Windy morning in the Sidlaws

[Dowza]

Pass these hills on the way to work every day but had never explored them til now. It was a dry, windy day with fantastic views in all directions with the binoculars coming out of the bag on numerous occasions. It was also dry underfoot which, judging by others' reports, is not the usual for this walk - there has been very little rain recently. This made it a great walk on easy paths and tracks.

Left the car park past the info board and kept on the path until a sharp bend with a grassy path heading off to the left. Followed this, crossing a stile and following the grass path alongside the dyke uphill until, just before another dyke on the left, turned right to join the path uphill to Auchterhouse Hill. This was a pleasant stony and subsequent grassy then heathery path to the grassy summit where some daffodils were in bloom. Fab views in all directions.

Headed back down the path, turning left onto a smaller, steep path down to a gate before ascending again to the top of the next hill and Syd Scroggie's monument. Was surprised that Schiehallion wasn't on the marker as it was clearly visible however lots of other well known hills were marked. Kept heading on the path towards the summit of the mast covered Craigowl where we met a guy flying a model glider which had unfortunately crash landed in the compound! Was pleased to make out the Forth Road Bridge with the binoculars, amazing as it must be fifty miles away at least!

Descended down the grassy path to the bottom of the hill, through the gate at the bottom, not a stile as is detailed In the walk report. Through the gate we turned left on the path until a crossroads was reached where we took the middle path , waymarked red which took us back to the car park.

A great morning s walk and, given there are lots of paths, could be covered from different directions which would give a good variety to the walk. Sorry, no photos as had a problem uploading to the site.