Hodge podge

Recently, between trips, I have been attempting to walk on a daily basis. Usually it averages from a minimum of around a couple of miles to a more usual round of four to five miles. Rather than rabbit on about the trivia of daily doings, a few photos may suffice to offer a better story.

 A walk around Amble and the surrounding coast.

 A rather infested field of wheat.

A youf training ship in Blyth harbour.

Folks up the rigging.

Fishing coble, Druridge bay, walkies with Mick, an interesting gent with three lovely hounds.

A day walk with Mike and intrepid hound Lucky.

Interesting rock formations. Again, on a day walk from Alnwick with Mike.

Mike, trying his cragging skills?

Contorted rock formations, Cloudy Crags.

There is something perversely exhilarating about walking along the tide line, despite the wetness, rain and wind. The roar of the surf, the waves crashing on the beach  can be quite thrilling, odd??

Long Crag round

Initially I had been looking at getting away for a few days. However, the forecast was for a low pressure system coming in from the north. Rain, low temperatures and wind had been on the menu.
Thus this really was just a prolonged day walk.
Came up on the Monday afternoon. Walked from Wooler over to Carey Burn bridge. From there turned on to the Middleton Old Town path and then swung off up toward Brands Hill. The path skirts around it joining a track that comes up from the valley. Saw a hare close by, he was a big lad too. Camped a bit further on. Just in time with wet, drizzly wet stuff drifting across the hill.

It rained for most of the night. At times it was heavy, accompanied by a blustery wind. The worst of rain had passed by morning. Bands of mizzly dampness came sweeping though during the early part of the day. Hardly enough for waterproofs, enough to makes thing quite damp

 Came over by Langlee Crags, on to Long Crag and back to Housey crag. Dropped down to the valley and then back up by Hausen Burn and over to Broadstruther. Things had somewhat cleared up by the afternoon and I was content to sit and have a prolonged lunch break.

A couple of folk who come up by the Carey Burn stopped to ask for help. They had a printed route sheet that, to put it mildly, was confusing. Put them on the right direction back over the hill to their car.

It was then a gentle amble back over to Wooler Common where I camped prior to catching the bus in the morning. Heavy rain during the night and wet, misty stuff by morning.
Overall it averages out at roughly 13 to 14 miles of walking. A few uphill bits to improve my uphill ability a tad?

A few more photos.

Killin

This really was Mike's trip (northernpies.blogspot.co.uk), however, he very kindly invited me to tag along. The aim of the trip was to walk some of the hills around Killin. Mike was particularly interested in a few Corbet's and one or two lesser tops.
With Mike collecting me around Sunday lunchtime, we where soon heading north. It is a long run up to Killin. This was to be a fixed campsite based near the village.Campsites are not my favourite places and I was a wee bit apprehensive. However, when we booked in, the farmers wife just pointed us in the direction we where to go and left us to it. The camping area was deserted and we soon found a suitable spot and set up camp.

Monday was a blustery day and non too warm. A leisurely breakfast and we where soon heading up a narrow twisting road that snaked high up the hillside. it was a case of windproofs on over layers. The wind was chilly. Lucky was obviously impressed with this form of walkies as he bounced around in joyful exuberance. The local sheep though where off and running although Mike always keeps him on a lead.

Our way led us upwards, for me it was a somewhat slow plod. Little time was spent on Meall Luaidhe. With the wind being fairly strong, we where soon heading across to Meall Nam Maigheach. Seeking shelter in a nice dry peat hag we stopped for lunch and took time to appreciate the stunning scenery. Lucky, not bothered with the scenery, took to excavating a cosy nest for himself.

Our third top of the day was Meall nan Eun. A short day, we where back at the campsite by mid afternoon.

Lucky in his doggy buff.

Tuesday morning saw a glorious sunrise. The early morning sunlight striking the front of the tent, The air was alive with the sound of bird song. Flocks of oystercatchers with strange, piping cries swirled around overhead. The raucous cry of crows and the screech of gulls intermingled with the song of finches, blue tits and other small birds. A pair of herons spiralling high, riding the thermals.

In contrast to the previous day, Tuesday saw us in shorts. Once more we where heading over the 'Not for nervous drivers' road. With the car parked in Glen Lyon, we made our way upwards on a rough estate track that followed the  Allt a' Choire Uidhre. It was hot, sticky going as we climbed ever higher. Finally a badly eroded path swung off from the track. It rose steeply up the hillside toward the distant ridge. The path proved to be wet and boggy with many loose rocks. Slowly, slowly, we rose higher and higher. Large snow patches lay just below the ridge, much to Lucky's delight.

. A keen breeze was rippling across the ridge but oh my, what a delight to be up there. Soon we were on the craggy summit of Cam Chreag. A Corbet and Mike's fiftieth. Glorious views all round, savoured slowed slowly as we had our lunch.

Picking our way down needed a wee bit of care. There was no obvious path higher up the steep hillside and much of the ground was very wet and boggy. Crossing a snow bank it was surprising how firm the snow was.

The opposite hill across from us was also bagged by Mike.

This had been a grand day of walking. on the way back Mike had to give a sheep a stern talking to a sheep as it lay in the road, 'I am very comfortable thank you and I have no inclination to move!'
Wednesday morning was wet, grey and dreich. Thus we spent the day wandering around Killin, doing the tourist bit around the Falls of Dochart. Had a wander down an old railway track and then popped in to a 'dogs welcome' cafe for a cup of tea.

We spent the afternoon exploring Glen Lochay. A wonderful glen and it has given me a few ideas for future trips.
We where away fairly early on the Thursday. Once again it was Glen Lyon. This time we were heading up the ancient track that leads over to Loch Rannoch. Unable to find the path we wanted, it was a case of turning off and heading straight up a very steep section of heather covered hillside, picking our way as best as possible. Soon we were on the shoulder of  Meall Glas. An eagle  flying across the distance ridge was spotted by Mike. A huge bird and no mistaking it for a buzzard. From there it was a case of following the remains of an old fence line on up to Beinn Dearg. Another Corbet, no exciting crags on this one, just a rounded hilltop. Rain was heading our way, the distance hills already  looking grey and wet. Thus it was a quick lunch and heading off to take in a smaller, unnamed top and then downwards once more.

 Friday saw us once more heading south.
This then is a summary of our week in Scotland. Mike will soon have a more detailed account in his blog. In the meantime, a few more photos.

Hairy beasties.