I'd hoped there would be a bit of snow, but all the November stuff had gone. Loads forecast over the next few days though. I take it you walked up The Snub and over the top, judging by your second photo. I couldn't decide which way to go as there's so many options, and I was thinking of coming back along the top and going down it if I decided not to do the circuit. I slightly regret not doing it that way as I'd have seen the memorial.
I think the main differences might be the path construction up to Loch Brandy. It's well maintained. There's wooden cabins etc at the Clova Hotel and they were very busy, and they obviously want to encourage people to walk up to the lochan, which they can do even if they're not hillwalkers. There's a fairly new landrover track at the other end (from the far end of Loch Wharral in your last pic) right down to the glen road. There was a couple who were walking up it to Wharral as I was coming off the hill. Tourism's so important for these places and I suppose it gets more people in if they can go for a scenic walk without too much difficulty. The shooting industry will benefit from it too.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I think the trail and cabins are all new since I was last there. I seem to remember a fairly basic path up the Snub then out on to the fairly featureless moors on top. We came back down between Brandy and Wharral then back down for a late lunch and a pint in the Clova Hotel!
Your photos got me looking through other old photos of the Angus Glens and I finally managed to identify a walk which I thought for years was in Glen Doll but is actually in Glen Mark, the lower waterfalls on the Burn of Doune. It is on route to Mount Keen, the most easterly Munroe.
Really nice pic steephill. Pix of water on the hills always look great don't they? It's the scoured rock that I love
The path up the Snub looks quite good - probably because of the amount of foot traffic. I think they like to encourage people to walk round Loch Brandy. The plateau is still featureless, although the path's decent enough between Green Hill's cairn ( where I came out onto the plateau) and it's outlying one a bit further to the east. From there across to The Goet and Ben Tirran is still bog and moorland. I took a detour down to the head of Loch Wharral and took a photo very similar to yours looking down the lochan, then headed up to the summit and back over Ben Tirran. I dropped down to the hut and the new track from there.
I got some good photos when I was in Glen Doll last year doing Driesh and Mayar again. The Corrie Fee is really stunning. Good times
Might not be so scenic right now - they've just said on the radio that the snow gates are shut at the Spittal of Glenshee. That's the first time this winter - much later than usual!
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
The sun went behind the clouds just as we set off for a refreshing walk across one of our local beaches, but just to show that the gorse continues flowering all year. Temp was approx. 11 degrees, not much wind either. We missed the charity fun swim with over 500 participants earlier this morning. Always a popular event with all ages taking part.
The sky is so bright and big, and that shaft of light is beautiful. I noticed we had whin (gorse) in flower in some of the sheltered areas in glens and roadsides - I've never known that before at this time of year.
It was into double figures here yesterday despite the wind and rain, but it was much colder today again, with a layer of frozen, icy snow this morning, and lots of hail/sleet/rain and wind all day.
Hoping to get out tomorrow somewhere and get a few photos. The hills are very snow clad, even at lower levels, but whether I can see much is another matter! Might be lower level in Glen Fyne or something.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Well - I didn't get out on the 27th as daughter was really unwell. Forecast was promising for today though - although the winds were going to be a small issue. Scraped the car and off I went to Beinn Luibhean, which sits on the right hand side of the A83 - most of the time anyway!
Chilly start but nice and bright. The locals were guarding the little bridge over the burn
En route up the south ridge of the hill, The Cobbler had a watery sun behind it
'Chimp' rock
Neighbouring Munro, Beinn Ime, coming into view. It's connected to Luibhean by a high bealach, enabling a traverse - if you fancy the 600 ft drop and the 1,100 ft re ascent!
Beinn Narnain and The Cobbler. Along with Ime, these three can all be done from the bealach which they're all linked to, usually accessed from the other side at Arrochar. Still not a lot of blue sky....
Looking south to The Brack - clouds were sweeping in and out due to the wind, carrying hail and frozen rain. Doesn't half scour your skin!
Pano of The Brack, Ben Donich and Beinn an Lochain on the other side of the A83
Frozen pool - Beinn Ime beyond
Ben Donich from the summit cairn. New poles in the foreground
Beinn an Lochain with little Loch Restil in front. All the lochs were choppy - Lochs Lomond and Long were quite rough today
Even frozen rock has icicles
Lovely Beinn an Lochain - one of my favourite hills. The landslide prevention 'cages' can be seen down at the foot of the slope by the forest plantation. There are more further along the road too. At last - lots of blue sky and sunshine....when I'm on the way back down....typical
Last look back up to Luibhean and it's lumpy, bumpy plateau ridge. Nice blue sky .....
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It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
How much the sky changes the very look of a place - such an unfriendly look when all is dull and cold and then this change to a beautiful sunny vista - what a contrast.
Did you see anything living apart from the sheep Fairy? How far do you have to drive from your home to this outstanding scenery?
Buzzard just as I got back to the car GD. I got the camera out but he wheeled off up towards the hill so the pic wasn't great.
That's a short drive for me - just over an hour, especially as the road was quiet this morning.
I was quite lucky with the weather really - the higher hills tend to catch the worst and hang onto it, so Beinn Ime was looking pretty bleak when the hail and snow showers came on. It was still fairly rough on the final approach as there's not much chance of shelter when the wind's that strong.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Looks to have been an enjoyable outing Fairy. GD is right about the friendly look when the sky is blue - but I love those moody views of The Brack etc, too.
Good thing it was only a sheep guarding the bridge, and not the three Billy Goats Gruff.
Since 2019 I've lived in east Clare, in the west of Ireland.
Posts
Hi steephill - lovely to see your pix.
I'd hoped there would be a bit of snow, but all the November stuff had gone. Loads forecast over the next few days though. I take it you walked up The Snub and over the top, judging by your second photo. I couldn't decide which way to go as there's so many options, and I was thinking of coming back along the top and going down it if I decided not to do the circuit. I slightly regret not doing it that way as I'd have seen the memorial.
I think the main differences might be the path construction up to Loch Brandy. It's well maintained. There's wooden cabins etc at the Clova Hotel and they were very busy, and they obviously want to encourage people to walk up to the lochan, which they can do even if they're not hillwalkers. There's a fairly new landrover track at the other end (from the far end of Loch Wharral in your last pic) right down to the glen road. There was a couple who were walking up it to Wharral as I was coming off the hill. Tourism's so important for these places and I suppose it gets more people in if they can go for a scenic walk without too much difficulty. The shooting industry will benefit from it too.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I think the trail and cabins are all new since I was last there. I seem to remember a fairly basic path up the Snub then out on to the fairly featureless moors on top. We came back down between Brandy and Wharral then back down for a late lunch and a pint in the Clova Hotel!
Your photos got me looking through other old photos of the Angus Glens and I finally managed to identify a walk which I thought for years was in Glen Doll but is actually in Glen Mark, the lower waterfalls on the Burn of Doune. It is on route to Mount Keen, the most easterly Munroe.
Really nice pic steephill. Pix of water on the hills always look great don't they? It's the scoured rock that I love
The path up the Snub looks quite good - probably because of the amount of foot traffic. I think they like to encourage people to walk round Loch Brandy. The plateau is still featureless, although the path's decent enough between Green Hill's cairn ( where I came out onto the plateau) and it's outlying one a bit further to the east. From there across to The Goet and Ben Tirran is still bog and moorland. I took a detour down to the head of Loch Wharral and took a photo very similar to yours looking down the lochan, then headed up to the summit and back over Ben Tirran. I dropped down to the hut and the new track from there.
I got some good photos when I was in Glen Doll last year doing Driesh and Mayar again. The Corrie Fee is really stunning. Good times
Might not be so scenic right now - they've just said on the radio that the snow gates are shut at the Spittal of Glenshee. That's the first time this winter - much later than usual!
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
The sun went behind the clouds just as we set off for a refreshing walk across one of our local beaches, but just to show that the gorse continues flowering all year. Temp was approx. 11 degrees, not much wind either. We missed the charity fun swim with over 500 participants earlier this morning. Always a popular event with all ages taking part.
Lovely GD. What a nice day you had
The sky is so bright and big, and that shaft of light is beautiful. I noticed we had whin (gorse) in flower in some of the sheltered areas in glens and roadsides - I've never known that before at this time of year.
It was into double figures here yesterday despite the wind and rain, but it was much colder today again, with a layer of frozen, icy snow this morning, and lots of hail/sleet/rain and wind all day.
Hoping to get out tomorrow somewhere and get a few photos. The hills are very snow clad, even at lower levels, but whether I can see much is another matter! Might be lower level in Glen Fyne or something.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Well - I didn't get out on the 27th as daughter was really unwell. Forecast was promising for today though - although the winds were going to be a small issue. Scraped the car and off I went to Beinn Luibhean, which sits on the right hand side of the A83 - most of the time anyway!
Chilly start but nice and bright. The locals were guarding the little bridge over the burn
En route up the south ridge of the hill, The Cobbler had a watery sun behind it
'Chimp' rock
Neighbouring Munro, Beinn Ime, coming into view. It's connected to Luibhean by a high bealach, enabling a traverse - if you fancy the 600 ft drop and the 1,100 ft re ascent!
Beinn Narnain and The Cobbler. Along with Ime, these three can all be done from the bealach which they're all linked to, usually accessed from the other side at Arrochar. Still not a lot of blue sky....
Looking south to The Brack - clouds were sweeping in and out due to the wind, carrying hail and frozen rain. Doesn't half scour your skin!
Pano of The Brack, Ben Donich and Beinn an Lochain on the other side of the A83
Frozen pool - Beinn Ime beyond
Ben Donich from the summit cairn. New poles in the foreground
Beinn an Lochain with little Loch Restil in front. All the lochs were choppy - Lochs Lomond and Long were quite rough today
Even frozen rock has icicles
Lovely Beinn an Lochain - one of my favourite hills. The landslide prevention 'cages' can be seen down at the foot of the slope by the forest plantation. There are more further along the road too. At last - lots of blue sky and sunshine....when I'm on the way back down....typical
Last look back up to Luibhean and it's lumpy, bumpy plateau ridge. Nice blue sky .....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
How much the sky changes the very look of a place - such an unfriendly look when all is dull and cold and then this change to a beautiful sunny vista - what a contrast.
Did you see anything living apart from the sheep Fairy? How far do you have to drive from your home to this outstanding scenery?
Buzzard just as I got back to the car GD. I got the camera out but he wheeled off up towards the hill so the pic wasn't great.
That's a short drive for me - just over an hour, especially as the road was quiet this morning.
I was quite lucky with the weather really - the higher hills tend to catch the worst and hang onto it, so Beinn Ime was looking pretty bleak when the hail and snow showers came on. It was still fairly rough on the final approach as there's not much chance of shelter when the wind's that strong.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Looks to have been an enjoyable outing Fairy. GD is right about the friendly look when the sky is blue - but I love those moody views of The Brack etc, too.
Good thing it was only a sheep guarding the bridge, and not the three Billy Goats Gruff.
Enjoyed seeing the "Rest and be Thankful" area again Fairy. You can get fairly strong cross winds in the area so it would be chilly at the top.
The Chimp Rock is well named.