Hill: Blaeloch Hill
Date: Wednesday 12th October 2011
Company: Just myself
Time: 1Hr 45Mins
I undertook a late afternoon / early evening walk up Blaeloch hill today.
I was really looking forward to ascending this hill to get nice views across to Arran.
Unfortunately the clag was right down, so views were almost non-existent
.
I parked in a small lay-by next to the track running between Camphill reservoir and Muirhead reservoir.
Looking towards Camphill reservoir and Catburn from start of walk:
I followed the track as far as Catburn, where I climbed over a gate to access the hillside.
Muirhead reservoir dam from bridge:
Camphill reservoir from bridge:
The ascent of Blaeloch hill turned out to be quite unpleasant; really wet underfoot with loads of long grass. I think this would be a good hill to do in Winter.
Lower slopes of Blaeloch hill:
A short distance beyond Catburn, I had to climb over a barbed-wire fence.
Lichen on fencepost:
I made my way up the hill alongside a burn.
Ascent alongside burn:
Small waterfalls:
Looking back to Muirhead reservoir:
Looking back to Muirhead reservoir, Catburn and Camphill reservoir:
I'm sure the views would be pretty-good on a nice day, but not today.
Pea-soup:
As I made my way towards the summit of Blaeloch hill, after climbing over another fence I reached a tarmac track that was not marked on the map. I guessed that this was the track being used for the constuction of the new wind-farm on Blaeloch hill.
Tarmac track (not on map):
Next to the tarmac track was a transmitter, also not marked on the map.
Transmitter next to tarmac track:
Thanks to my GPS, I found the featureless summit of Blaeloch hill.
Featureless summit of Blaeloch hill:
Small lochan near summit:
During the final ascent to the summit, I could hear the sound of heavy machinery nearby. On the way back, I decided to follow the noise to have a look at goings-on.
I passed a nice tripod that had been left on the hill and then came to an under-construction wind turbine.
Nice tripod to leave on the hill:
I decided not to get too close as no doubt I would get moaned at about Health & Safety
.
Building a wind turbine:
Blades:
I then walked along the tarmac track for a couple of hundred metres before climbing back over the fence and returning roughly via my inbound route.
Generator a short distance from the transmitter:
By the time I got back to the car, despite wearing gaiters, I had literally one-inch of water in my boots.