Blowing Out the Cobwebs

Finally got to bed at 2AM and drank a bit more than I planned, but managed to set off before 10am up the hill and so nearly made it to the top of Ben Cleuch first. I did get a 500m stretch of path with virgin snow which was nice .. not as much snow as I hoped, but wintry all the same. That's the benefit of living at the foot of these hills - no drive involved to get here, I'm 5 minutes from the hillwalking... Resolution No.2 - take advantage of these wonderful hills more often!

This was taken on the path up Ben Ever. I met this trio from East Kilbride again on the summit of Ben Cleuch where we discussed the proliferation of windfarms. A new one's appeared on the backslopes of this hill since I last ventured up here.

Also met the hill runner with the collie thatI always see up here - she pointed out a brocken spectre but it was too elusive to catch with the camera. I tell you what, she's a formidable athlete. After meeting her on the summit of Ben Cleuch, I bumped into her again in Tillicoultry Glen heading up the hill again for the trip over the tops to Alva. I took the low path to Alva and saw her coming down to the Glen as I got into the village.

Made me feel a bit lazy as I had planned to walk over to Dollar, but the feeling went away when I got home and brewed up!