A change in the original plans for the weekend and Caroline and I decided to head off to Schiehallion to take in an easy hill on a nice day. We really did take this pretty easy and got up to the car park for 12. Good drive but spent a lot of time dodging cyclists - seemed to be some big event on bit no idea what - anyone know??
Caroline was pretty delighted to find that there were toilets here. This is only her second jaunt up a hill with me and i'm worried i'm giving the wrong impression - the last lost was the Cairnwell - toilets there too! LOL
The car park was mobbed and indeed the hill was packed! This was definitely not a day for solitude and reflection. Prob just as well as we were in the mood for a good old blether and bit of fun. Between me and C we gabbed the entire way up and down and spent a lot of time chatting away with many fellow walkers.


There seemed to be an incredible amount of dogs out on the hill today - which was not helping quash my desire to buy a boxer puppy!! Anyway we made a start up - always surprised how hard the first half hour is. This one goes straight in and up and we stopped for a wee spot of lunch and a good chance to admire the flora and get the camera going. with that scoffed we were ready to take on anything... well nearly.



The weather was great - nice temp and cooling breeze, just wish it had been a bit sunnier. Most my photos had that awful washed out grey sky look - def need to buy some filters.


Made our way up and this really could not be easier - it is a fantastic path and on a good day no navigational issues at all Caroline was however taken in by the first mini cairn, enquiring if we were just about at teh top already! after explaining that we were way off the top and there are several cairns along the way and still a boulder field to negotiate, she was still game to go on...





I loved the boulder field, particularly the latter section requiring a bit more effort and thought. I think i just really enjoy these kind of walks when you have to think a bit more and it's not just bog, heather etc with no real features. Some excellent views - even though overcast the sun was glimmering through and allowed for some not bad photo ops.





The worst bit of the whole day was getting to the summit and being attacked by the gazillion flies up there - total misery! OMG it was enough to send you leaping off the edge!



All in all though this really was spectacularly straight forward and pretty easy walk - we were back at the car within 4 hours. Exactly what we needed after hectic week at work. Off we went back down the road and headed to the pub for a well deserved tea.