I introduced the Crow Craigies Climbing Party last year, when I described our trip to Bonar Bridge. This year took us to a cottage at Corrour, at the east end of Loch Ossian—a ten-mile drive down a rough track from the bridge over the Spean at Luiblea, through Strath Ossian. (There’s a locked gate halfway … Continue reading CCCP 2017: Corrour →

Laidloon Hill (NO 393420, 312m) Broom Hill (NO 383421, c290m) Gallow Hill (NO 391413, 378m) Tealing Hill (NO 407402, c260m) Ironside Hill (NO 399411, 354m) Finlarg Hill (NO 406419, 336m) Kincaldrum Hill (NO 414436, 309m) Hayston Hill (NO 408449, c235m) 17.7 kilometres 580m of ascent It’s distinctly possible that no-one in the entire history of … Continue reading Sidlaws: Tealing Hill to Hayston Hill →

Unnamed Point 273 (NO 276349, 273m) Blacklaw Hill (NO 288344, 284m) White Hill (NO 274338, 233m) 10.5 kilometres 240 metres of ascent You’ll perhaps recall my previous expedition to Blacklaw Hill—I went in from the north, which turned out to be a minor assault course, and went out to the east, which took me into … Continue reading Sidlaws: Blacklaw Hill & White Hill from Little Ballo →

I’ve been intrigued by the lost community of Smithton since I climbed Smithton Hill this time last year, and then read David Dorward’s description of its namesake—“Former farm-toun W of Lundie village, deserted, abandoned and demolished within the past half-century.” This was living memory for Dorward, writing in 2004, because he used to visit Smithton … Continue reading Sidlaws: More About Smithton →

Balshando Hill (NO 278355, 266m) 6.7 kilometres 140 metres of ascent So, Balshando Hill was a bit of a puzzle to me. It’s a bald-topped mound surrounded by a ring of forestry with the charming name of Naiad Wood—a Greek mythological reference that’s unusual hereabouts. And around Naiad Wood there’s a ring of farmland. But … Continue reading Sidlaws: The Balshando Hill Expedition →

Another two-parter. These two outliers sit either side of the A923 just east of the point where it passes through the main ridge of the Sidlaws at Tullybaccart. Blacklaw Hill (NO 288344, 284m) 7.4 kilometres 200 metres of ascent Well, this first one is a fine example of what happens if you just look at … Continue reading Sidlaws: Blacklaw Hill & West Mains Hill →

Round Law (NO 232337, 257m) King’s Seat (NO 230330, 377m) Buttergask Hill (NO 230340, 307m) 9 kilometres 330 metres ascent This was a couple of hours of exploration, looking for a route to King’s Seat and Buttergask Hill that doesn’t involve traversing this section of ridge from either the Dunsinane end or the Gask end … Continue reading Sidlaws: King’s Seat and Buttergask via Round Law →

Creach Bheinn (NN 023422, 810m) 13 kilometres 980 metres of ascent The last time I climbed Creach Bheinn, it was in a sleet-storm that I imagined was going to pass over to reveal the fabled westward view from the summit. Instead, it clamped down and increased in intensity. When I finally dropped below the clouds … Continue reading Lorn: Creach Bheinn →