General January 2025 Activity: All Types Of Hills...And Weather!

Over January the much desired winter conditions arrived then disappeared then arrived again with frustrating speed…reflected all too well in the following Meets Reports.

First up, as per tradition, the FVMC members have a very sociable, low level walk to start the New Year by tramping a nearby circuit, see; https://consumerplatform.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/route/20475297/240102--fvmc-new-years-walk?lat=56.1854&lon=-3.653995&zoom=13.5576&style=Leisure&type=2d&params=20475297&params=240102--fvmc-new-years-walk Pic shows the FVMC Team taken by JW just after the start of the walk.

They march on, clearly encouraged by the prospect of a good lunch at The Inn at Muckhart, https://www.theinnatmuckhart.com/ .

The route ahead to Seamab Hill, NN 99346 01688, showing in the pic at top right, with a forest on it’s left shoulder.

Heading down to Pool of Muckhart.

After a walk back along the icy’ road they return to the short half km section of road leading south to the carpark and a fine view of Castle Campbell to the west from the road. A very sociable day out.

On 07/01/25, AS, PF & BR set their sights on a couple of hills, Meall Tarsuin, NN 87730 29785 and The Scurran. NN 88518 30511. Having parked their car just east of the golf club at NN 90363 26996, they set off on a generally NW route along the track to first ascend The Scurran. Pic shows the eastern flank of Meall Tarsuin taken from The Scurran’s southern flank.

PF & BR on The Scurran’s SE top with the large cairn just visible the distance…it was about -15degC in the wind.

At the cairn…they should have checked the map more carefully as this was not the top – it lay another half km to the NW!

Poor visibility arose and they trudged about a km WNW over boggy ground, missing out the actual high point, then down to the track between Meall Tarsuin and The Scurran.

The deep snow higher up made the going difficult and the decision was made to head SE down along the track to the car. Arriving home AS checked his map and informed his vastly experienced fellow mountaineers that had they not only failed to complete the circuit by including Meall Tarsuin but that they had mistaken the large cairn as the high point of The Scurran…unfinished business indeed!

On 11/01/25 BR & IH had a fabulous walk from Balquihidder, NNW up Kirkton Glen to Lochan Eireannaich then back along the ridge to climb the Corbett Meall an t-Seallaidh, NN 54208 23402; see; https://consumerplatform.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/route/25019610/250111--meall-an-tseallaidh-via-lochan-an-eireannaich--balquihidder?lat=56.376726&lon=-4.399854&zoom=13.0107&style=Leisure&type=2d&params=25019610&params=250111--meall-an-tseallaidh-via-lochan-an-eireannaich--balquihidder Pic shows IH at the south side of Rob Roy’s Putting Stane, NN 51670 24342.

Pic taken from the north side of Lochan an Eireannaich looking south, before heading further uphill to the furthermost point ‘789’.

IH’s gloves are not speaking to each other!

Taken from ‘789’, NN 52066 24916, looking SE to the walk ahead...Meall an Fhiodhain and Meall an t-Seallaidh, appearing as the two main bumps centre of pic.

Another taken from ‘789’ this time to the NE showing The Tarmachan Ridge and Ben Lawers.

Further along the ridge looking WSW to Stob Binnein and Ben More. Note Rob Roy’s Putting Stane is almost dead centre.

Descending Meall an Fhiodhain, the view SE towards Ben Vorlich and Stuc a Chroin in the far distance, centre pic, both lying between Cam Chreag on the left and Meall an t-Seallaidh on the right.

As time was getting short they left out Cam Chreag, skirting it on it’s western flank, and headed straight for Meall an t-Seallaidh.

...it was FREEZING - looking NNE with IH at the trig point and Ben Lawers in the distance centre left.

Pic taken looking to the SE on the descent back to the forest, featuring Ben Vorlich and Stuc a Chroin. A really excellent day out covering 12.3km and 890m of ascent in 6:55hrs.

What a difference 5 x days make to the snow coverage! On 14/01/25 AS, PF& BR, joined by ARob & IH, return to properly complete the circuit of Meall Tarsuinn and The Scurran, this time by taking the clockwise approach compared to the anti-clockwise trek on 07/01/25, see https://consumerplatform.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/route/25051508/250114--meall-tarsuinn-and-the-scurran?lat=56.435955&lon=-3.82235&zoom=12.9599&style=Leisure&type=2d&params=25051508&params=250114--meall-tarsuinn-and-the-scurran. The day was much warmer around 10degC compared to -5degC on the previous outing, evidenced by the lack of snow. Pic shows the team ascending northwards along the track on the western side of Meall Tarsuinn.

Along this route to the west of the path is a dilapidated railway carriage featuring a bird box.

Looking east from the top of Meall Tarsuinn, NN 87725 29780.

Viewed from Meall Tarsuinn we see the boggy top of The Scurran.

It did not take long for the group to descend to the track between the two, then ascend the steep slope to the top of The Scurran, NN 88520 30516.

The going is easy when there is no snow. They descended The Scurran and headed back to the cars. A good day out covering 11.3km and 568m of ascent in 4:15hr.

After the snow destroying warm spell there was another cold snap and the return of the white stuff. So back it was to The Borders for some more Donald Bashing on 30/01/25, for BR, AS, PF & IH. Their targets were Donalds Garelet Dodd, NT 12616 17292 and Erie Hill, NT 12413 18783 connected by various tops, see; https://consumerplatform.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/route/25055512/250130--gareet-dod-and-erie-hill--from-fruid-farm?lat=55.452687&lon=-3.404442&zoom=13.8558&style=Leisure&type=2d&params=25055512&params=250130--gareet-dod-and-erie-hill--from-fruid-farm. Pic shows AS topping out on Strawberry Hill, NT 11470 17853, with Fruid Reservoir and farm in the background.

At the top of the first and highest of the two Donalds, Garelet Dod.

Looking down to lonely Gameshope Loch, centre pic, from Garelet Dod.

Their original visit to Gameshope Loch was on 07/11/24, when they had visited Gameshope Bothy. This pic had been taken back then from it’s eastern side. They all had thought at the time that it would be highly unlikely to see it again, given it’s remoteness.

First lunch break on Common Law with Erie Hill and their furthest targets top right.

The team, plus Trig Point, at the top of Garelet Hill, NT 12398 20158.

A well weathered Trig Point at the top of Garelet Hill.

Taken from the second Donald Erie Hill, NT 12413 18783, looking north to Garelet Hill, dead centre with Lairds Cleuch Rig slightly to the right.

Taken from Erie Hill looking south to Garelet Dod, dead centre. A cool windy day covering 8km and 531m of ascent over 4:40hr.

On the same day as Donalds were being bashed down in The Borders (30/01/25), PB was tearing down the ski slopes on Meall a Bhuiridh, NN 25050 50344. Pic shows the view from the slopes looking east over Rannoch Moor.

Looking up to summit of Meall a’ Bhuirdh.

The plateau Poma.

Panorama to the north, featuring Stob Dearg, NN 22264 54227, centre left, on Buchaille Etive Mor and Ben Nevis, NN 16658 71285, in distance, centre pic, with the Mamore and Grey Corries also in view, centre right. Although the top runs weren’t open, due to the blast of the winds stripping them of snow, it still was a very good day of skiing…which was just as well as it mostly disappeared in the ensuing days!

Finally on Thursday 30/01/25, DY headed to Stuc a' Chroin, NN 61738 17464, from Edinample, located at the northern end of Glem Ample, on the southern shore of Loch Earn. A beautiful winter's day but not as cold as forecast. The snow was crusty so going was hard. Pic shows Ben Ledi to the SSW having gained some height.