Made with Xara
© the munro baggers 2012
sunday, 4 | 12 | 2011 - Carn Liath on beinn a’Ghlo
1
Well I pick up Billy nearly on time around 5.40am, ten minutes late, not
bad eh! we leave in the old Landie and point it towards the A9 north, for
Blair Athol. As always we have checked the weather and packed the
important things, warm clothing, Mars Bars, hot soup, Mars Bars, hot tea,
Mars Bars, compass & maps, Mars Bars......, got the picture!
No seriously we plan and take the necessary precautions, wear appropriate
clothing, pack the necessary back up gear and always take a map and
compass and know how to use them, plus we leave a copy of our plan at
home, we advise all who venture onto the hills to do the same, no matter
how small the hill may seem, the weather can move in so fast, as you will
see below.
As we drive with our sat nav chattering away, we encounter the early snow
forecasted, with 'no significant fall, mixed with rain, no lying snow and
clearing by mid morning', we then feel the effects of the four wheel drive's
traction, good, however it's me driving! (shitebag) and we take our time!
Arriving close to our destination we start to question our weather reports,
the snow is 'significant' and the clouds heavy and dark, we keep going and
decide to take stock at our start point, however with the snow now being
quite heavy it does look like a wasted journey, but the snow stops and the
Bridge of Tilt looks superb in the early morning light.
Following Billy's directions I turn left, right, left, right, left etc. we keep
climbing, six inches of snow now and we start to question the return
journey now as well, soon we are the only vehicle leaving tracks, an
amazing show of deer, sheep etc (the latter putting a smile on Billy's face)
on a single track road to the car park, it ends in a farm yard, no way we
could find a car park in this.
We decide to leave the car and head towards where we think the hill is, as
visibility is non existent, however one look to the opposite direction
changes both our minds, a black cloud moving fast is bearing down on us,
we hurriedly have an emergency meeting, or quick two words, shitebags as
we are, we then decide on a technical decision of, running like a mad man
down the hill!!
Well I say run, in a 2.7 ton car this is easier said than done, the first part is
easy enough, we even stop for a photo, but the steep hill descent part is,
well, scary; I'm driving a shuddering sledge, it won't stop, only slows
down, just a matter of steering it really, at this point Billy wants to walk
down, too late it won't stop for nobody especially me! With some relief we
reach the end of the steep hill, we decide to head for the local shop for a
roll and sausage and a cup of tea and to empty my nickers, forgetting
where we are, no chance, no tea or hot rolls, not even a nice wee chat, we
buy rolls and await a break in the weather. This is not happening either
and reluctantly we take the decision to head for home. Better safe than
sorry we think, for our first snow run, this is the best decision for all.
On the way back we consider the universe as always in our own way, then
slag each other as always, to be honest no better way to spend a morning
than with Billy on our first off road snow adventure, just to make sure we
can drive in snow we take the Carron Valley route to Bishopbriggs, yes it
can go over anything, but don't ask it to stop!
I haven't been on this route before and it is a real gem, the views superb
and the road great to point the car into and go for it, even in the snow, I
will be back up there soon! Taking the day in retrospect I think as we made
the right decision not to walk the hill, no point really, we wouldn't be able
to see or enjoy the walk, a real eye opener for all to be really prepared,
but also to be realistic, why are we walking, just to tick another box, no,
we want to enjoy the experience, this should not be at the expense of our
safety, or those who may have to come and get us if we get it wrong.
Thanks Billy see you on the next one, Robert
sunday, 20 | 11 | 2011 - The Whangie - Queens View
Well a late start for us today, I'm a bit Pat & Mic, the back is playing up
causing a problem with my quad muscle, or as Billy puts it, I'm too old!
He's just ordered my Zimmer for Christmas, let age concern know that I
am a candidate for a blue badge and if you think that was all I would take
today, you would be wrong!
We were supposed to be doing another Munro, but to keep the momentum
going we opted to walk our old training ground, The Whangie . I picked
Billy up at 8.30am sharp, those of you who read our blog will know that
this is not normal, me being on time that is. However this is to do with my
new toy, a Discovery 3, dark blue with tan and black interior, the ultimate
go anywhere machine, with seven seats and good road manners. Well that
is if I'm not driving!
So off to a well known walk for us, we arrived at the Queens View car park
only ten miles out of the city centre. The walk is known as both Queens
View and The Whangie, which is the escarpment to the west of the walk,
Queen Victoria actually walked the route on her many visits to Scotland
and loved the view towards Ben Lomond, so I guess the name stuck.
From the car park we travel over the fence and up the access hill which is
the steepest part of the walk really, it was damp underfoot and the boggy
nature of this walk requires some good waterproof boots, Billy! However
Billy's spirits were high, so high that I got pelters all day, he was funny
though and I had no answers, as I was like an old cripple! The path winds
it's way up the ledge of the hill and tacking right takes you to the
escarpment, which is at odds to the rest of the surroundings. The weather
was fine, but not clear, the views to the north were as always excellent and
it's never the same twice. We continue to wind through the lower approach
and I have to wade through the relentless slagging that Billy is hurling, all
because I can't climb a wee Munro!
The whangie is reached pretty quickly and is a great mind blower as to why
it's there, 'The Whangie' ('whang' being slang for 'thick slice') is a huge
gash in the rocks below Auchineden Hill, which has been used as a training
ground by generations of rock-climbers. There are various explanations
given for how this geological wonder was formed including glacial plucking
and earthquake. However, there is also the magical myth that claims the
Whangie was formed by the Devil flicking his tail in anticipation of pleasure
as he flew over Stockie Muir on his way to attend a Witches' Sabbath.
This walk, however, is much less demanding and takes a path through a
hidden opening that you reach after a short clamber up some rocks. Inside,
the path meanders for three hundred feet between dramatic sheer rock
walls over fifty feet high - you'll see why 'whang' in Scottish dialect means
'thick slice'. The route climbs to the trig point on Auchineden Hill, which
gives you fine views across to the Kilpatrick hills, Dumgoyne Hill, Loch
Lomond, Ben Lomond and Arrochar Alps.
As we head back and the barrage of insults gets thicker like a plague of
midges on a summer afternoon, we decide to head to the pub for a coffee
and a roll and sausage. We duly get the coffee but, alas no roll, looks like
the pub will close after the 27th, a Sunday ritual now a victim of the
dreaded recession! A blast back to Glasgow and an afternoon with the kids
to commiserate, the walk and the banter as always, excellent.
© the munro baggers 2012
sunday, 4 | 12 | 2011 - Carn Liath on beinn a’Ghlo
1
Well I pick up Billy nearly on time around 5.40am, ten minutes late, not
bad eh! we leave in the old Landie and point it towards the A9 north, for
Blair Athol. As always we have checked the weather and packed the
important things, warm clothing, Mars Bars, hot soup, Mars Bars, hot tea,
Mars Bars, compass & maps, Mars Bars......, got the picture!
No seriously we plan and take the necessary precautions, wear appropriate
clothing, pack the necessary back up gear and always take a map and
compass and know how to use them, plus we leave a copy of our plan at
home, we advise all who venture onto the hills to do the same, no matter
how small the hill may seem, the weather can move in so fast, as you will
see below.
As we drive with our sat nav chattering away, we encounter the early snow
forecasted, with 'no significant fall, mixed with rain, no lying snow and
clearing by mid morning', we then feel the effects of the four wheel drive's
traction, good, however it's me driving! (shitebag) and we take our time!
Arriving close to our destination we start to question our weather reports,
the snow is 'significant' and the clouds heavy and dark, we keep going and
decide to take stock at our start point, however with the snow now being
quite heavy it does look like a wasted journey, but the snow stops and the
Bridge of Tilt looks superb in the early morning light.
Following Billy's directions I turn left, right, left, right, left etc. we keep
climbing, six inches of snow now and we start to question the return
journey now as well, soon we are the only vehicle leaving tracks, an
amazing show of deer, sheep etc (the latter putting a smile on Billy's face)
on a single track road to the car park, it ends in a farm yard, no way we
could find a car park in this.
We decide to leave the car and head towards where we think the hill is, as
visibility is non existent, however one look to the opposite direction
changes both our minds, a black cloud moving fast is bearing down on us,
we hurriedly have an emergency meeting, or quick two words, shitebags as
we are, we then decide on a technical decision of, running like a mad man
down the hill!!
Well I say run, in a 2.7 ton car this is easier said than done, the first part is
easy enough, we even stop for a photo, but the steep hill descent part is,
well, scary; I'm driving a shuddering sledge, it won't stop, only slows
down, just a matter of steering it really, at this point Billy wants to walk
down, too late it won't stop for nobody especially me! With some relief we
reach the end of the steep hill, we decide to head for the local shop for a
roll and sausage and a cup of tea and to empty my nickers, forgetting
where we are, no chance, no tea or hot rolls, not even a nice wee chat, we
buy rolls and await a break in the weather. This is not happening either
and reluctantly we take the decision to head for home. Better safe than
sorry we think, for our first snow run, this is the best decision for all.
On the way back we consider the universe as always in our own way, then
slag each other as always, to be honest no better way to spend a morning
than with Billy on our first off road snow adventure, just to make sure we
can drive in snow we take the Carron Valley route to Bishopbriggs, yes it
can go over anything, but don't ask it to stop!
I haven't been on this route before and it is a real gem, the views superb
and the road great to point the car into and go for it, even in the snow, I
will be back up there soon! Taking the day in retrospect I think as we made
the right decision not to walk the hill, no point really, we wouldn't be able
to see or enjoy the walk, a real eye opener for all to be really prepared,
but also to be realistic, why are we walking, just to tick another box, no,
we want to enjoy the experience, this should not be at the expense of our
safety, or those who may have to come and get us if we get it wrong.
Thanks Billy see you on the next one, Robert
sunday, 20 | 11 | 2011 - The Whangie - Queens View
Well a late start for us today, I'm a bit Pat & Mic, the back is playing up
causing a problem with my quad muscle, or as Billy puts it, I'm too old!
He's just ordered my Zimmer for Christmas, let age concern know that I
am a candidate for a blue badge and if you think that was all I would take
today, you would be wrong!
We were supposed to be doing another Munro, but to keep the momentum
going we opted to walk our old training ground, The Whangie . I picked
Billy up at 8.30am sharp, those of you who read our blog will know that
this is not normal, me being on time that is. However this is to do with my
new toy, a Discovery 3, dark blue with tan and black interior, the ultimate
go anywhere machine, with seven seats and good road manners. Well that
is if I'm not driving!
So off to a well known walk for us, we arrived at the Queens View car park
only ten miles out of the city centre. The walk is known as both Queens
View and The Whangie, which is the escarpment to the west of the walk,
Queen Victoria actually walked the route on her many visits to Scotland
and loved the view towards Ben Lomond, so I guess the name stuck.
From the car park we travel over the fence and up the access hill which is
the steepest part of the walk really, it was damp underfoot and the boggy
nature of this walk requires some good waterproof boots, Billy! However
Billy's spirits were high, so high that I got pelters all day, he was funny
though and I had no answers, as I was like an old cripple! The path winds
it's way up the ledge of the hill and tacking right takes you to the
escarpment, which is at odds to the rest of the surroundings. The weather
was fine, but not clear, the views to the north were as always excellent and
it's never the same twice. We continue to wind through the lower approach
and I have to wade through the relentless slagging that Billy is hurling, all
because I can't climb a wee Munro!
The whangie is reached pretty quickly and is a great mind blower as to why
it's there, 'The Whangie' ('whang' being slang for 'thick slice') is a huge
gash in the rocks below Auchineden Hill, which has been used as a training
ground by generations of rock-climbers. There are various explanations
given for how this geological wonder was formed including glacial plucking
and earthquake. However, there is also the magical myth that claims the
Whangie was formed by the Devil flicking his tail in anticipation of pleasure
as he flew over Stockie Muir on his way to attend a Witches' Sabbath.
This walk, however, is much less demanding and takes a path through a
hidden opening that you reach after a short clamber up some rocks. Inside,
the path meanders for three hundred feet between dramatic sheer rock
walls over fifty feet high - you'll see why 'whang' in Scottish dialect means
'thick slice'. The route climbs to the trig point on Auchineden Hill, which
gives you fine views across to the Kilpatrick hills, Dumgoyne Hill, Loch
Lomond, Ben Lomond and Arrochar Alps.
As we head back and the barrage of insults gets thicker like a plague of
midges on a summer afternoon, we decide to head to the pub for a coffee
and a roll and sausage. We duly get the coffee but, alas no roll, looks like
the pub will close after the 27th, a Sunday ritual now a victim of the
dreaded recession! A blast back to Glasgow and an afternoon with the kids
to commiserate, the walk and the banter as always, excellent.
