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Posts Tagged ‘Air na Creagan’

Landscape mimics painting?!

Posted by admin on May 2nd, 2014
My two hill guides, Nita and Guy ....wouldn't be on the hills without them!

My two hill guides, Nita and Guy ….wouldn’t be on the hills without them!

As you know, for many years my interest in painting and hill-walking were kept well apart.  My work was based around man-made environments, building sites; townscapes etc and the days spent in the hills were just for fun.   When I moved to Scotland in 1998 however, things started to change.  After attending a very successful mountain skills course for visually impaired people at Glenmore Lodge in 2001, I met up with Guy Hansford (one of the fully sighted volunteer guides on the course) and with his help and that of the folk in our local mountaineering club Air na Creagan, we started tackling more serious hills and getting out into the wilds on a very regular basis.  In February 2002, Guy and I joined 11 members of Air na Creagan on a weekend trip to Corrour and on the Saturday we headed into the hills on a day that was to change my work as an artist.  We experienced a ‘proper’ Scottish hill day …..one that included all four seasons in just a few hours, from patchy sunshine and heavy clouds, to driving snow and back to almost cloudless skies and bright sunshine.  At the end of the day I realised that I just had to start using all these amazing views and scenes as the basis for my paintings …..the rest, as they say….. .   Now, when I’m out walking I’m constantly looking for things that I might be able to use in my paintings.  Hill-walking is not just for fun now …it’s work too!  It’s a tough job but somebody has to do it!

Anyway, you’ve heard all that before, but on Tuesday, we once again joined forces with our friend Guy and headed up to Ben Lomond for a leisurely wander together.  We had picked another perfect day and the misty atmospheric conditions as we started, quickly cleared and by lunchtime we had bright sunshine .  Our walk took us up the normal ‘tourist’ route until we reached  the long almost flat section at around 600m.  It had been a great ascent and we heard lots of different birds as we passed through the lower now partially wooded sections …including a very active woodpecker somewhere close by… ..it was really wonderful.

Landscape mimics painting?!

Landscape mimics painting?!

From the 600m mark though, we left the main path with its walkers making their way to the summit, and instead, cut off down the side of the hill to reach a perfectly quiet and secluded spot by the stream that flows from between the main bulk of Ben Lomond and the Ptarmigan ridge.  This was the perfect lunch spot and being out of the breeze, it was really quite hot too.  A short way further on and we picked up the Ptarmigan path which we followed back to our starting point.  The views out over Loch Lomond from this path are wonderful and on Tuesday the loch was almost completely calm, reflecting the big clouds and skies.  As we looked down I suddenly noticed that  I was looking at something that quite closely resembled the new large 120 x 120 cm canvas I’m working on…….it was quite strange to see!

Posted in Inspiring Mountain Walks, Mountain Photos, Painting Themes, Personal, Scottish Mountains, Visual Disability Tags: , , , , , , , , , No Comments »

It’s amazing what you can do if you get up at 03.45!

Posted by admin on March 22nd, 2014
Corrour Station, 09.15 Friday

Corrour Station, 09.15 Friday

Yesterday evening at 18.20 we were stood in a very cold shelter on Corrour Station watching the snow fall heavily and peering north through the whiteness hoping to see the lights of the Glasgow train.   It had been a day of very heavy snow showers but just when we thought they had finally fizzled out for the day, it started snowing again and this time just continued.  It was wonderful standing there watching the snow fall in almost complete silence …..with just a little concern that the train might be cancelled.  Those of you who don’t know Corrour, well, it’s the highest station stop on the West Highland Railway line and sits on the edge of Rannoch Moor at a little over 400 m above sea level.  The nearest main roads are the A82 …. a long way to the west and the A9 an even longer way to the east.  There is a small public  road that goes to Rannoch Station, (the next stop to the south) but even this is quite a few miles away across wild and unforgiving country ….especially so when it’s snowing hard!  The only vehicular access is by way of the estate road / track from I think near Dalwhinnie.   Suffice to say that if the train hadn’t arrived, there would be no way of walking out at that time of the evening and it would have been a very cold night huddled together in the open fronted platform shelter.  But I needn’t have worried of course ….at a couple of minutes to 18.25, we heard  the sound of an approaching train and soon Nita could make out its lights through the falling snow.   I guess when you live in the Highlands you get used to this type of weather and just get on with it, but as someone who lives by the coast and sees very little actual falling snow ….well, it was all kind of exciting.

Corrour Station, a wild location

Corrour Station, a wild location

Anyway, the reason we were stood on Corrour platform at 18.25 yesterday was of course because we’d gone walking again.  We’d originally planned to head for a hill somewhere but the winds were still very high and they were forecasting these very heavy snow showers …..sounded a bit out of our league.  So then, we needed to decide on a low level route, somewhere that the predicted high winds and heavy showers wouldn’t matter.

Ten or so years ago I went to Corrour with a group from Air na Creagan, our local mountaineering club.  At the time, the old signal box had been converted into a wee bunk house containing six bunk beds, a small kitchen and loo and a fantastic wee sitting room upstairs in the top of the signal box.  It was great and over the two weekend visits we made there, we walked several of the hills  and on one occasion when the weather was really vile, three of us did the walk around Loch Ossian.  Nita had been working on both occasions and so had never been to Corrour before…..  it seemed like a good option for our low level walk yesterday.

Heavy snow shower, Loch Ossian

Heavy snow shower, Loch Ossian

Of course with any day walk at Corrour, you need to fit it into the train times.  The first train north arrives at 09.00 and the next south bound trains are either around 12.30, 18.25 or 20.30 ish I think.  The actual walk around Loch Ossian isn’t too far …probably about 12 kilometres I guess and so with nine hours or so between arriving and catching the 18.25 back, we’d need to do a bit of exploring to use up the time.

Of course, the other decision to be made was whether to catch the train all the way, or to drive part way and pick it up at one of the stations adjacent to the A82.  Which ever we chose, it meant an early start and when the alarm went off at 03.45 neither of us was too convinced that our plans were particularly sensible, ‘whose  stupid idea was this’ sprang to mind as I dragged myself out of bed!  We decided to go for the drive / train option  and headed up to Crianlarich to meet the train north at 07.45.  Have to admit that we rather over did the ‘giving ourselves plenty of time’ bit  and arrived there almost an hour early ….but heck, we didn’t miss the damn train!

Corrour on our return at 17.30

Corrour on our return at 17.30

The West Highland Line really is a spectacular  railway and the section we were doing from Crianlarich past Tyndrum, Bridge of Orchy and up over Rannoch Moor to the lonely platform that is Corrour ….well, it’s just spectacular, especially so yesterday morning with the snow low on the mountains.  If you ever get the chance to ride this train ….go for it, it’s a visual feast.

We'd hoped to get back to Corrour dry!

We’d hoped to get back to Corrour dry!

The day was everything we’d hoped for …and a bit more ….snow too.  The conditions really were quite unpleasant at times but it was a wonderful way to see this remote and beautiful place.  The surprise though was at the end.  After a series of heavy snow showers interspersed with just brief brighter spots, the weather did start to improve by mid afternoon.  We’d started making our way back towards Corrour and were both thinking that we might make it back to the station in a reasonably dry state.  Big mistake!  At about 16.30 it suddenly started to rain and this quickly turned to snow again.  We thought it was just another shower but by the time we reached the station an hour later it was still falling hard  and well, it just kept on falling.  It didn’t look like it was going to be a pleasant drive back to Irvine from Crianlarich but as luck would have it as quick as it started, it stopped… shortly after setting off south on the A82.  We were back home by 21.30 after an amazing little adventure.  It’s amazing what you can do if you get up at 03.45!

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Blog 200 ….In the cloud

Posted by admin on November 2nd, 2013

According to my records, this is Blog number 200 ….and of course, I’m late with it!  No change there, I hear you cry!  Anyway …here we go.

'On Mam na Gualainn, August'

‘On Mam na Gualainn, August’

As some of you will have seen if you’ve been to my Face Book page recently: Keith Salmon – Scottish Landscape Artist; I’ve finished the 80 x 80 cm painting based on our walk on Mam na Gualainn back in the summer.  As I’ve said before, it was a strange day with low banks of clouds drifting in from the west and breaking as they ran into the high hills of Glencoe and the Mamores.  Most of the time the cloud appeared at the side of the hill we were on and then either drifted on by or rose up.  As we sat near the summit however, not only did the glen below us gradually fill up with a great bank of cloud, but the general layer of cloud above us became very thick and dark and started to descend.  As we walked east along the broad ridge, the two almost met and it became very gloomy and dramatic.

This is a scene that I’ve witnessed a good few times over  the many years I’ve been walking in the hills and it never ceases to impress me and I often forget that for people who don’t walk in the hills, this is something they miss.  Indeed, six or seven years ago when I was walking over Shalloch on Minnoch with a group from our local club Air na Creagan, a couple of ladies who had joined us for what was their first ever hill walk ….asked what it was, as the cloud drifted briefly across the hill side ….they were quite taken aback when we said they were walking in the cloud!

But I digress somewhat.  As I was painting the Mam na Gualainn piece, I found it very difficult to capture that strange patchy view that you get when the cloud is just catching the top of the hill but isn’t completely filling in.  Thankfully last Saturday, Nita and I went up to Luss for a relatively short walk up Beinn Dubh and with the weather deteriorating as a weather front moved in from the Atlantic, we had similar conditions to that on Mam na Gualainn.  Once again, banks of cloud seemed to just appear at the side of the hill, at times forming a band around it ….the middle in cloud and the upper and lower slopes cloud free.  It was wonderful to watch this constantly changing scene especially when, as we got higher, the dark overhead layer started to descend and trails of cloud dripped down towards us.  We spent quite a time just standing in the cold wind watching this and it was time well spent.  When I went back to the studio the next day, I knew what I had to do to finish the Mam na Gualainn painting.  It’s all very well taking photos when you’re out ….but they really only act as memory joggers and sometimes not very good ones at that.  What I think you need, to create any painting, is actual experience of the subject……the few hours on Beinn Dubh made all the difference.

As a follow up to this, I’ve decided to try and create some new paintings which are specifically about being in the mist as it breaks around you on the hill.  I’m not sure quite how they’ll go ….I have a feeling that this might be an opportunity to work on a large scale ….but I’ve started quite small …this is a new 30 x 30 cm piece that is on the go.

Work in progress, 'Approaching Am Bodach, the Mamores

Work in progress, ‘Approaching Am Bodach, the Mamores

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Getting high, (on a hill)….. the easy way!

Posted by admin on May 24th, 2013
On Meall Corranaich ...the first signs of brightness in the sky

On Meall Corranaich …the first signs of brightness in the sky

When we were on Harris earlier this month, the combination of wild weather, very rough terrain and my very poor sight, meant that I found the walking there very difficult.  As I’ve said before, when you walk in the hills with a visual impairment, the mental effort is almost as tiring as the physical exertion and so for our first walk since returning from the holiday, I was looking for something during which I could to some extent, relax a little.  The obvious choice would have been to head back to the Luss Hills, but I had a fancy to get up high and with a bit of luck, get some big extensive views.

The perfect lunch spot near the summit of Meaall Corranaich

The perfect lunch spot near the summit of Meaall Corranaich

After trawling through my memories of walks in the Southern Highlands, I remembered a walk I had done probably 8 or 9 years ago with a group from our local club Air na Creagan.  On a fine summer day we’d done a relatively easy circuit over two Munros that lie close to Ben Lawers, Meall Corranaich and Meall a’ Choire Leith.   The first of these, Meall Corranaich, is quite high, its summit cairn perched on a flat grassy top at 1069 m ….it would offer the big views I was looking for and both are almost completely grass covered …giving easy and therefore for me, fairly stress free walking.  The final thing going for these two hills was their location.  They can easily be reached from the high point on the single track road that leads past the site of the old Ben Lawers visitor centre and on over into Glen Lyon.  As the high point is around 500 m, even the walk to the top of Meall Corranaich doesn’t involve vast amounts of ascent …..as I say, getting high without all the effort!

Guy at the summit of Meall Corranaich

Guy at the summit of Meall Corranaich

So then, that was our plan for Tuesday and all we needed was for the better of the two weather forecasts we seen, to be right.  One of them had predicted cloud on the tops much of the day, the other …from the MWIS, had predicted that any low cloud would lift and break with an eighty per cent chance of a cloud free top…..we went with this one!!

We asked our friend Guy if he’d like to join us and as he’d been doing quite a lot of low level walks recently, (checking out a route for some cadets he works with) he jumped at a chance to get up on the tops again and was waiting to be picked up at Kilwinning station almost as soon as we’d asked him!

On top of the world... ..well, almost!

On top of the world… ..well, almost!

It was, quite simply, a perfect little day.  The MWIS forecast proved correct and although when we’d started walking there were dark clouds covering all the main summits in the area, within an hour this had lifted and we could see our route ahead.  The air was very clear and the views even to me were extensive.  Needless to say, we took our time …stopping occasionally to sit and look and enjoy this spectacular scenery.  The mountains still had patches of snow on them and this added to the grandeur of the scene.  As we reached the main ridge leading up to the summit of Meall Corranaich, the views became even bigger, looking out over Loch Tay and nearer to hand, across a high bealach to Beinn Ghlas and Ben Lawers …the latter being just a few feet short of the 4000 foot mark.  We avoided the path leading directly up to the top of Meall Corranaich and instead headed for it via a very steep slope of grass and stones, but one that was sheltered from the wind and was therefore much more pleasant.  As I neared the top, puffing and sweating ….I glanced behind me to see Guy stomping up the slope ….and I suddenly remembered that he is now 80 …and still has more ‘umph and go’ on the hills than I do!  As my friend Norma always says about Guy…. ‘what a man’!  I hope I’m still climbing hills with as much energy and enthusiasm as he has, when I’m 80.

Descending from Meall Corranaich

Descending from Meall Corranaich

Our efforts were rewarded at the top by the sun coming out and big patches of blue sky emerging all around …it was spectacular.  We had another long break sat out of the wind just enjoying the place.  After a bit, we decided that this top was enough and instead of carrying on to the second hill, we’d just have a relaxed walk back.  This was just the kind of day I’d wanted.

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Variations on a theme

Posted by admin on November 18th, 2011
'Approaching snow shower, Scottish Highlands'

'Approaching snow shower, Scottish Highlands'

Over the last few years I’ve done several versions of some of my paintings. Most of these started out as small 30 x 30 cm paintings but I’ve started to develop them at the bigger 80 x 80 cm size.

Revisiting a painting is not simply a case of reproducing the original but rather it’s a chance to create something that is new but on the same theme. One can try slightly different compositions, colours and marks, perhaps in a way, forgetting the original place and simply developing the paint and pastel.

The move from 30 x 30cm to 80 x 80cm has been particularly interesting. The increased surface area of the painting allows so much more scope, particularly with the consistency of the paint and the means by which it is applied.

The paintings included here are all based on a particular event one afternoon several years ago when I was walking with a group from our local club Air na Creagan. It was sometime in February I seem to remember and we’d travelled up to Braemar on a Friday evening with the aim of climbing Lochnagar the following day. We’d booked into the youth hostel for the weekend and were all looking forward to some good winter walking. Quite how wintry it was to be only became apparent as the weekend approached and we watched the forecasts. We arrived in Braemar in the early evening, crossing the high road through Glen Shee in the dark but with the first few flakes of snow falling lightly out of the gloom and being caught in the light of the headlights. As was customary on such weekends, first stop after arriving was the local hotel for food and a beer and by the time we started walking back up the street to the youth hostel it was snowing if not hard, then certainly steadily. Talk before we went to bed was of planning something less taxing than Lochnagar. If it carried on snowing over night we’d not even get the cars to the start point let alone want to tackle what might be thick fresh snow. In the end, the alternative was to do a circular walk out of Braemar and up and over Morone ….a gentle hill of I seem to remember around 800 m.

'Below Morone_ approaching snow shower'

'Below Morone_ approaching snow shower'

In the morning we arose to a good few centimetres of snow and although not too bad it wasn’t really the weather to be driving too far on small roads …and the wind had really picked up, so it would be uncomfortable higher up. Everywhere did look pretty wonderful though as we walked through the little town and picked up the path zig zagging its way up the slopes of Morone. But what a difference as we got out onto the high open and unprotected slopes near the summit. The snow was coming in heavy and quite lengthy showers and as they blew in the winds increased dramatically. There is a radio mast at the top with an access land drover track leading to it from the other side of the hill and at that point we stopped in the slight shelter offered by the wall of the hut. The wind chill up there was severe and despite this being a very modest little hill, this certainly wasn’t the place to hang around. Our planned route led across the summit plateau and then descended into a glen …before an easy walk back out and into the town. The walk across the top of the hill was difficult though…. the snow being blasted along horizontally in a real blizzard. It was hard to see for a while until eventually we started to descend into the glen ..and once again got some shelter from the surrounding hills. After a bit of a battle through in places quite deep snow we picked up another estate track and decided to sit for a while and catch up on a late lunch. As we sat there, we watched the sky darken and then very rapidly this huge snow shower poured over the hilltop at the end of the glen and raced towards us. It was a very impressive sight and one that has stuck with me….it is also the subject of these five paintings.

'Snow shower, Central Highlands'

'Snow shower, Central Highlands'

The snow didn’t go away over night and on Sunday morning we arose to quite thick snow …15 + cm and it was still falling.,. The Glen Shee road was closed and after waiting for several hours for it to ease, we set out for home…..along the only road out …..a tricky drive east to Aberdeen and then back via Dundee! As the whole of Scotland had been hit by the snow none of the roads were very good and our journey back to Ayrshire took many hours. It was quite a weekend!

'Approaching snow shower, above Braemar'

'Approaching snow shower, above Braemar'

 

'Approaching snow shower, above Braemar'

'Approaching snow shower, above Braemar'

 

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

 

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Beinn an Lochain – a view from the top

Posted by admin on July 15th, 2011
'On Beinn an Lochain'

'On Beinn an Lochain'

Apparently, (although don’t quote me on this) Beinn an Lochain was once thought to be a Munro …but with the introduction of better measuring devices it was found to be short of the magic 3000 ft / 914 m.  That said, at 901 m it still rises above many of its Arrochar neighbours and more importantly, is probably one of the best of the group.  Its fine northerly ridge has enough rock, steepness and drops to make you feel like you’re climbing a proper mountain (well, it certainly does if you can’t see where you’re putting your feet that is!).

The problem though for me with this hill is that although I’ve teetered my way up it’s ridge three times in the last ten years….I’ve never seen the upper section of the hill properly, let alone had a view from the top.  Twice we’d been there in thick cloud and rain.  The third attempt was with Air na Creagan back in early winter a number of years ago and although it started off clear, by the time we were three quarters of the way up …it filled in and the fine views with all the hills dusted in snow, had gone.

'On Beinn an Lochain'

'On Beinn an Lochain'

Every time we’ve driven over the Rest and Be Thankful I’ve looked up and thought that I must climb Beinn an Lochain again …but on a clear day.  Apart from just wanting to see it, I really wanted to get some photos, perhaps even some quick sketches of the ridge …they might be good for a new painting.  So then, on Tuesday, with both Nita and I working Wednesday and with a good forecast, we were looking for a ‘short’ day …nothing too arduous – Beinn an Lochain seemed the perfect place to go.

The trouble with forecasts that say ‘60% chance of a cloud free Munro’, is that I always forget this also means that there’s a 40% chance of there not being a clear top!  When we set off from Irvine at 06.30 there was blue sky above, but by the time we were going over the Erskine Bridge we were under a heavy slab of dark low cloud and on reaching the southern end of Loch Lomond ….well, the hills were shrouded in dark grey mist right down to about 600 m.  Blast!  Already my chance of finally getting a view from the top of Beinn an Lochain were looking bleak, but it was early and so perhaps in time this blanket of cloud would lift and break.  So, what to do?  It didn’t seem much point to start walking straight away ..it wasn’t going to clear that quickly and so instead we stopped at the car park at Luss and went and got ourselves an early morning cup of tea from the wee shop there.  This is a well stocked little place and was open when we got there at 07.45, so pretty useful as a watering hole when you’re heading for a hill.  There’s toilets next door too, so what more do you want?!  A view possibly …or that was probably the opinion of the group who arrived on a coach while we were drinking our tea and looking at the cloud.

'On Beinn an Lochain'

'On Beinn an Lochain'

It didn’t look too promising but there were just a few minor breaks and bright patches by the time we arrived at the car park at the top of the Rest and Be Thankful.  We decided to stall further …and put the seats back and had a kip for a while.  On waking, it did look a little better and there was nothing for it but to get the boots on and go.  We’d already ‘killed’ almost two hours, we couldn’t leave it any longer.

Our plan was to traverse the hill, climbing it by its northerly ridge and descending its steep grass and crag covered southerly flanks.  This involves walking the road from the car park past Loch Restil to a point where you can cross its out flowing stream and pick up the path that leads all the way up the ridge to the summit.  Thankfully the stream wasn’t full and crossing it was easy (not always the case) and we were soon on the rough path that picks its way up the ridge.  This involves clambering up many rocky little outcrops as the path gains height quickly.  We weren’t the only thing going up though, ….looking across the glen we suddenly realised we could see the summit of Beinn Luibhean and even Beinn Ime at just over 1000m was now almost clear!  It was still grey but things were improving fast.  After a while we reached the first short level (ish) section and got a glimpse of the top.  The steep rocky sections ahead look quite impressive without cloud and I had to make myself remember that despite their appearance, the path did wind its way through and around the crags.  It was certainly a challenge in places especially where the narrow path went along the edges of the ridge …not places to misjudge the width of the path!  By this stage we even had some weak sunshine and the mountain looked superb.

'On Beinn an Lochain'

'On Beinn an Lochain'

The final steep section is very impressive passing a large and imposing crag before arriving suddenly at the summit cairn.  We had finally done it …we were at the top of Beinn an Lochain and had a view – albeit a rather dark one.  The sun had been brief and the cloud although now higher, was dark and quite heavy.  A woman we met near the summit said she’d heard rumours of thunder and lightening for the afternoon ….and it certainly felt like it.  Not really a place to sit and do a sketch or two but I had a good look around and took some photos ….and then we were off.

Our route took us off the immediate summit and past a wee loch that reflected the hill beautifully.  After that, it was a steep descent down grass slopes, avoiding crags.  The grass was long and there were masses of flowers growing too, including numerous flowering thistles …beautiful but not good if you sat down in the wrong place! It was a tiring descent and a hot and sweaty one too.  The skies had become very dark and threatening but we got back to the car before any serious rain fell.  It was a wonderful day and one from which I hope to get a few paintings in the future.  If you haven’t been up this hill….well, I strongly recommend it.  For fully sighted folk it’s a relatively short day, for those who can’t see too much, it’s quite a challenge.

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South ….and south again

Posted by admin on June 3rd, 2011
Loch Dungeon from Millfire

Loch Dungeon from Millfire

I often say to people that I think we live in the perfect location for hill walking despite the fact that it is probably the flattest part of the whole of west Scotland.  We have the idyllic Isle of Arran just an hour away across the water; the southern Highlands starting just an hour’s drive north and the southern uplands just an hour’s drive to the south.  This is all true, but to be honest the majority of our hill walking trips are either in the Highlands or over on Arran …..rarely do we venture into the Southern Uplands.  We’ve visited the Merrick on a few occasions along with the wonderfully named and prominent and craggy little hill of Curleywee.  I also joined Air na Creagan for a long rough walk up over and around Shalloch on Minnoch, (the highest point in Ayrshire I think) but apart from these we’ve only been to a handful of other places south of Irvine.

We had been hoping to get out for another walk last weekend but the forecasts for the west and eastern hills wasn’t great …gales and snow down to 700 – 900 m.  Looking ahead it seemed like Tuesday would be the best opportunity for some bright weather.  So then, on Sunday we decided instead to take a drive south to visit the Scottish Showcase Gallery in Kirkcudbright.  I was invited to show some work there a few months ago and had sent five paintings down …but I’ve been too busy recently to get down to see the gallery.  I spent a lot of time painting last week so taking a few hours off to visit Kirkcudbright seemed a good idea.  It’s about 70 miles from Irvine to Kirkcudbright but the journey takes you through some wonderful scenery.   The weather too was pretty fine …windy but with bright hot sunshine and just the occasional heavy shower ….why hadn’t we thought of checking out the forecast for the southern hills?

From Corserine

From Corserine

We found the gallery close to the harbour in Kirkcudbright and had a good look around.  It has a good selection of work and on this fine Sunday there were a number of folk doing the rounds.  My five paintings are on the wall at the head of the stairs …so if you visit, you can’t miss them.  I’ve never been to Kirkcudbright before and it looked like a busy little place.  There’s a number of galleries and studios along with a castle, harbour and I understand, beach.  We were also directed to a hotel where they served an excellent pint of beer.  So then, it makes for a very pleasant day out if you live within striking distance ….and as we found, the journey to and from it is very enjoyable in its own right with for us, views across to a whole number of different hills.

 

NW from Milldown

NW from Milldown

Perhaps because of this, when it came to deciding where to go for our Tuesday walk, Nita suggested we find somewhere in the southern hills for a change.  It seemed like a good idea and so in bright sunshine we found ourselves driving back down the same road we travelled the previous Sunday.  We turned off the A713 a short distance before St John’s Town of Dalry and headed along a single track road for a few miles to reach a car park near Forest Lodge.  This is probably the nearest point for a walk up Corserine …the highest point along the ridge known as the Rhinns of Kells.  As with many of the hills in this area, the lower slopes are blanketed with conifer forest and getting to the base of the hill involved walking for almost an hour and a half along a series of forestry tracks.  The way was signposted but it was still a relief when we eventually saw open hillside ahead of us and a convenient stile over the boundary fence.  The hillside rose steeply in front of us and in the bright sunshine the colours looked wonderful.  A minor path led away up the hill and picked its way up through a series of crags to reach easy angled slopes.  The views out over the forest grew as we gained height and soon became huge as we reached the large summit plateau of Corserine at just over 800m.  Although we’d had warm sun all the way up, once on the top we were in the strong and cold wind …no wonder they were forecasting snow on the bigger tops to the north.

Our route lay SSE along the undulating ridge, over the craggy little tops of Millfire and Milldown to Meikle Millyea before descending back to the forest via Meikle Lump.  This really was a beautiful and very peaceful walk.  The ridge as I say, was littered with minor rocky crags and a series of minor lochs and pools…..and the views .wow!  It was also exceedingly quiet.  We’d followed two chaps up to Corserine but they must have returned a different route to us and we saw no one for the rest  of the day.  The wildlife seemed to be enjoying the sun as well and Nita spotted numerous beasties including a lizard, and on Meikle Millyea, three wild goats.

Meikle Lump is as the name suggests …a bit of a lump, being steep and craggy just above the forest.  We managed to find what seemed to be the steepest possible route through the crags …requiring both of us to resort to sitting on our backsides and carefully lowering ourselves down some slippery rocks and heather.  Then, the difficulties started!

Our map showed the forest edge and various tracks.  When we looked down …the forest had changed somewhat since the map had been printed.  They had been harvesting areas of it, new tracks had been constructed and nothing matched the map!  Suffice to say, it took us an hour and a half  to find our way the two or so miles back to the car.  Thankfully we had the GPS and so got this out and we could monitor our position as we followed the new forestry tracks.  After what seemed a good time we reached one of the original tracks marked on the map and could then head for the car.  We got back to it at half past seven …just nine hours after setting out …and were promptly set on by a swarm of midges …summer had arrived!

Below are the five paintings currently exhibited at the Scottish Showcase Gallery in Kirkcudbright.  To find out more about this gallery visit their website: www.showcasegallery.co.uk

 

 

'From Ghlas Beinn, Rannoch moor'

'From Ghlas Beinn, Rannoch moor'

 

 

'Approaching weather, Glen Carron'

'Approaching weather, Glen Carron'

 

 

'Above Glen Shee, winter morning'

'Above Glen Shee, winter morning'

 

 

'On descending Ben Oss'

'On descending Ben Oss'

 

 

'Autumn hillside, above Crieff'

'Autumn hillside, above Crieff'

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

 

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To Conic Hill and back

Posted by admin on January 21st, 2011
Near the summit of Conic Hill

Near the summit of Conic Hill

Well, we didn’t get up to Rannoch moor as planned last week in search of the little hill and it was such a busy week work wise that it didn’t look as if we’d get walking anywhere.  The forecast for the week though was cold, mainly dry and bright …almost perfect weather for a jaunt somewhere….and so on Monday evening we decided to down tools the next day and get out somewhere ….anywhere.  It was rather too late to call our friend Guy and see if he was up for Rannoch moor and to be honest after all the rain and the mild temperatures of the previous week and the rapid snow melt…we’d have been struggling to cross a large stream that lies across our route to Meall Tionaill.

So then, as we needed something not too taxing on our unfit legs, it seemed the perfect day to walk a bit of the West Highland Way and take in Conic Hill at the same time.  Some of the folk from Air na Creagan (our local club www.craggy.org.uk ) had been here just a few weeks before …they did a circular walk, following the WHW from just outside Drymen, to Conic Hill and then down to the pub in Balmaha, before returning to the start point by way of forestry tracks I think.  The lunchtime pint and bite to eat was very tempting but in the end we decided to simply walk to the top of Conic Hill and then return the same way.

Loch Lomond from the slopes of Conic Hill

Loch Lomond from the slopes of Conic Hill

The one thing the forecast also said was that there would be black ice affecting the roads in Scotland that morning and so as it wasn’t going to be a big day, we decided to leave Irvine quite late …as it turned out, not much before nine o’clock ….and although the roads were fine, when we got out of the car in the small car park at Drymen ….we were skating around!  So much so that we put the small instep crampons on ….and they stayed in place for almost the whole walk.   It was a beautiful morning though and the walk out of Drymen to the point where you meet the WHW was great….wonderful views out over the surrounding countryside …to the south, flattish land, to the north, Conic Hill and the first of the bigger hills of the southern Highlands.  In one of the fields were several huge flocks of geese.  They were close enough for me to see them with the monocular and it was quite a sight …and sound.

The WHW follows forestry tracks for a couple of kilometres and even at 11 am there were many big patches of ice that needed care even with the spiders on.  Once beyond the edge of the forest though, the sun had softened the ground the path picks its way over grassy hillside making its way towards Conic Hill.  The southern end of Loch Lomond looked great in the bright morning light and the winter colours were vivid and bright at times.

Now then, I know it’s stating the obvious, but even on relatively straight forward walks like this ….it does pay to check you map once in a while!  Not that we got lost or anything …that really would have been a great indignity seeing as we were following the WHW virtually the whole day!  But…..as we approach the hill, we thought we might as well just cut up the side and head straight to what we thought was the top.  This is what we did, clambering up steep grassy slopes with increasingly big views until we reached a small cairn.  To the west a short distance was another top..with a short steep little descent between us and it.  We had, I have to admit, been taking our time and now it was already1.45pm and we still needed to take a short lunch break.  The wander over to the other top would have taken too long as I was concerned we’d run out of daylight before getting back out of the forestry and the ice.  So ….after a short while taking in the scene and feeling a bit of a ‘plonker’ for not checking the map to see where the actual top of the hill was …we headed back down.  Lunch was taken in an idyllic spot half way back down the hill and then it was a case of legging it somewhat.  It’s amazing quite how fast the light starts to fade at this time of year and as by this time there were some big dark shower clouds approaching, it got gloomy even earlier than expected.  But the loch did look superb in this late afternoon light  and I needn’t have worried about the ice …most of it had melted during the day.

Fading light over Loch Lomond from the WHW

Fading light over Loch Lomond from the WHW

It certainly wasn’t the biggest walk we’ve ever undertaken or the most adventurous, but on a quiet January day it made for a very quite and peaceful little walk …one that most certainly got the legs working again.  Oh well, perhaps it’ll be Rannoch moor and Meall Tionaill next week.

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Research work!

Posted by admin on October 28th, 2010
Ben Chonzie from Meall na Seide

Ben Chonzie from Meall na Seide

When I first set up my studio at the Courtyard Studios in Irvine, my work was based around the man made landscapes of the town and its Harbourside area.  Although I’ve been a keen hill-walker for much of my life I’d  never combined the two interests of walking and painting.  By 2004 though, we were getting out into the Scottish hills on a very regular basis and it was while out on what was my very first real winter walk with our local mountaineering club Air na Creagan, (check out their website www.craggy.org.uk ) that it suddenly dawned on me that I was missing a trick and that I really ought to use my experiences whilst out in the landscape, as the subject for my paintings.  By this time I’d started to get a bit of a reputation at the Courtyard; if the weather was fine I would not be found in my studio …..I’d be out on a hill somewhere!  So then, it made perfect sense to start painting the wilder parts of the Scottish landscape ….and of course, now my days away on the hill could be called research work!

As I’ve said in the past I’ve been invited to put on a solo show of work at The Strathearn Gallery in Crieff  for a month starting on the 12th of February 2011.  For anyone who hasn’t visited this gallery, it’s a fantastic space and Fiona (the gallery owner) has said I’ll need around 40 – 45 pieces ….so quite a lot of work.   As Crieff is situated close to the wild heather clad moors around Loch Turret, it seems to make sense to try to do some paintings based on this area for the exhibition in February.

Anita and I visited Loch Turret back in the late winter / early spring and had a wonderful day wandering the hills.  At the time there was still quite a good deal of snow around and the loch was completely frozen …it was some sight.   So then, last Sunday we decided to head back there and to do a bit more wandering.  I hoped to see it in its autumn colours and to perhaps do some sketching and take some photos.

Picnic Spot

Picnic Spot

The forecast for the weekend was for sun and cold northerly wind ….and for the chance of some snow on the higher tops …especially further north.  As it turned out  Nita spotted the snow up on our hills, from just north of Stirling on the A9.  It looked quite wintry and it didn’t seem any time at all since I was complaining about the heat over in Speyer …where had all the time gone?!

When we got to the dam everything looked beautiful with the autumn colours of the grass, bracken and heather on the lower slopes and the bright white of the snow above about 700m.  But there was a biting cold wind blowing down from the north and I decided that there was little point in taking the sketch book – it would be just too cold.   We followed the same route as back in the spring and although in the wind the conditions were quite severe, once out of it and in the sun, it was really very pleasant. Oh well, too far to go back and get the sketch book. But the light and colours were great. As we got near our high point at a little over 750m we were just into the snow and Ben Chonzie, a couple of kilometres further to the north, looked quite white.

We took a rather circuitous route back, but one that gave us great views down into the strath below. The sun was getting very low as we descended the steep slopes back to the dam and the hillside opposite was coloured vivid yellows and ochres in the late light. It was quite an end to the day and I have come away with a number of ideas for new paintings. Quite a good day’s work!

Late Sun

Late Sun

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    E-mail: keith@keithsalmon.org