4 to 9 February 2025 - A Week at Tigh Mor

Index:

Tuesday 4 February 2025 - Ben A'an

Wednesday 5 February 2025 - Stob Breac

Thursday 6 February 2025 - Ben Venue

Friday 7 February 2025 - Callander Craig and Bracklinn Falls

Saturday 8 February 2025 - Lime Craig

Sunday 9 February 2025 - Four Small Hills
Innerdownie
Whitewisp Hill
Tarmangie Hill
Ben Shee

Sunday 9 February 2025 - Four Small Hills

Our last day at Tigh Mor. Jessica went for a walk from Brig o'Turk and the remaining eight of us - Sue, me, Julie, David, Roger Phil, Richard and Jenny went on a 16km circuit from the Glen Sherup Forestry Commission car park, a drive of nearly an hour from Tigh Mor. Russell and Alison - on a separate booking - had gone home as planned.

The main purpose of the walk was to 'bag' Julie's last 'Donald', a Donald being a Lowland hill of over 2000 feet which may or may not fall into an assortment of other 'bagging' categories. There are currently 89 such hills.

This was the coldest day of the trip, with a cold wind to make us grateful that we weren't going much over 600 metres. We were protected from the wind until we emerged from the forest in Glen Devon.

A bench had looked an enticing resting point until we noted that it was covered in ice.

We gathered together, with the long slope up to Innerdownie, the lowest of the 89 Donalds, stretching into the distance, with the summit being some way further on than the point on the horizon in the next picture.

After a while, we gathered together at the summit of Innerdownie. It was cold.

Then it was a steady stroll up to the broad summit of Whitewisp Hill, and on to Julie's unclimbed target, Tarmangie Hill.

By now we were well and truly in a cold cloud, so whilst a celebration was in order, the bottle was stashed for the time being.

Some forestry was expected. It was shown on the map and would have provided a sheltered lunch spot. Never mind, an alternative was found and the Prosecco was opened.

A little further on, a signpost encouraged us to climb a final 100 metres to the summit of Ben Shee.

After some brief glimpses to the reservoirs below, the summit of Ben Shee was a bit anticlimactic as it revealed neither a cairn nor a view.

The descent above Glen Sherup slowly drew us out of the cloud and into the relative warmth of the valley.

We doubled back to cross the Glensherup Reservoir dam to gain the track back to the car park.

We felt we had earned a spell in the sauna and the steam room, before concocting an excellent meal from leftovers.

Here's our route - 16km, 600 metres ascent, taking around 5 hours.

Then on Monday morning we said goodbye to Tigh Mor, with its turreted wings and the view to Ben Venue.

An excellent trip. Thanks to those who organised it.

Saturday 8 February 2025 - Lime Craig

The Lodge Forest Visitor Centre provided the base for a walk up to Lime Craig, above Aberfoyle, on another fine day.

This time I was joined by Richard, Jenny and Jessica, the others amongst us having decided to jettison themselves into the clouds.

The 'Red Trail' led past a statue of a lumberjill, one of many women who served in the Timber Corps in the World Wars.

We soon reached a couple of bronze deer sculptures.

There followed an area of mini sculptures below the raucous shouts of people on a Go Ape course.

Elevenses were taken on a bench by a waterfall after we had passed an impressive double waterfall and the remains of an ancient settlement. 

The trudge up to the summit was pleasant enough, with some good views down to Aberfoyle and across to Ben Venue, as well as to the north, deep into the Trossachs. 

We paused at the summit to enjoy more fine views in all directions, marred only by a persistently yapping dog.

The descent to the turning point on the Lime Craig track was steep, redeemed by the pleasure of many different shades of greenery. 

Here's the turning point.

After more steep descent on the line of an old waggonway, we found ourselves on the Rob Roy Way.

An annoying health and safety diversion around a suspect bridge brought us happily to a bird observation hide where we stopped for lunch, and to admire the residents, some of whom are shown below.

Chaffinch, Great Tit, Siskin, Blue Tit, Nuthatch, plus numerous others

Then we spent some time in the visitor centre before heading back to Tigh Mor for a snooze.

We managed around 8km, with 300 metres ascent, in less than 3 hours.

Friday 7 February 2025 - Callander Craig and Bracklinn Falls

Sue and I drove to Callander for a short, sunny walk above the town.

The river is full, and the church sports a fine spire.

We walked through the town to Bracklinn Road, from where we turned off up a good track, heading for some crags.

Our path soon left the main drag in favour of rising steeply through mixed woodland,  eventually reaching some stone steps that led to the summit ridge.

The 343 metre summit of Callander Craig is marked by a splendid memorial to Queen Victoria, on the occasion of her Diamond Jubilee.

There are wide ranging views from the summit. 

Elevenses were taken on the way down to a narrow road above a car park for the falls.

The Red Well was signposted, so we went for a look. It was orange, and didn't look particularly enticing.

At the car park we turned towards Bracklinn Falls, passing on the way a pair of birds that may have been crossbills. I have a new phone that seems to perform well as regards distant objects like these birds.

The bridge at the falls is the latest in a succession of such artifacts here.

The falls are moderately impressive. 

We made use of a nearby lunch bench, then found a nice path back to Callander, passing a fairy town on the way.

Snowdrops were just coming into flower.

Here's our route (from the red blob) - we covered about 8km, with 290 metres ascent, in around 3 hours.