Wednesday 21 March 2012

Saturday 24th March a Very Misty Strone Hill Kilmun


Acsent: 395m
Distance approx 5 Miles
Time 2.5hrs

This weekend “The Follower”  was entertaining Domestic Control, leaving the walking to BLT and 90Rocks.

 John as we all know is an excellent example of modern day husbandry, none the less he returns to the shenanigans  for the Killcatten Bay via Glencallum Bay loop on the Isle of Bute on Saturday 31st March .(ooja)
John we hope you and Pamela had a great weekend in Aberdeen! (we need the official photgrapher back)

 It is often said if you dont like the weather in Scotland , hang around 5 minutes and it will change ,it took a bit longer than that today but it did brighten up

The Saturday forecast was to make 60f but a heavy mist on Saturday am. Meant we didn’t achieve this but it was still a perfect day for walking dry and was probably around 50f.

                                      Misty view of Strone Hill from Inverkip Saturday 9a.m
                              

                                   

A 10 a.m start and all on time (Follower take note:)allowed us to catch the ferry to Dunoon for a very misty river crossing…




We met Gordon and Wayne (Bikers) on the Ferry, Gordon has the most amazing Honda Goldwing (only 2 of its type in Scotland).. Wayne had travelled from Carlisle for a day trip to Tyndrum back to Carlisle sat pm round trip of 400 odd miles..(brave man)


Honda Goldwing (Gordons Bike).

Although not quite classed as a Munro Strone Hill still has the reputation for being a “tuff mutha”,  as its practically straight up 1300ft and no Elevators (The Empire State building New York is 1250ft, and has 64 Elevators   so kinda gives you an idea….

                                                   Good  forest track on Way up

We had Some beautiful forest paths leading  to the top of Strone  Hill however it was really disappointing that a mist was rising from the water and knowing the beauty that lay beneath and that we could not see or photograph it really pissed us off. Undetered we cracked on.

Near the top the path becomes a real bog and made for difficult walking (only in Scotland can you get a bog at the top off the hill and walking poles would be recommended .



Once on the summit we sat down to have our lunch only to discover Charlie had (guess what? ) forgot his Sandwiches, second week in a row my travelling companion has forgotten their lunch but not to worry BLT once gain provided the emergency bar of Galaxy and packet of crisps.

Views from the summit were non existent, even though we hung around for 30mins waiting on the mist to lift far enough to get a good view (never happened), so we used the time to enjoy the sun.

                                                      90Rocks enjoys the summit


Charlie "one for the ladies" ??

We descended the Hill via the same path and the weather was an improving picture all the time

BLT Downhill

By the time we had reached the main road again it was really warm, so a pint of Guinness at the Strone Inn was a good end to a short but tough walk.


                                          After a pint it was back to Dunoon Pier for the Ferry