Leagag (Again)

The sun shone for our third ascent of this 601 metre hill just to the south of Bridge of Gaur. It's a good 17km circuit with over 500 metres ascent, taking about 5 hours. Sue is pictured on the summit.

The snow line was soon reached, and we chatted for a while with a chap who was preparing the ground for a new plantation. He had a lovely snowball chasing black dog.

The wind seemed to ease as we got higher on the ridge. The going became easier. The sun was out. We enjoyed tea on the summit.

An abrupt descent through deep, snow-laden heather brought us fairly quickly to the track by Allt Camghouran, beside which we lunched at the cairn erected in memory of Alex Menzies, Shepherd. Later another shepherd, Ewan, drew up beside us and related the events of the sad day in 1990 when 62 year old Alex expired whilst clipping sheep at a spot near where the cairn has been erected.

Ewan offered to show us the local fox covens, and told us we should keep our eyes skinned for a golden eagle that sits on a nearby fence post, otters that swim in the loch, pine martens that are 'everywhere' and numerous other types of wildlife. We explained that we had seen a bullfinch! Actually, we've seen quite a bit of wildlife on this trip, including a red squirrel and a tree creeper in Simon's Braemar garden, hundreds of red deer stags, a dipper, and all manner of small birds such as wrens, robins and a wide variety of tits and finches.

Back at 'The Middle of Nowhere' by 3pm, we've had a most relaxing afternoon.

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Morrone, and a Favourite B&B

"Well I never!" we both exclaimed, as an 'Are you in Braemar?' message appeared yesterday afternoon on the screen of my phone. We hadn't had any significant contact with Gayle and Mick since our Christmas walk. They have been working, and producing vast spreadsheets on the TGO Challenge.

Anyway, our host, Simon, soon arrived and due to a minor glitch with the shopping for food, we found we had far too much for the three of us. So Mick and Gayle, fresh from their afternoon drive from Staffordshire, were co-opted to assist. Extra red wine was found, and masterchef Simon, who did have something to celebrate, produced an impromptu banquet for the five of us.

Thanks Simon, and congratulations.

Today dawned to reveal a relatively benign landscape of snow, speckled with trees, vegetation and habitation - a ski resort under a steely grey sky.

The closest hill to Thornbank Cottage is Morrone, which stands at 859 metres, looming about 550 metres above the fleshpots of Braemar. It looked benign enough when the three of us set off up its northern flanks below gently descending snowflakes, but as we rose up the hillside the conditions became more wintry, albeit there was no need for any winter hardware to be deployed.

Morrone's summit is pretty distinctive, even in a white out. It took us an hour and forty minutes to reach it today, and once there those who hadn't already donned their winteryest layers did so in the shelter of the buildings that accompany the mast.

Our circular route then chose the vehicle track to guide us down in the teeth of a fierce wind. Soon the spindrift obliterated the slippery (I took a tumble) track and although this is Simon's 'easy' local hill, a bearing was needed to continue with any confidence in the white out. We negotiated a rough route in true winter conditions. Without a compass, even this seemingly benign little hill could have caught us out today! This evening our faces are still stinging from the blast of the spindrift. Once we had rediscovered the track lower down, the snowy walk back to Braemar was uneventful.

A late lunch fortified us for an interesting journey to 'The Middle of Nowhere' aka Eddie and Heather's excellent Guest House at The Bridge of Gaur, on the edge of Rannoch Forest.

We do apologise for not helping those folk stuck in a snowdrift on the Glenshee pass who we sailed past without stopping, but we didn't want to get stuck ourselves!

The snow flurries by Loch Rannoch have now turned to rain, so we are enjoying the evening with Eddie and Heather, somewhat below the snow line...

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In Search of the Snow Line

Here comes a short spell of mobile blogging, hopefully the last with the Blackberry phone.

Today we eschewed Wythenshawe's Parkrun and loaded up the snow shoes. We still don't know whether we'll get a chance to use them, but as you can see, a long and winding road has delivered us to the promised Nirvana.

Lancashire was pretty damp and mizzly, but Shap did bear fruit, with well camouflaged sheep rummaging for their lunch in a glaze of icing sugar.

Through the rain of the Southern Uplands some high white patches were just about visible, but there was nothing to indicate a proper snow line.

The warmth of Glasgow continued through Stirling and up to Perth, where a couple of years ago I spent a night in my car in Morrison's car park after failing to extricate myself from the snow line.

Hope springs eternal, and Blairgowrie offered that, with the winding road to Glenshee liberally banked with white stuff.

Mist engulfed the summit of the pass but failed to conceal thousands of skiers enjoying themselves well above the snow line.

We'd made it, and with just a gentle descent past huge herds of deer to the vibrant mountain ski resort of Braemar, the trudge up the inundated garden path to Thornbank Cottage confirmed that we are indeed to spend the night above the snow line.

Bottles of red wine are lined in front of the wood burning stove in readiness for our host and any surprise guests who may track us to this wintry location...

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Wednesday 6 February 2012 – Ten Plodders Visit the Sandstone Trail

Welcome to this first entry compiled using a new version of just about everything – Win8, Windows Live Writer, Photoshop Elements, etc.  It’s gone remarkably smoothly so far!

Alan R was quickly put in charge of navigation on this sunny Wednesday morning, and was provided with an Ordnance Survey map of the area.  Surely not much could have changed since the cloth was glued to the back of this map?

I was expecting seven people for definite, but I felt sure that the slightly obscure Simon’s Lane Car Park location might flummox one or two, especially Roger.  But in the event ten good souls managed to wend their way around the M60, M62, M6 and M56 motorways to arrive in plenty of time for the 10.30 start, which proved to be more like 10.20, as there was a cool breeze and we were already quorate.

Through the bright green lawns of a golf course speckled with giant daisies, we made our way along the escarpment along which the Sandstone Trail runs for much of its length.  It’s not a very high escarpment, topping out at just 227 metres at Raw Head, a little to the south of today’s route, but it does afford good views in an arc from Liverpool to the north, across the Wirral and the Dee estuary to North Wales.  Further south, the views extend to the Shropshire hills such as the Wrekin.

Today we paused for a while to admire the view to Helsby and beyond.

The lighting and clouds made for much easier photography than the dull conditions we experienced a couple of weeks ago in the Scorton area.  It was a great day to be out, despite a chilly northerly.

I’d not noticed the Sandstone Trail ‘mileposts’ that seem to have sprung up.  We noticed at least two of them today – substantial lumps of stone that bear the hallmarks of a labour of love.  I like the way the distances have been marked in kilometres – for me they stamp a 21st century hallmark on an ancient craft.  Well done, whoever inspired and made these.

With a short section of road imminent, a halt was called for coffee and cake.  The cake was intentionally moist today, in the true tradition of ‘brownies’, but I was berated for leaving the shortbread at home.  Oops!

A little further on, we passed Stonehouse Farm B&B, which some of those more familiar with this area suggested was a most excellent amenity, with a huge garden in which to enjoy tea and cake.

On a warmer day, perhaps…

The march to our own refreshment stop continued through more stubble…

Then after I’d enjoyed my usual moment of temporary misplacement and we had retraced some steps, Maude’s nose started to twitch as we approached the Visitor Centre near Delamere Station.

This time we sat down to lunch in rather more congenial surroundings than those encountered two weeks ago on the way to Nicky Nook.

Two mountain bikers faffed nonsensically nearby, then a jolly bunch of kids arrived, fresh from some mountain bike tuition, so (as it was a bit cool) we moved on briskly to enjoy the delights of Delamere Forest’s woodland paths.

We found the Sandstone Trail again and headed north for a while along the well signed path that made today’s navigation pretty easy.

Our route back to Simon’s Lane and Beacon Hill took us slightly inland from our outward path, after we deserted the Sandstone Trail once again.  However, we still enjoyed good views across the Wirral to Liverpool, and to the hills of North Wales further south.  En route, we passed Crossley Park, a secure enclave whose gates were shut by an invisible doorman as we contemplated entry.  Was it Roger they spotted on their CCTV, or the demon hound Maude?  We’ll never know…

Apart from a short climb to the car park along a short piece of tarmac, the last stage of the walk delivered us through well cropped fields on a largely downhill course.

Everyone seemed happy.

Here’s our route – about 21 km (13 miles), with around 350 metres ascent, taking us about 5½ hours.

There’s a slideshow, if you are desperate for more! – here.

My next Plodders walk starts from Leighton Moss RSPB Reserve at 10.30am on Wednesday 20 February – meeting earlier if possible, in the café.  We’ll be trying to find some of Silverdale’s ancient wells,and taking an excursion up to the fine viewpoint of Arnside Knott.  Hope to see you there.

Alan R’s alternative version is here, and I should add our best wishes to Phil’s Face for a speedy recovery, and thanks to Allan R and JJ for their apologies.

Sunday 3 February 2013 – A Great British Ridge Walk – Number 5 - Carnedd Moel Siabod by Daear Ddu and descent via the North-East Ridge

It had been far too long a lay off from Bill Birkett’s fine collection of ridge walks (the last posting is dated November 2010!), so it was a pleasure for Sue and me to be joined by Richard and Jenny for this relatively easy route up Moel Siabod, featuring some fine ridge scrambling – as easy or hard as you want to make it. 

We chose ‘easy’, whilst chatting to a couple of lads on the Daear Ddu ascent who had chosen ‘moderate’.  It was all very convivial.

After indulging at the cafe and watching some dare-devil kayakers descend the rapids down the Afon Llugwy, we had enjoyed a pleasant walk up to Llyn y Foel, where we lost the view to a light mist. At the end of the enjoyable scramble to within sight of the summit cairn, we paused in a sheltered spot for lunch.  That was just as well, as on emerging from our haven we were attacked by a vicious wind that seemed intent on preventing us from reaching the 872 metre summit.  It failed, as you can see from the picture above.

Slithery rocks made our descent along the north east ridge a rather painstaking affair, especially after I had taken a tumble.  But there was virtually no snow up there, and the rocks were greasy rather than icy – so no need for winter gear today.

Gradually the air became warmer, the wind chill diminished, and the views to the north and east got clearer. 

A phone call from a poorly son meant that we didn’t need to rush home to feed him (hope you are feeling better today, Mike) so we pottered amiably back down to the car park at Bryn Glô, where a chap was showing off his new sleeping bag from the Cotswold shop in Betws-y-Coed. 

The kayakers had long gone.

Apologies for the brevity, perhaps Sue, R or J have some more to say…?

Here’s our route – 10km (6 miles) with about 800 metres ascent, in a shade over 5 hours.

All in all, an excellent day out.  I’d almost forgotten what a good choice Moel Siabod is for a less than perfect day.

There’s no slideshow for the time being as we have some ‘technical transition issues’ relating to our move from Windows XP to Windows 8, which doesn’t seem to support our Picasa software (the upgraded version of which is incompatible with our old version), Web design software (Adobe Studio 8 – Dreamweaver), Photoshop software (CS2), Anquet mapping software, and much of the other software on the old machine, though I think I will be able to find a Windows 8 version of Windows Live Writer….

Though our tribulations are self inflicted (much of the software needs updating anyway, but losing the Picasa albums and all their captions - albeit they are still on the old computer - is a bit of a pain) they could be minor in comparison with what may have happened to fellow blogger Gibson.

Hopefully this will be the final posting from this old but not quite redundant laptop.  Time will tell.  Anyway, Sue and I hope to see some of you on the Sandstone Trail on Wednesday.

Tuesday 29 January 2013 – Around Lymm

I’d arranged the first of this year’s evening walks to start from the Saracen’s Head in Warburton, knowing that it was a favoured watering hole for some of the more active members of Timperley’s community.

It didn’t work; the only person to actively join Sue and me tonight was Andrew, who had travelled from Deepest Cheshire.  Having said that, I had a déjà vu moment when I thought I spotted Dave Scruby, a former regular on the predecessor of these pages, in the bar.  It couldn’t have been?…  Not to worry, we enjoyed a very pleasant couple of hours on good paths once we’d left the pavement to join the course of the old Warrington and Altrincham Junction Railway line just beyond the Green Dragon, which on reflection would have been a better starting point.

That took us westwards to a bridleway that led into the centre of Lymm, from where the Bridgewater Canal guided us past the odd dog walker for a short stretch to the next bridge, and then a muddy(ish) field path to join a lane near the sadly demised Railway Hotel.

Sue and Andrew are pictured above on the canal towpath, in an image which demonstrates that I’ve not yet got to grips with a new ‘wet weather’ camera.  More on that later; Timperley Towers is currently suffering from severe technology overload.

The railway line now provided easy walking in the direction of Altrincham, and it didn’t seem long before we arrived at a new Bollin Valley Way information board where we joined well marked field paths that led all the way back to Warburton and our second beer of the night at the Saracen’s Head. This section of the Bollin Valley Way has recently been refurbished with new kissing gates and clear signposts, so was easy to follow – even in the dark. In fact the ambient light eliminated any need for torches at any point on this pleasant walk on a warm, if overcast, January evening.

It’s about 10km (6 miles) and took us a couple of hours. The route is shown below.

Here are examples of the shiny new Bollin Valley Way ‘furniture’.

The walk passes St Werburgh's Church, Warburton, twice.  This is the new church (below left), but slightly off-route is a second St Werburgh's Church, with a fine lych gate, (below right).

There’s more here on these interesting churches.

Testing Sue's phone

Hello

Wednesday 23 January 2013 – A Plod from Scorton, to Dolphinholme and Nicky Nook

In the temporary absence of Reg, who normally organises these ‘Plodder’ walks, I had recently plotted four ‘Here and There’ walks to take place on alternate Wednesdays.  Details are included here.  Anyone is welcome to come along, whether or not they belong to the Long Distance Walkers Association, whence the ‘Plodders’ originate.

The rest of the ‘Magnificent Seven and Maude’ who attended this first walk in the series were aware that the routes haven’t been reconnoitred, so the paths we took were as new to me as to anyone else.  Indeed, most knew the area better than me.  Anyway, subject to a few minor mistakes (my map was thirty years old), and with the assistance of Alan R and a selection of randomly appointed guest navigators, we managed to find our way round this delightful circuit.

We were expecting snow, so it was a relief to find that it hadn’t barricaded the car park at Scorton Picnic Site.  In fact there was none at all just there.  However, this meant that after a week or two of walking on firm snow-covered ground we now became engulfed in mud as we plodded towards Shireshead on a very overcast day.  At least it wasn’t raining though.  My waterproofs haven’t been used this year.  Yet!

Health and Safety madness on the approach to Dolphinholme had us worrying unnecessarily about a ‘Closed Path’ ahead.  There had been a minor landslip that was easily negotiated.  Enough said.

After passing a pretty cottage, Coreless Mill was reached – clearly a well conducted restoration project with the waterwheel standing pristine in an enclosure in the garden.  Wyreside Hall, partly remodeled in 1790 by Parliamentarian John Fenton Cawthorne (1753-1831) before he was expelled for embezzlement, stands a little way to the east of the mill.  Its latest incarnation is apparently as a country house hotel, to which it currently appears to be in the process of conversion, much to the chagrin of the owner of Coreless Mill and others.  This quiet rural enclave does appear to have some ‘issues’.

The River Wyre was crossed in the pretty, but apparently publess, village of Dolphinholme, from where we slowly rose towards the snowline as we strode on along Wagon Road.

Once that line had been reached, Maude entertained us by persistently rolling in the snow in an effort to remove her coat.

A barn wall provided a sheltered, if smelly, venue for elevenses, and the first of several issues of sustenance (brownies).

A little further on, good progress was made along Waste Lane despite some more substantial drifts of the white stuff.

Beyond here we started to notice a series of 'Waterboard Gates', markers on field boundaries that indicate the line of a pipeline through which Manchester receives water from Thirlmere.

Continuing through mud and snow we passed a derelict cottage with an outhouse that Nancy's announced would be her next restoration project.  (The outhouse or the house, Nancy?)

After Lane Head we took to the hills, lunching on tussocky islands in the snow in a spot sheltered from the bitter breeze.

With the lofty summit of Nicky Nook now in our sights, and another fresh leader, the Magnificent Seven and Maude hastened on towards Fell End, where some Guineafowl were scrabbling in the snow.

The road to Nicky Nook was now clear ahead of us.  Maude was appointed leader and she willingly hauled Hilary up to the lofty 215 metre summit, leaving the rest of us in her wake as we puffed our way to the trig point.

It’s a fine viewpoint, especially on a clear day.  Today was dull and a tad misty, so we had to rely on our imagination as Nancy attempted to point out Blackpool Tower in the distance.

We then descended steeply into the shelter of Grize Dale, a lovely valley that leads to the outskirts of Scorton.

After slipping underneath the main road, and passing the church whose distinctive spire is familiar to motorists on that road, we soon found ourselves indulging in refreshments at one of Scorton’s friendly fleshpots.  “More brownies please!”

Despite Alan’s efforts to return to his car on this Ferguson TE20, we finished up on the pleasant, if slightly muddy, path to the picnic site.

Here’s our approximate route, excluding the ‘surprise extras’ – about 20km (12.5 miles) with just 350 metres ascent.  It took us around 6 hours, but could have been walked faster than that.

Alan has written about the walk (here) in a form that may be more understandable to his grandchildren than to some of those present.  A fine and entertaining piece of writing, Alan.  Well done!

I took more photos than are in this posting.  The light wasn’t brilliant, but should you wish to view them (and the accompanying commentary) they are here.

Finally, I should mention that Nancy is leading a walk in the same area, but on a virtually completely different route apart from Nicky Nook, on 13 March.  She will be pleased to see you.  Here’s the East Lancs LDWA programme.

The next ‘Here and There’ plod is on Wednesday 6 February - 10.30am at the small car park in Simon's Lane at SJ 518 766, for Beacon Hill and Delamere Forest, featuring the first part of the Sandstone Trail.  It would be good to see you…

TGO Challenge 2013 – A Route is Born

This week I finally got round to drafting a route for the backpack that takes place between 10 and 23 May.  Whilst it’s my seventh Challenge, I’ve managed to restrict any duplication with previous routes to just 3 km along the north shore of Loch Monar, where the route intersects my 2007 route. 

Moreover, of the 360 km (225 miles) that I’ll be walking, only about 20 km will have seen the soles of my boots before, so it’s pretty much all new ground.

I could surmise… ‘if I haven’t been there before, are these places really worth visiting?’ but time will only tell.  There’s a bit too much tarmac towards the end, but at least it’s ‘fresh’ tarmac.

My route is basically …. Plockton > Struy > Inverness > Grantown-on-Spey > Huntly > Turriff > Kinnaird Head (Frazerburgh), including around 11,500 metres ascent (6 Munros, 1 Corbett, 2 Grahams, 3 Marilyns, and 11 other hills).  It should be fun, but encounters with other Challengers may be something of a rarity!

Update:  By 1 February my route had been returned, duly vetted.  I got a map reference wrong, and have apparently chosen an aircraft wreck on which to pitch my tent at one point!  I hope the cockpit is intact!  See you in Montrose…

The Joy of Hill …. Walking?

For those of you who would rather not think of snow …

[Themed from a post by Andy Howell.  Hope you don’t mind, Andy]

Wednesday 16 January 2013 – Dunham Winter Garden (1)

Despite feeling distinctly ‘under the weather’ (norovirus for the second time this winter!), it was too nice a morning for staying at home, so my camera and I visited Dunham Massey, on the first of what I hope will be regular visits over the next two to three months. 

The weak sunshine failed to melt the frost or make much impact on the icy lake.

The Winter Garden is just waking up.  The witch hazels have burst forth, brightening up bare branches – there are red ones as well as yellow.

Whilst there is so little colour, the frosted leaves stood out, forming their own sculptures:

At the far end of the garden is a patch of grass where, in a couple of weeks time, snowdrops will be flowering.  But for now, these tiny aconites are the only ones braving life above the soil.

Some of the garden’s trees and shrubs might be bare, but the red bark of the Prunus and Cornus complements the greens and browns.  Staff also keep the white bark of the silver birch grove washed – soon the white will be reflected by the snowdrops beneath the birches.

 
The Orangery wasn’t receiving  many warming rays, but it makes a lovely focal point.

Nearby, these scented blossoms had burst forth, looking particularly fragile:

The snowdrops were budding, so will imminently be in flower, along with the Christmas roses.  Then the beautiful miniature irises will carpet the beds – I hope the ones I have planted will be as successful…!