Middleton Mouse

Thank feck for that, I was having worried thoughts about it being on telly and me accidentlly tuning in!

I dunno if this is my work mates taking the piss out of me but we got talking about films and I admitted any films featuring aliens of any kind freaked me right out. They claimed there was a second E.T. film that came out soon after the first one and the aliens were really nasty little feckers. Are they yanking my chain or did this really happen? I'd check google but quite frankly I'd be too scared to open the links in case they contained pictures. I fecking hated ET!

Sounds easier than walking up the stream in any case, thanks for that!

That's exactly what we did, my boots haven't been properly dry since. Will need to see if we can spot the other path you speak of the next time we go up the Cobbler.

A friend and myself decided to do a short afternoon's hillwalking in the Ochils taking in two of the peaks one of which is the tallest in the Ochils (Ben Cleugh). I'd been up Ben Cleugh a number of times before but for a number of silly reasons never saw anything worth writing home about. we set off around 11.30am and headed up the forest track in the Mill Glen in Tillicoultry. You pass an old abandonded quarry on the way which looks a little eerie. Instead of taking the normal route up Ben Cleugh via the Law we took a path that split to our left just after you emerge from the trees of the forest track. I figured the walk might be a bit easier if a little longer and I was mostly right. The walk was a bit of a slog in places but as it was a beautiful day we weren't complaining. Looking back at the Law The only thing about the path up Ben ever though is you can't really see where you're headed for until the last stretch. we reached the summit of Ben Ever at about 1.30pm but as there was no shelter from the wind we pressed on to do Ben Cleugh which we could see to our right. There is a handy fence that runs along past the summit of Ben Ever and up onto the summit of Cleugh. There's a clear path too though and so we followed that and reached the summit of Ben Cleugh at about 2pm. Looking back to Ben Ever from the path going up Ben Cleugh After a quick picnic we headed back down Cleugh the other way (The Law) which proved to be much quicker though there is a tiny bit of mild scrambling before you get back onto the footbridge leading back to the forest track we'd come up on. A nice easy enjoyable walk and as I mentioned before I may be bias but I love the gentle green Ochil hills. Here are a few pictures I took at the top of Ben Cleugh. We stopped for a drink in the little pub that's just down from the start of the Mill Glen walk. Ben lomond and the Cobbler Stuc a Chroin and Ben Vorlich Greeness And a few more...

Did you get through the eye alright? I'll need to get back and do the Cobbler properly soon. Me and a friend went up the Ochils today and took the senic route up Ben Ever across to Ben Cleugh then back down the law. Took us around 2.5 hours to reach the summit of Cleugh then about 1.5 hours to get back down to the bottom from there. Was a bit of a slog at times but the visibilty were excellent and though I may be bias I love the rolling green Ochils. Will post my pics later when I've had a chance to get a bit of feeling back into my feet.

Indeed, I imagine if the weather was better it wouldn't have taken us half as long. That and the fact someone told me there were adders up there and I was looking under every bit of wood I could see in an attempt to find one.

Oh well we never got onto Ben narnain in the end, I got soaked through just getting up the Cobbler. Never made it onto the true summit either as it was very windy and visibility was bad. I did take some good pics which haven't been shrunk with photoshop but by photobucket therefore look gash... We stopped for ages under the Narnain boulders hoping the rain would go off and we got lost trying to come back down. I think we retraced our steps to the summit three times before we found the right path. Anyway the path is very easy at first and zig-zags up the first part of the walk, views of Loch Long and Arrochar opened up on our left but there was still a lot of cloud cover on Ben Lomond which we could see clearly from the path. The path spit further on with our path to the Cobbler veering off to the left and the path up Ben Narnain going off to the right. Our path (much to my horror) turned into a stream as it came down the Cobbler. Oddly enough the stream didn’t prove too difficult to climb up but my boots gained a lot of water and I had to wring my socks out at the end of the walk. The stream walk didn’t last too long and we soon encountered some flat boggy ground before the last push to the centre summit. All the while we were walking up the stream we had the left fang looming through the mist above us. Thankfully after we’d navigated the boggy bit’s the path was steep but not difficult so we reached the centre summit soon after. Unfortunately though before we got there the wind started to pick up and it was still raining. My friend walked over to the eye of the needle, stuck his head through and declared he was going no further. I came over for a look and asked him to go back for me camera and in the time it took him to find it I’d crawled through the eye and onto the ledge on the other side. That was definitely as far as I was going to go after I put my head up to the eye and received a blast of icy wind in the face. There was the thought of coming all this way to bottle it at the last but the cloud cleared for a second and I was able to see what was over the side of the ledge. This is where you go if you fall off the ledge The ledge leading to the summit My friend made a leap from the eye back to the rocks It was a bit of a struggle getting back across but I managed it and Ozz had to do the same to prevent me having bragging rights. Another pair of walkers arrived once we were back onto the other side and they came to the same conclusion which made me feel a little better. Walking back down the stream The cloud clears as soon as we get down to the boulders again The views going back were rather nicem here is Loch Long Arrochar and Loch Long

That will be right, I struggle to haul my arse up one hill never mind four! My friend had suggested we do Ben ime along with the Cobbler but I asked him to reconsider and let me do the small munro.

I don't think I'd be much good in a walking group either, I HATE walking down scree and I take ages to do it and I imagine I'd lag behind every time. I have a very understanding walking buddy who allows me to hang onto his rucksack/hold his hand. Me and said walking bud are hoping to do the Cobbler and Ben Narnain at the weekend. Anyone done the two together?

Sorry my above rant wasn't really a rant at people who won't go a certain path because they won't find it testing enough it was more a rant at the individuals we had in the party last time. I'm glad they weren't there with us for this trip as they put a lot of others off from attending later walks. I'd have expected the people we were involved with last time to come up the tourist path as we were all supposed to be friends at the time (though that incident changed that slightly). Especially given it was the experienced ones that organised the last trip and specifically said that everyone (no matter how fit) was welcome to come along I think it was a bit out of order them leaving a few people to do the tourist route while going off and doing something more challanging themselves. I don't mind if people see particular paths or mountains to be too easy but I think it was a bit stupid to invite others that wouldn't manage anything but the tourist path along if that wasn't the way they were going to tackle it.

Myself and a few others went up Ben Nevis for a laugh yesterday and I paid for it last night (more on this later). It was a bright clear day and though we could see the summit was in cloud we took the sun trying its best to come out to be a good sign. A few of us wanted to do this last year but we had too many hill snobs in our party who were unwilling to walk the tourist path and others who couldn't think about attempting the other. Thankfully no snobby fuds in the party this time though so we went up the tourist path which we were confident all of us would manage. I expected it to be a bit of a plod but not really too tricky and that's how it turned out. If visibility had been bad this wouldn't have been worth doing but the views were absolutely stunning. It took us around 4.5 hours to reach the top as there were a few in the party (including myself) that aren't very fit and we needed a few breaks. That and the three peaks challenge was on and I kept freezing in panic when someone came hurtling down off the mountain towards me. The weather was very comfortable with the sun shining but it wasn't too hot, even when we reached the summit it wasn't too cold and we were all very comfortable eating lunch with our fleeces on with the other 12,900 or so people there were at the top. B) The way back down started with a bit of a laugh when the two guys went over a patch of snow that was maybe 15 or so meters. They got down and waited for myself and the other lady in our party to try it but as none of us had walking poles we found it difficult. I slipped and landed on my arse in the snow, thought "f**k it" and decided just to slide down on my behind. This was quite fun and my friend behind me slid and decided to do the same but she slammed into my back which sent us both hurtling down the slope unable to slow down or do very much at all really. The ride was punctured by one of us shouting at the other to try and steer us away from a couple of walkers coming up and also the cairn at the bottom. We had very wet tracksuit bottoms at the end of it but we had fun, there are photos of this somewhere so as soon as I get them I'll post them. We also saw a few snow buntings on the way down which was lovely. another one to cross off the list of "Birds I haven't ever seen". I was flagging a bit on the last quarter as I was and still am shaking off the end of a chest infection, every time we stopped I tried my hardest to cough up my own lungs. It was quite an enjoyable walk that although not very tricky was still a bit of a slog in places but the views were utterly magnificant. B) Unfortunately I did pay for it, I feel as though I've wreaked my throat with coughing and I obviously didn't drink enough as I was very sick last night. I'll get photos up when I get them, I forgot the memory card to my camera and to make matters worse this morning I realised that the memory card in my phone is the same one my camera uses.

Oh no... have I accidentally filled it with words or phrases that could be interepreted in an amusing way? Here are a couple of the best pictures. The first two are views from the top, the third is Stuc a Chroin taken from the summit of Vorlich, the fourth is Ben Vorlich as we were walking back to the car (the sun had come out) and the last is the very last part of the walk up Ben Vorlich. The only low point of the day was when I asked the guy I went walking with out and he pretended not to have heard me.

Myself and a friend went up Ben Vorlich over Loch Earn yesterday. My last climb up Ben Vorlich was dissapointing as the weather was rotten and we couldn't see anything. Despite the forecast for heavy rain for the whole of yesterday we set out anyway and I'm glad we did. My pal arrived later than me so while he was wreastling with his waterproofs I noticed a huge bird flying low over loch earn. At first I thought it was a buzzard but it flew up higher into the air and I saw it was an osprey. Perfect start! The walk is an easy one and we stopped to take pictures on the way up and have a seat to chat. We reached the summit about 3 hours after setting out and it was nice to see the summit from more or less the whole of the walk. When we reached the summit we were gobsmacked to see Stuc a Chroin looming into view behind Vorlich. It really was quite a spectacular sight. By this time though it was getting on in the afternoon but we decided to walk down between the two mountains and we'd see what time it was when we got there. we met up with another couple of walkers who were sure they wouldn't have time to do Stuc as well so we headed back up to Vorlich and the path to the car. I think then we both decided that a short cut was in order so instead of climbing back onto the summit of Vorlich we climbed up a bit then started to edge round the mountain instead. At first it was OK as the hill was grassy but we came to a ridge behind which we were positive the path down from the summit must be. Sadly though it brought us to a steep part of Vorlich which was covered in loose rock. It took us ages to get over it and back to the path and a big rock fell onto my left hand which was nasty. Some good did come out of it though, Andy disturbed a Ptarmigan (spelling probably wrong) and it flew off down the hill. I'd never seen one before so was quite happy, also noticed an animal that was moving around the rocks above my friends head (he'd missed it completely). I couldn't see what it was very well but eventually I worked out it was a mountain hare with some of its winter coat still on. Overall the whole walk took us about 6 and a half hours. We stopped off in Callander to grab a fish supper before I headed home for a good soak in the bath. Then I watched the football - perfect day! Pictures to come later!

Totally agree with this rating. One of the most amazing films I've seen (though that weird creature with the eyes in its hands reminds me of Archie MacPherson ). I also like the idea of stick insect fairys

Some of the hills in Callander are pretty easy as well. Ben Ledi was my first walk but the munro over Loch Earn Ben Vorlich is probably the easiest hill I've ever climbed. Good photos from Ben lomond Gaz, where do you have to start to tackle it via the ridge? I've never quite worked it out.

I think as long as someone knows where you're headed and when you're likely to be back it'd be OK Gaz. I find I get an Ok signal on a few of the hills with my O2 phone. Hopefully going back to Callander to do Stuc A Chroin in a couple of weeks, looking forward to a more challenging climb.

Getting 4 days off work and being in bed with the feckin cold.

This has possibly been mentioned already but I hate it when you're standing in a long que and the other people in it don't think to get their money/card out while they're waiting to be served. The result is that they then spend 2 or 3 minutes trying to get the money or card out as they are being served only to hold up everyone else.

Has anyone seen "There Will be Blood" at the cinema just now. Bloody hell I went to see that on a date the other week and I think I put the guy off me because I was apparently snoring during the film. I might have missed something important when I was asleep but Christ that film was not my idea of entertainment. Going to see 10 000 BC next week. It's handy having a pal that works in Cineworld.

The weather was ok (mild temps and little wind) in Callander certainly and gave us no problems on the way up. I laughed when my walking pole basically fell to bits in my hand then realised it was broken. Should really get a new one. It was quite boggy in places but as we managed to stay on our feet it wasn't too bad. My boots got the worse of it and my trousers came away relatively unscathed. Good call for a hot bath and a relaxing wee vodka when I finally got home though we stopped off in Callander for munchies on the way back. I can imagine the ridge along Ben Lomond being quite bad in the wind. We went up and although the weather was fine it was windy at the top too, shame as we had to go further down to eat out picnic.

Finally it's getting light enough at night to mean an early start can ensure a hill is completed in plenty time. Hooray! I've been a bit fidgety about getting my boots on again this year and as my usual walking buddy is too busy to get any time off recently I decided to ask another friend they fancied a quick jaunt up Ben Ledi. People kept advising me to try the hill I did first again to see if my fitness has improved any. I remember the last trip up Ledi to be horrible for numerous reasons... - It was the hottest day of the year - I was attempting the walk in an old pair of trainers that were falling to bits - I'd made the mistake of going to the gym and swimming the night before All those factors led to me being booted up the hill by my friend but this time I was determined I was going to enjoy myself and not be utterly shagged out after 10mins. We started out from the Stank car park same as last time and headed up the well marked path. The mist was down but as it wasn't raining or anything we didn't let this deter us. Nothing much happened but the condensation in the air made walking over flat rocks tricky and I nearly slipped and fell on my behind on a few occassions. We were a bit concerned as we neared the summit as it looked as though it'd be covered in snow and as the mist was now much thicker we lost sight of the path. However a party of 4 came down ahead and told us that there wasn't as much snow as there appeared to be and we could easily skirt round it so on we went. We reached the summit after 2 and a half hours and sat down for lunch. There was patches of snow about and I was determined to get my photo taken on it on the way back (not to make a certain walking buddy jelous you understand). It was very eerie as there was no one else on the summit barring ourselves though the hill seemed quite busy. There were a hell of a lot of ravens about, I imagine they were picking up scraps left from peoples lunches (speaking of which I very much enjoyed my left-over take away curry). On the way back down I insited on checking out the snow but managed to get half of my walking pole stuck in it while the other half was grasped in my freezing little mit. We were back down at the car for 3.15 after having left at 10.15. Much better than my previous time and I even had the energy to jog part of the last way down. I'm quite pleased I went back up and found I no longer felt the going was too tough for me. Take away curry at the top of a hill, you cannae beat it!

Is this the place, I vaguely remember going here a while ago, is it the RSPB reserve? We saw a weasel very close from one of the hides and you're right the view from the top of the hill is rather nice.

I just don't like driving so like to go with my friend to get a lift!

Socks thanks for the advice regarding walking groups and bullying friends. I have a couple of male friends I could potentially bribe (with curries and drinks I might add) but all my female friends would likely try going up wearing high heels. CC try Ben Vorlich over Loch Earn, it's easy enough to find the start at Ardvorlich house and despite being a higher hill is probably just as easy as Cleuch. We made the top in just over 2.5 hours, think it took us about 2-2.5 hours to get to the top of Cleuch.