#ochils

Lockdown returned to Scotland just after Christmas.....but so did the snow! Yep, Winter 20/21 had impeccable timing, turning up when we all needed it most. I didn't need telling twice, and headed out at the earliest opportunity to make the most of it. In this instance....a snowy snowshoe from Castlehill Reservoir to Andrew Gannel Hill and back. And yep, the sunset was a bit nice!

When I was driving home after the Ochils walk two days ago, listening to the radio, it sounded very much like travel restrictions might be tightened still further soon....so I decided there and then to head out for another big day before things go (further) down the toilet  ;-)

Another good outdoorsy day on 26th July, exploring another part of the Ochils that I've not visited before. I'm familiar with most of the tops but, as with last week's walk out of Glen Anny, I deliberately spent most of my time exploring one of the glens in between, which I've never set foot in before. In this case, the Glen of Sorrow.

A worthy objective in its own right of course, but my main motivation was to spend some more time practicing my navigation. Y'know, pacing, timing, navigating from one minuscule feature on the map to another, that kind of thing. And while I can do that to some extent in my back yard, I prefer to try it somewhere completely new.

Suffice to say Castle Campbell's car park was heaving but once up the Glen of Sorrow I didn't see a soul. Not until I got to the top of King's Seat. All in all, it was very quiet in the Ochils yesterday. And of course, nowhere else gives you that 'this is where the high ground ends' feeling quite like the Ochils. It never gets tired, seeing the bulk of Scotland stretched out below you :)