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Innerdouny Hill route
Lendrick Hill
After another couple of weeks and no hills it was time to head out again, after watching the forecast daily Thursday seemed like the best of a bad bunch. I wasn't really sure what to expect snow wise especially as I wasn't planning to hit the high hills. As it turned out the underfoot conditions were almost perfect.
As stated before, I am picking off some of the nearer hills in an effort to keep the miles down on my car before I sadly say goodbye to her
After studying the map I opted for these 2 easy pickings, they were ideal as it was 23 miles each way and superb for a mornings walk, was even back in time for lunch. I had worked out roughly how long the walks would take and didn't even bother with pieces, so was travelling really light
Question - Does anyone else think the junction on the outskirts of Yetts O' Muckhart has to be the daftest junction ever created and it's been like that for many years
Plenty of parking space
Arrived at my parking area and was on my way by 9.15, no snow on the lower track, probably reached the snow line about 350m.
The way ahead
Attractive or not - you decide
Looking back
Quite pleased with myself, saw this in the distance and zoomed right in wondered if it was the summit
Reached the white stuff now
Looking back down
A warning of what was to come!
Left the track and headed up through a fire break
I knew from reading a few other WR's that I would have to head up through the forest, all was OK initially but towards the top end a few trees had been felled and others had fallen down in sympathy
Anyone who has negotiated this sort of mess will understand how 'challenging' the going gets. Whilst scrambling over and under debris, one of my gloves from my pockets became dislodged and noticed it was missing a few minutes later so rather than risk searching for it on the way back down I retraced my steps and came across it very easily. As it turned out I also noticed an easier route through the clutter and a couple of minutes later I reached the safety of the wall and easier underfoot conditions, apart from the snow being a bit deeper
Now the going gets tough
Impossible to navigate through this mess, so had to use plan B
Lots of ducking & weaving
Quite a relief to meet this wall
Looking back down
Nice view through another fire break
Follow the wall right to the top, unlike me who climbed over it
Not far now, second sight of the summit trig on Innerdouny
Great all round views
West (ish)
South towards Loch Leven
Zoomed
Nice obvious break in the forest
Very hazy zoomed shot of Fife's highest point - West Lomond
As I entered the forest again I retraced my steps in the snow (sort of) and was able to pick an even better route and was back on the track in no time
Adopted a slightly different route down through the jungle
Avoiding this sort of thing
Back down the fire break
A couple of shots whilst descending on the track
I was back at the car in just under 2 hours, really did enjoy the walk
I didn't bother taking my boots off for the short drive down the road to the parking area for the next hill, they weren't even muddy, just a wee bit damp from the snow higher up.
Parking area for Lendrick Hill
Confirms I am in the right area
Lendrick Hill is a bit of a nothing hill, even more of a straight up & down, it does offer decent views but apart from that it was a bit of a trudge
Good track, not for long though
Pick your way through this
Keep to the left of the new deer fence
Looking back
Don't bother with the gate etc
Either open the gate or do what I did, climb over
Lendrick Hill trig looking towards Loch Leven
Summit cairn which is 3m higher
Forth in the distance across the flat central area
Steel Knowe wind farm enhancing the view
Innerdouny summit area
Lendrick Hill trig
Not much else to report on Lendrick, it was literally an up and down and it took me a shade under an hour
Was really great to get out and when you haven't been out as often as one would like it is even more special
Next will be more of the same