Swello Posted January 6, 2022 Share Posted January 6, 2022 6 minutes ago, invergowrie arab said: Yeah. That's the mistake I made. Late start with the aim of a summit camp and early out. Got to the summit at about 10pm (July so fine) absolutely shattered hauling my gear up the pathless heather. Got all my gear out to find the top soil is about 5 ml deep. Much swearing and repacking later I found a lovely spot closer to the bealach. As a piece of shite trivia of the type I always remember - apparently hundreds of years ago, they used to have a cattle market at the top of Carn an Fhidlear, which is bizarre. It explains why the grass is nice up there 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benjamin_Nevis Posted January 7, 2022 Share Posted January 7, 2022 55 minutes ago, Swello said: As a piece of shite trivia of the type I always remember - apparently hundreds of years ago, they used to have a cattle market at the top of Carn an Fhidlear, which is bizarre. It explains why the grass is nice up there That's fantastic 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welshbairn Posted January 7, 2022 Share Posted January 7, 2022 59 minutes ago, Swello said: As a piece of shite trivia of the type I always remember - apparently hundreds of years ago, they used to have a cattle market at the top of Carn an Fhidlear, which is bizarre. It explains why the grass is nice up there I suppose if you bought some cattle it would be downhill all the way home. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
invergowrie arab Posted January 7, 2022 Share Posted January 7, 2022 56 minutes ago, Swello said: As a piece of shite trivia of the type I always remember - apparently hundreds of years ago, they used to have a cattle market at the top of Carn an Fhidlear, which is bizarre. It explains why the grass is nice up there Yeah, probably around the 1700s. It seems remote now but it's quite a convenient meet up for people from Marr, Atholl, Badenoch and even Moray. There was also plenty settlements along the all the glens there so not always so remote. There's a theory about the meeting point of three areas - in this case Marr, Atholl and Badenoch being neutral ground where deals could be done and arguments arbitrated. It was also a place where suicides could be buried. You still have Cnapan nan Laogh and other Laogh place-names on the South side of An Sgàrsoch which shows cattle were being kept there. There is also Fèith Seasgachain- the burn of the barren cattle 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
invergowrie arab Posted January 7, 2022 Share Posted January 7, 2022 7 minutes ago, invergowrie arab said: Yeah, probably around the 1700s. It seems remote now but it's quite a convenient meet up for people from Marr, Atholl, Badenoch and even Moray. There was also plenty settlements along the all the glens there so not always so remote. There's a theory about the meeting point of three areas - in this case Marr, Atholl and Badenoch being neutral ground where deals could be done and arguments arbitrated. It was also a place where suicides could be buried. You still have Cnapan nan Laogh and other Laogh place-names on the South side of An Sgàrsoch which shows cattle were being kept there. There is also Fèith Seasgachain- the burn of the barren cattle The other theory is it wasn't a market a such but a place for Caterans raiding Perthshire to divvy up the spoils. Given they were generally MacDonald's of Lochaber, Badenoch MacPhersons and Moray Cummings and Macintoshes it would be a convenient place to divvy the loot before splitting off. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Florentine_Pogen Posted January 8, 2022 Share Posted January 8, 2022 Just noticed this article in The Grauniad..... https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/jan/08/flying-to-the-rescue-scottish-mountain-teams-are-turning-to-drones 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swello Posted January 9, 2022 Share Posted January 9, 2022 It wasn't a very promising forecast this weekend- but MWIS mentioned that the area around Glenshee might be clear - so that was all the persuasion that I needed as I was desperate to get out in the snow as there was no winter season for me last year given the travel restrictions. I did a lot of my early hillwalking in the area, most of it in snow, so I always get huge amounts of nostalgia when I'm around here. Problem is that there aren't many hills round there that I haven't climbed, so I went for Creag nan Gabhar, a Corbett that I wasn't familiar with although I'd walked right past it a number of times. I love an early start (but only on hillwalking days), so I was on my way while it was still dark this morning, which meant that as I was climbing the hill, the Sun was on on it's way up. The views back to the high Cairgorms were great from here - Ben A'an looked fucking massive. I was originally going to do a simple out-and-back but I noticed Walkhighland suggested dropping down to Loch Callater to make it a loop and as that's a really nice spot that I hadn't been to for years, I did that happily. As I was there, I thought I'd be a responsible MBA member and see if there was any shite needing hauled out from Callater Stable bothy but it was literally the cleanest Bothy I'd ever been in - it was pristine and considerably tidier than my house For a really accessible bothy, it must be unique (or had a recent visit by the MO). After an enjoyable wander back to the road in the winter sun, I decided as it was only lunchtime, I hadn't done enough, so decided to climb Mount Blair on a whim. I spent more time trying to find somewhere to park than I did climbing the hill- but I'd had my weather luck for the day and it was clagged in. Another one for the connoisseurs of shite built on hill tops: 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Detournement Posted January 10, 2022 Share Posted January 10, 2022 I need to buy a new winter walking jacket. Ideally £100-£150. Any tips? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MONKMAN Posted January 18, 2022 Share Posted January 18, 2022 Walked the coastal path from Sandyhills to Kippford yesterday. Southwest Scotland really is incredible and so overlooked. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benjamin_Nevis Posted January 18, 2022 Share Posted January 18, 2022 Quickish bike and hike on Sunday to grab two Corbetts north of Braemar, Culardoch and Creag an Dail Bheag. Culardoch is ridiculously easy, 130m of ascent from the landy track. Bheag was a bit more annoying with the true summit being a pishy wee bump on a plateau miles away. Still, fine weather and great views of the enormous Ben Avon. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swello Posted January 18, 2022 Share Posted January 18, 2022 1 hour ago, MONKMAN said: Walked the coastal path from Sandyhills to Kippford yesterday. Southwest Scotland really is incredible and so overlooked. Aye - that area around Kippford and Rockliffe is a forgotten part of the country - some stunning places around there (and the mountain biking at Dalbettie is great too) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AL-FFC Posted January 19, 2022 Share Posted January 19, 2022 (edited) Had planned on getting a couple of munro's done today but weather forecast wasn't looking good windchill of minus 16 and snow forecast plus not been on the hills for a while so to get back into it thought do a wee hill as a test, so went up Ben Aan for a trek got the sunrise and moon setting at same time and fitness level is better than hoped, for what is nothing more than a hill it does some cracking views: Edited January 19, 2022 by AL-FFC 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billy Jean King Posted January 19, 2022 Share Posted January 19, 2022 Quickish bike and hike on Sunday to grab two Corbetts north of Braemar, Culardoch and Creag an Dail Bheag. Culardoch is ridiculously easy, 130m of ascent from the landy track. Bheag was a bit more annoying with the true summit being a pishy wee bump on a plateau miles away. Still, fine weather and great views of the enormous Ben Avon. Going by that shadow you climb dressed as a Victorian Lady ! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamamafegan Posted January 20, 2022 Share Posted January 20, 2022 I need to buy a new winter walking jacket. Ideally £100-£150. Any tips?I personally wouldn’t bother with a dedicated winter walking jacket. I think you’re better off getting a decent waterproof/wind proof jacket that you can wear all year round and just layer up in winter. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
microdave Posted March 6, 2022 Share Posted March 6, 2022 Just a wee weegie hill but went up Conic hill for my first foray of the year. Good to get some feeling in my legs and hopefully this year, I'll manage more than the three hills I managed in the whole of 2021. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vikingTON Posted March 8, 2022 Share Posted March 8, 2022 Any recommendations for a trekking pole that doesn't collapse like most of those utter shite, telescopic ones? I do long distance trails rather than serious mountains so the main thing is something reasonably light/uncumbersome to deal with moderate descents and ascents at pace. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benjamin_Nevis Posted March 8, 2022 Share Posted March 8, 2022 Any recommendations for a trekking pole that doesn't collapse like most of those utter shite, telescopic ones? I do long distance trails rather than serious mountains so the main thing is something reasonably light/uncumbersome to deal with moderate descents and ascents at pace. I've had these for about 3 years:https://alpkit.com/products/compact-hiker-twinsPretty light, pretty cheap and fold down small enough to be chucked inside the rucksack if required. They're also the snaplock type rather than telescopic/twist fittings which used to utterly boil my piss. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Welly boy Posted March 8, 2022 Share Posted March 8, 2022 Looking to start a bit of hill walking was going to start off with Ben Vrackie near Pitlochry so just wondering is it an easy walk for a novice? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
invergowrie arab Posted March 9, 2022 Share Posted March 9, 2022 Yeah it's a piece of piss. Obvious path all the way. The final third is really steep but its all on a good path and you are up on top quick. If you are of reasonable fitness you should be back at the car in under 4 hours. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swello Posted March 9, 2022 Share Posted March 9, 2022 11 hours ago, virginton said: Any recommendations for a trekking pole that doesn't collapse like most of those utter shite, telescopic ones? I do long distance trails rather than serious mountains so the main thing is something reasonably light/uncumbersome to deal with moderate descents and ascents at pace. I've used Black Diamond "Z-Pole" type for the past 7 or 8 years after getting pissed off with Leki poles collapsing and/or getting stuck - they are expensive though. Apart from the not collapsing part, they fold up really small, so can be stashed away when scrambly or winter stuff take over. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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