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Other Walks

This section includes other hills I've climbed. They are not included in the main list either due to lack of an accurate date, recollection of events or pictures. The list covers primarily my early hillwalks although 'other' more recent walks are included.

A couple of summits appear on the list as they were visited by car. If so, this is mentioned in the description.
 

Spout of Ballagan
Date:
21st December 2010
Visiting the Spout of Ballagan with Dave. Originally wished to climb ice, but we ended up gorge walking/climbing/abseiling. Fun and a little dangerous. The joy was in dealing with dangers and working out how to get around them. This could not be done with ropes and rock climbing equipment due to the glen's severe nature and snow and ice added a special twist.
   >> Go to Report
 

Dumgoyne (almost)
Date:
2nd January 2010
  This would have been the first hillwalk of the year. I went with an old friend Josh, his mum and their dog. We started out from the Blanefield war memorial and headed up towards Dumgoyne. Plenty of snow around with magnificent views to Slackdhu, it's crags looking extremely alpine today, with cornicing at the rim and high winds veiling the mountain in spindrift. Josh and his mum didn't want to continue once we arrived at the last 100 vertical metres, so we abandoned the project and headed back to Strathblane.
 

 

Waterfalls beneath Dumgoyne
Date:
15 September 2009
  Originally planning to climb Dumgoyne, Tom and I abandoned this plan and diverted off the path into the forests where we followed a stream with spectacular sun-dappled waterfalls. Many of the slopes were steep and loose. Got whacked across the face by a falling tree, but was okay after. It's more thrilling than hill walking, and great fun in general since many areas involved picking our way across steep ground. Re-emerged at our approach track from Strathblane by cutting through a pine forest when the slopes became too steep. (Distance: 6km, Time: 4h 15m)

Five Tops by Loch Maree
inc. Torr a' Mhuillir, 86m
Aird na Ban-fhaidhe, 87m
Date:
13 April 2008
 

I did this walk alone while on holiday in Poolewe. I headed out in the evening, scrambling over tops and crossing rivers by the River Ewe. I emerged out by Loch Maree to the sight of mountains hidden under rain sheets, of rain singing off the water. It was a beautiful moment, one which I won't forget. Almost 'enlightening'... (Distance: 3.4km, Ascent: 130m, Time: 30m - 1h)


Bin of Cullen, 320m
Date: 12 February 2007
 

I climbed this hill with Fiona on a beautiful sunny day in February 2007. I didn't bring a camera along, nor did I remember to keep the date in mind. February 12th is probably the date, though there is room for uncertainty. Bin of Cullen stands above the village Cullen on Scotland's NE coast, with beautiful sea views from the summit. As I remember, the forests beneath were equally striking, and the route was on wide tracks all of the way.
 


Easdale and Codale Tarn
Max. altitude: 550m
Date: September 2006
 

Writing several years later, this remains my only walk outside of Scotland. Easdale and Codale Tarn are situated on the slopes of High Raise in the beautiful Lake District, and the walk was part of a school trip. I took several photos, although a failed hard drive in Spring '07 left me with no images as I backed up none of the images.
 


Slopes of Cortma Law
Date: 17 March 2006
An evening walk in the Campsies with dad
 

Duncryne, 142m
Date: 24 December 2005
This was my second time up Duncryne. The first had been several months earlier, although the absence of photographs leads me to believe that none were taken. (However sure I was that a camera was present)
 

Conic Hill, 361m
Date: 2004 August 14
Jamie (an old friend of mine) and I spent the evening at Loch Lomond with his dad Gregg. With fine weather, we climbed Conic Hill starting from Balmaha. We walked directly down to Loch Lomond and had a (cold) swim in the loch.
 

Foía (Monchique), 902m
Took car to the top
Date: 15 July 2004
Monchique is one of the few mountains in the Algarve region of Portugal. You can drive to the top where you'll find a cafe, masts and other development. We visited this mountain (by car) during a two-week stay to Portugal in the summer of 2004. Revisiting the Algarve region in April 2009 showed that the mountain is now flanked by several large wind turbines.
 

Blackwood Hill (Arnton Fell), 447m
Date: September 2003
I climbed Blackwood Hill during a five day school trip to the area. At the time I didn't know what the hill was called, nor did I have any interest as I recall. Though I enjoyed the walk nonetheless. Being a school trip, there were 20-30 other kids with me as well as a couple of teachers. Years later, examination of my photographs as well as studying maps brought me to identify the hill as Blackwood Hill due to the disused railway, the sea of Sitka on one side of the ridge as well the rough horseshoe shape and trig point at one end.
 

Conic Hill, 361m
Date: 4 September 2002
Climbed on a school trip. The weather was cloudy went lower bands across Loch Lomond. I recall the view being spectacular. At the top there was some low cloud, probably the first time I'd ever walked in cloud, even though it was only light.
 

Dun Diamh,165m
Date: 2 September 2002
Climbed on a school trip. Nice viewpoint overlooking Garelochhead. It took me six and a half years before I'd come to realise what exactly it was I'd climbed, for at this age I wasn't logging any climbs and only had pictures to go by.
 

Windy Hill, 278m
Kames Hill (top), 269m
Muirton Hill (top), 256m
Kilbride Hill, 256m
The Lyeing Hill (top), 236m

Date: July 2000. Perhaps the 25th but probably the 26th.
As a family, we used to go to Bute on holiday, staying in a place to the north-east of the island called Shalunt. Dad took Steve and I up to the hills behind Shalunt which included Windy Hill, the highest point on Bute. The day was warm, a mix of high cloud and sun. Windy Hill was a hard slog for me, as I remember. We made a small roundtrip of the day by walking over to Kilbride Hill and back to Shalunt. Dad was using his new GPS which I'd be using eight years on for my own hillwalking although this was more to test out walking between the waypoints and other features. The glen between Windy Hill and Kilbride Hill was strikingly beautiful and there was the constant buzzing of flies on The Lyeing Hill. I don't remember much else from the trip, asides the walk to Shalunt.
 

Ben A'an, 454m
Date: June 1999
One of my few walks before the Millennium! Climbed with friends over from New York on a sunny day.
 

Conic Hill, 361m
Date: 1997?
This was my first time up Conic Hill with dad and Steve. When I returned in 2002, the mountain had become significantly 'smaller', but it was a huge achievement as the time. It was mainly overcast as I remember with some wind on top. I got to phone home with some feeling of achievement! (Come to think of it, the presence of a mobile phone may surely give some hint as to the date)
 

Auchineden Hill, 357m
Date: 1997 in particular. Many, many other times however.
Auchineden Hill (better known for "The Whangie" which lies close by) is a hill I've been up more times than I know. I've been up to the top, just to the Whangie on plenty of occasions, sometimes just the first 150 foot climb to the viewpoint by the stile. Sometimes we just went up sledging. Goodness knows how many times I've been up, but I mention 1997 as a date in particular as slides from this year show me on top. I've been up many times though, and only since the creation of this site have I kept logs of more recent climbs.
 

Pico del Teide, 3718m
Date: Summer 1997/1996?
I didn't climb at 3700m mountain at the age of six... This, like Monchique in Portugal, can be driven up, at least to 2000m, where a cable car and track takes you as far as 3550m. A permit is required nowadays to reach the summit. The rangers claimed we couldn't climb the final section to the top due to erosion, but I've also heard that this is an excuse they use on hikers who have bought permits! 3550m remains my personal 'high-point'.