Climbing several hills: map & data
Total climbing: 745 m
Total time: 05:56:25
Donalds: Innerdownie (611m), Whitewisp Hill (643m), Tarmangie Hill (645m)
Also: Ben Shee (an unclassified hill)
10 mile walk in 5h55 from 09.50 to 15.45 – average 1.7 mph
Like the previous week, Simon had prepared another splendiferous day trip to the Ochil Hills.
On Sunday we’d driven to Tillicoultry and climbed King’s Seat Hill. This time we drove to Yetts o’ Muckhart and parked at the Woodland Trust’s Glen Sherup car park.
Off to the forest
Simon’s plan was to do a loop that involved climbing three Donalds and Ben Shee, a 516m unclassified hill with some magnificent views.
10.16 – Starting off on the forest track
We left the car park, walked past the Glenquey Reservoir and then up the peaceful and sheltered forest track.
Soon we turned right and walked up the firebreak. Not that it was much of a firebreak. It was more like a tunnel, with trees overgrown on both sides.
That hard surface wasn’t easy to walk on in my new mountain boots. I was wearing them because I need to break them in before we go to Laggan in February. Luckily, it wasn’t too long before we got to the end of the firebreak.
10.46 – Fence on the edge of the plantation
We left the plantation, got to that picturesque gate and headed for Innerdownie (611m), our first Donald of the day.
At the top of Innerdownie there was an unexpected gale. Simon had to hold on tight to my glove while I balanced my feet to take this photo.
11.25 – Simon catching the wind at the top of Innerdownie
To our right, we had a commanding view of the Forth.
There were also some threatening clouds in the distance, which we hoped wouldn’t catch up with us.
11.26 – Looking south towards the forth & beyond
A while back, the Woodland Trust acquired the Glen Devon Woodlands. The whole area covers 1,200ha and Glen Sherup, where we were, is part of it.
According to one of the information signs we saw, 1.5 million native trees have now been planted in the Glen Devon Woodlands: oak, birch, hazel, rowan, juniper and Scots pine.
Unfortunately, sheep have been banned from the Woodlands, so we were very much on our own most of the time.
To our second Donald
11.34 – On our way to Whitewisp Hill
Before reaching the top, we got to this steep stile. I was so busy figuring out in my head how I was going to climb down those steps with my heavy rucksack on, that I didn’t see the gate.
And there was he, the prof, opening it for me.
12.04 – Simon opening a handy gate
Throughout the day, we saw a few people. Some were in small groups, others walked alone or with their dogs.
We walked on the dry grassy path along the small wall, in the direction of Whitewisp Hill (643m), our second Donald of the day.
Donalds, by the way, are some of the 2,000+ ft (610+ m) hills in the Scottish Lowlands.
12.09 – Maria at the top of Whitewisp Hill *
At the top of Whitewisp Hill it was gloriously sunny.
I love that beautiful winter light we get in Scotland, so humble and enigmatic.
12.21 – Looking north, with the Trossachs on the horizon
The weather forecast was for broken cloud in the morning, and a good amount of sunshine at around noon. Luckily, that’s what we got.
We pressed on. Our next conquest was Tarmangie HIll, the third Donald.
On our way there we could see King’s Seat Hill right in front of us. That’s the Donald we’d climbed the week before.
12.43 – Cairns on Tarmangie Hill
Apparently one of the peaks we could see from this Donald, Tarmangie Hill, was Ben Cleuch, which is the highest point in the Ochils. Looking at the photos, though, I can’t figure out which one it is.
Heading for Ben Shee
13.04 – Simon on Scad Hill, looking for a lunch spot
This walk was part of our training for the Lairig Ghru, the 40-mile walk from Aviemore to Blair Atholl that we’re planning to do in May.
That’s why, like the previous week, we filled our rucksacks with all the equipment we’ll be carrying then, including the tent. My rucksack weighed a ton: that’s 10kg to be exact.
Simon chickened out and carried only 7.5kg, two less than the previous week.
13.47 – A view of Ben Shee & Glensherup Reservoir
To get to Ben Shee there’s a slightly steep but short ascent; a very rewarding one.
The most stunning thing about the Ochils are the views you get from the flat tops. Some stretch all the way to the Trossachs, 50 miles away.
14.15 – Looking west at the Glendevon reservoirs
There are five water reservoirs in and around Glen Sherup: Upper Glendevon, Lower Glendevon, Glensherup, Glenquey, and Castlehill.
To the north, you can spot Glen Eagles. If you make the map above full screen and zoom out, you’ll see where it is.
I’ve just learned that the “Eagles” in Glen Eagles doesn’t refer to the bird, as I thought, but rather to the chapel and well of Saint Mungo, in the Gleneagles estate. Apparently, the word “eagles” is a corruption of “ecclesia”, which means “church”.
The long way back
14.39 – A wintry looking track, coming off Ben Shee
From Ben Shee, we walked on a narrow path for a little bit until we got to a fork. There we took the path to the left.
At first, the path down was easy, then it got slightly steep, specially after walking for nearly five hours with those heavy rucksacks.
14.55 – A quirky gate+stile near the Wester Glensherup farm
Eventually we arrived at this curious fence cum stile, not the easiest to get out of when you’re carrying that bulky rucksack.
14.57 – A view of Wester Glensherup
We walked down towards the settlement and road. That’s when we saw our first sheep of the day.
The tarmac felt too hard with those stiff mountains boots on, so we walked on the grass. That last hour back to the car was going to be long.
15.02 – Simon on the road to the Glensherup Reservoir dam
We crossed the dam and soon rejoined the path we’d taken earlier that morning.
Happily for us, the threatening clouds we’d seen on and off in the distance never caught up with us.
15.12 – The unremarkable Glensherup Reservoir dam
In the end, this walk was longer but in a way easier than the previous week’s. Our loop around Glen Sherup was roughly 10 miles (16km). That’s one quarter of what we’ll be doing in the Lairig Ghru.
Oh, dear. It’s going to be tough.
I took all the photos with the Panasonic.
* Simon took this photo.