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Got myself a flyer today so set off for this Corbett as a 'bonus'. I arrived at the small car park just off the B9009 around noon and set off along the very obvious path under blue skies with the threat of a shower or two for later
as soon as you pass through the gate at the car park the ascent begins and in no time at all you have climbed high enough to look down upon the car park and surrounding land
looking ahead the dark clouds blow by incredibly fast but the hill shelters me from the worst of the strong winds and I can look along the lush green valley below at my leisure
zig zagging around the hill I am soon looking back down on the car park from an even higher vantage point
to the north I get the smallest peek at the sea in the distance as the dark clouds form overhead
as I turn again and head over the rise the wind almost knocks me off my feet as I get my first view of the hill ahead
at least there is a section of level walking here and I get chance for a breather, even if it is head down into a fierce wind
the hill seems to be driving the clouds away or at least around its summit, fingers crossed it may stay that way
I cover the ground along the flat quickly but the wind is really blowing full on and it feels like double the work compared to normal conditions just to keep moving forward
in no time I am at the start of the next section of ascent as the clouds blow away leaving a beautiful blue sky
about half way along this section is a small shelter that I consider curling up in for a while just to get away from the damn wind, I've had to put on the hat as its actually getting a bit chilly now
at the next level section the sky does not look so clever and I can see it closing in ahead
strangely enough looking back down the hill its still blue skies and sunshine
turning back ahead there are several sections of 'steps' to ascend and I see a couple of groups of people on the way down (if you look closely the two tiny sticks on the top horizon are people descending)
as the first group of 5 pass a guy tells me its so windy up top it is dangerous
I figure it would be dangerous if it was a ridge or pinnacle but a round top.....I'll risk it
looking down to the dappled light on the valley below makes me glad of the cloud...for now
at this point it begins to rain, really cold horizontal miserable rain, even though looking downhill it looks fine
by the time I've got the waterproof gear on, and gloves now believe it or not, the rain is encircling the hill
I put the camera away in the rucksack and stride out for the summit, on arrival I see a perfect overhanging rock to shelter under and head in there
I wait, wait, and wait for the shower to pass but it doesn't, it hangs around like a bad smell
after about 20 minutes or more of hanging around it's getting really cold and there's no sign of improvement, I make for the trig point and take the evidence shot before packing everything away and heading off down the hill, a little disappointed....it rains horizontally for the entire decent
Its a real shame the rain came in and killed this walk as the views promised to be fantastic from this hill. I've got to say it was a work out walking up there in such a strong headwind but at least it kept raining until I was in the car and at least half way home, better than reaching the car and looking back to see beautiful blue skies and the hill giving you the finger as you leave
