Definitely not a day for picnics....

In nearly two weeks off work I had done very little walking, so it had to be today. We left my car at Flotterstone on the A702 and my wife dropped me at Eastside Farm road end, near Silverburn. The plan was to do the five tops mentioned on December 17th: West Kip, East Kip, Scald Law, Carnethy and finally Turnhouse Hill. The sensible part of the plan was walking west to east, so at least the wind was on my back, but in the first half hour's driving rain and wind too strong to keep my hat on, I wondered if that was the only sensible part. As the car was five miles away, fleeting thoughts of abandoning had to be dismissed.

The farm track and the path up the slope of West Kip were slippery with ice so progress was slow. On the top, the rain stopped and a hazy sun appeared, but the wind was wild and I was glad of my walking pole for stability.

This view is from the East Kip, looking east towards the shoulder of Scald Law with Carnethy beyond. The two pleasures of this walk are the up and down nature of the ridge, and the views south over Midlothian and north over Edinburgh and the Forth to Fife. Nearer at hand on the left is that wonderful valley in the middle of the range that houses Loganlea Reservoir (just visible on the left) and its partner Glencorse, out of sight here. I have walked and cycled up that valley many times, occasionally right over to Threipmuir Reservoir. The waterfall where the Logan Burn crashes down by the path is a favourite picnic spot.

Today was definitely not a day for picnics. On the top of Scald Law the wind was gusting so hard that staying upright required concentration and the third leg of the walking pole was very welcome. The ice underfoot did not help. There is no shelter on the top; even crouched behind the trig point I was still buffeted by the wind.

In the bealach between Scald Law and Carnethy, where the most popular path over the Pentlands crosses the ridge, I grabbed coffee and a sandwich but it was too exposed even there to hang about. On the summit of Carnethy the wind was at its strongest of the day. I met another walker, but all we could manage by way of greeting was a raised hand and a shared "we must be mad" look. Talking was impossible. The roaring in my ears was painful (I had long abandoned my hat) and it was difficult to see with the tears streaming from my eyes if I looked anywhere other than away from the wind. Just as well that was the way I was heading.

Behind me to the west was some ominous black cloud moving faster than I was, so I pressed on, over the final Turnhouse Hill. The last stretch down the long slope to Flotterstone was relaxed by comparison and the black cloud veered north, avoiding me, though why it would do that escapes me.

It wasn't the most relaxing walk I had ever had, and my Nikon stayed safely in the drybag in the rucksack; the monopod was equally redundant - far too windy for any kind of support. I also learned today that down-filled jackets are not at their best in driving rain. But it was satisfying and exhilerating to feel the power of the wind on the tops. And equally satisfying to know there was a hot bath awaiting at home.