Hill Walk

I love the way rowans grow on top of rocks, with their roots spreading through cracks. I guess it's the only way they can avoid being munched by sheep...

 

Indeed @Liriodendron . I took a pic of one of the large boulders which has moss/heather etc on it, but there's also a little rowan growing there. The amount of rain there means they often survive for quite a long time in very inhospitable circumstances. There was certainly a really good amount of saplings

I'm not sure I'd have the ability to do that @Punkdoc ! Perhaps @David K could help you though? He's been posting again on this forum which is good. He was missed on G'sW when that Nora woman took agin him and he left. I'm getting the hang of the way to do a bigger post with all the photos now, as it wasn't as easy as I thought.
I missed your earlier post about chatting on a hill. I know exactly what you meant about that. I've no interest in talking to anyone I meet on my daily walks round here, but a hill is totally different. That chap last week was great.

 

Love to be able to help, fairygirl....but other than compiling them as thumbnails, can't think how it could be done.
It soooo good to see your gorgeous shots.

Do you still have your Fuji camera?

 

Hi @David K - sorry, didn't see your reply. No, the Fuji has kicked the bucket more or less. The zoom was really struggling, which was very frustrating, especially if there was a bird in the garden, and it's worse on a hill, and by the time it had decided to work, it was too late!
I got a similar camera - a Kodak Pixpro, and it has an even greater zoom on it, and much the same in terms of features. The main disadvantage is that it has an internal rechargeable battery, which isn't quite so handy, but that's how it is. It's a bit heavier too. I'm still getting used to it, and the panoramic feature isn't so clear, but I'll get there.
When you consider how far away some of those distant hills are in the most recent pix, it's great. Nevis is around 45 miles away.
The views down the lochs [L. Long and L. Goil] are always lovely on a fine day





This was a first for me - trying to take a photo of my own top when I had a wee hitchhiker! Only about half an inch long. Could have done with his/her wings though...

I should have stayed on the hill for another hour or so, as it would have saved the hour sitting in the traffic jam on the way back instead, due to an accident near the Cameron House Hotel/Duck Bay. The joys of the A82

 

Thank you, still very reassuring to see you producing such exceptional work.
DK x

 

That's very very kind of you @David K .
I wonder if the sweet peas will be worthy this year!

 

Sps looking good as of now.

Just hoping that my legacy will be that I helped some people to grow nice sweet peas, and enjoy their cameras.

 

Lovely weather in the Lake District today, Helvellyn showing both ridge routes and Castye Cam on the right.

 

Lovely pic @Scroggin. A walk you've done several times if I remember rightly?
Have you got any trips planned up here this year?
My knees are gradually getting hopeless, even walking around locally each day. It's a pity we can't stay 27 for ever....

 

Thanks @fairygirl , you're right, it's one of our favourite areas of the Lake District.
We'd love to come back to Scotland, hopefully one day. Like you my knees aren't great, uphill is ok but downhills are murder

 

Downhill is what did for mine @Scroggin . Not something that can be rectified as such, as it's Patella femoral pain I have, from the thigh bones scraping the back of the kneecaps. The big braces help, but even with them I can get pain.

Uphill it's the thighs that get the grief when it's steep, and downhill it's the knees. We're just wrecked really!

 

A few more from last week in the Lake District, Eastern Fells

 

I managed to miss seeing those recent pix of yours @Scroggin - not sure why. Need to look at my settings. It's great when the weather plays ball, and even when it's cloud/mist coming in now and again [as in one of your pix] as long as you get enough clear spells in between, it's grand

Was out on Friday, to give me a break from all my construction work on the shed!

An Caisteal, in Crianlarich, a favourite of mine.
About 45 mins in, and you get views across to the hills at Tyndrum/Bridge of Orchy etc.

90 mins in , and the hard work's done, as you get over the hill at the other end [Sron Garbh] and on to the ridge- known as Twistin Hill, and you get views of the 'turret' which is just before the summit, and gives the hill it's name, translating as The Castle.

I love this rocky outcrop. It reminds me of someone lying down, and it's a bit like the machine in Big, that opens it's mouth...


Couple of hours in, and you're approaching the turret, negotiating the cleft just before it

which always has some lovely little alpines tucked in, although a bit of awkward posturing to get a pic!


A squeeze around the sides of the turret, and ten mins later, you reach the summit, for plenty of views
Ben Lomond - Glasgow's Beacon Hill


Across to the pair of Munros at Lochearnhead - Ben Vorlich and Stuc a Chroin


Loch Lomond, with the Arrochar Alps to the right, mainly Beinn Narnain with it's flat summit



Ben More and Stob Binnein- the 2 best known Munros at Crianlarich. The other 2, Cruach Ardrain and Beinn Tulaichean in the foreground

 

The little meadow pipit stopped just long enough for me to get a pic

Always some sheep


...and I'm sure that one on the left had been watching Sunset Boulevard.
'I'm ready for my close up....'


Always a good walk, even without doing the adjoining hill -Beinn a Chroin. The rough access track, on weary feet, back along the lovely River Falloch can't detract from it.
Should have had a paddle though....

 

What a lovely day out @fairygirl . My better half is in the Lakes at the moment, she did a Lakeland ultra on Saturday and is spending this week showing her daughter the Lakes. I don't know how she does it, I can barely run a bath let alone an ultra .