Ben Tirran

A good forecast in the Angus Glens saw me creep out the house and horse up the M90 in the morning darkness. The drive along the Carse of Gower before Dundee was lit by the backdrop of a large sliver of moon rising above the Tay in a deep orange sky. I was tempted to stop and try to photograph it but I would've done it no justice.

I marched past the Clova Hotel onto the hillside and followed the much improved track towards Loch Brandy [my last outing up here had been in under a foggy hangover last decade.] The wind strengthened as the sun peeked over the horizon to the east and I was buffeted onto the plateau in a 40mph gale.

It soon eased off and I strode purposefully across the frozen peat hags towards the summit of Ben Tirran (896m). Although a little cloudy to the north, I could make out the Glenshee hills, Lochnagar, Mount Keen to the east and the Lomond hills in Fife to the south.

My descent off the summit took me past Loch Wharral and I disturbed a white mountain hare crouching in the lee of some rocks. Back on the road I passed the fishing pond named Loch Heath from where I reflected upon my route.