I'm on my way back down past the stone with the letter B
Tuna and cucumber sandwich and a packet of crisps can wait till I get back to the car, but there will be no reprieve for the sultana and cherry cake
or at least a couple of bites out of it.
Left the bottom of the lower stair case at 10:15pm and was back at the car at 10:58pm
Not quite the sunset I was hoping for, but another very pleasant evening
