Four of us set off thinking this would be a pleasant walk on a moderately warm day.

The route was unfathomable though the bracken and the steep gradient (20% for 3km we later learned) soon had my mother in law bailing out on us, and she promised to amble back to the car via a direct detrace.

The path got no better - even sticking directly to the gpx based route it didnt much matter, there was no discernable track.

A degree of respite was achieved once we got close to the top but there was no wind or shade and the temperature had clearly exceeded the forecast of 22 deg.

A weary trudge to the top in baking windless conditions made for a very short stop at the top at the 4 hr mark and our descent.

This took us out of any chance of a breeze facing directly into the sun so the midgies had a field day as we couldnt descent particularly fast. It was Like having your head in a midge filled oven with a sun lamp a few inches away for added heat.

A mix up with the aforementioned mother in law meant a retrace back up the hill again to go find her, by this our stage knees and feet were suffering.

We eventually got back to the car 7 hours after setting off hot and hangry. 10km in total.

My son who is more used to a QMD than I am pronounced it his least enjoyable day walking ever. I agreed.