free to be able to rate and comment on reports (as well as access 1:25000 mapping).
The time had come to make an executive decision and eventually get some fresh air, after scrutinising the weather forecast for the whole of Scotland. The big hills were far too windy so I suggested to Parminder we head SW (again) and tackle a wee hill. I noticed the thread "Munro's in gales" asking about where to head when the forecast is unfavourable, if I have an available space in our busy schedule I would rather stay at home than endure a battering of wind and rain - especially wind.
I noticed the Cairngorms were expecting gusts of 70mph so that was a definite no no and it wasn't much better in the west.
Parminder volunteered to be my co pilot and when we met up at 6.30 Parminder did ask the question "Is this a good idea?". It was literally blowing a hoolie and chucking it down, as we headed over the Forth the car was getting a good wash minus the soap and sponge. The wet stuff finally ceased as we joined the A77 south of Glasgow and Parminder was beginning to think we could strike it lucky.
Leaving Fife early meant we had a good drive and it only took us a shade over 2hrs 30mins.
We parked at the largish car park that serves the tourists for 'Bruce's Stone', Southern Upland Way, the Merrick & quite a few local Donalds.
We were on our way just after 9am and as Parminder had not been down this way before we had to visit Bruce's Stone.
Pole position in the car park
Not far to our first stop
The blurb for the stone
The inscription on the Stone
Looking SW over Loch Trool
Looking east along Loch Trool and the way we will be heading
Excellent track/Southern Upland Way that is rather undulating, starting with a bit of a descent
Buchan Burn, plenty of white water
Video of Buchan Burn
Tree has seen better days, makes for a good photo though
Video of Garland Burn looking rather wild
Glenhead, plenty of recent building work, the one at the front looks like a hostel?
The way ahead
Glenhead Burn
The way ahead
Looking back down at Glenhead. The ascent is nice and gentle and great way to gain height
Interesting clump of trees
The way up and ahead
Looking back
The way ahead quite clear, unfortunately we would be leaving the track soon
Here we go, time to leave the track - let the fun begin
That is our target, the trig is visible from quite a distance away
Looking back at Parminder picking his way across the mud
Looking back, Parminder admiring the views
I have to say the going wasn't as bad as I was expecting, it was tussocky and very churned up by livestock but I was expecting to be splashing and puddle dodging.
Looking across to Merrick
Summit getting nearer, trig can be seen if you zoom in. We had to pick our way through the overhanging rocky ridges
Video taken on the summit of Craiglee
Loch Trool in the distance
Looking south
Looking across to Merrick - in cloud
Loch Dee, taken on the descent
Arty shot of Southern Upland Way post and a bit of white water
Plenty of these sort of posts along the track
This turned out to be a cracking day and apart from a very brief few spots of rain early on the weather was as forecast. It was blowy higher up as the summit video demonstrates.
Only 4 Marilyns left south of the Central Belt, hopefully get them visited over the next couple of months, weather permitting of course.
