Hills: The Law
Date: Monday 22nd October 2018
Company: Just myself
Distance: 5.1km, Ascent: 625m
Time: 1Hr 40Mins
In November 2014, I completed the 89 Donalds / 118
New Donalds. Since then I have been somewhat relieved to have completed this
mostly dull hill list, that is until the SMC's recent proclaimation that one
must also now ascend all 51 Donald Tops to be considered to have completed
The Donalds .
This in my view is a nonsensical decision as one doesn't have to complete
all 227 Munro Tops to be considered to have completed the Munros.
Having already ascended the New Donalds, a metric version of the Donalds, I
was at least fortunate to have ascended 42 of the 51 Donald Tops leaving
only nine "wee-shites" to revisit.
En-route to attending a meeting to
the south of Glasgow, it was just after 16:00 as I was passing the Ochils. I
therefore decided to finish early to ascend one of the remaining nine
"wee-shites".
As I wasn't intending ascending a hill, I didn't have a
rucksack, water, food, clothes, a headtorch or even a map with me. I did
however have my iPhone, and a wealth of experience, what more could I need
. I don't
recommend that newbies go out on the hill as unprepared!
I set off walking at a considerable pace as I was keen to get off the
hill before dark as I didn't want to have to rely on my mobile phone torch.
I was expecting this walk to be fairly dull; it was actually really good!
Definitely NOT a "wee shite".
The initial walk through Mill Glen is
really worth doing. You follow an excellent path which includes a number of
bridges and sections of wooden walkway.
Mill Glen:
Looking
back:
Beyond the
wooden walkway there is a short descent to reach the final bridge which
leads to a short but easy scramble up the lower slopes of The Law. When I
say scramble, I managed to ascend without putting hand to rock, however,
during the descent I did put hand to rock a couple of times to steady
myself. It is easy. Beyond the initial scramble care is still needed as
there are some drops below.
The Law including bridge leading to
initial short scramble:
Once onto
the ridge proper, I followed the obvious track leading to the summit of The
Law and which continues beyond to the summit of Ben Cleuch. The Law is just
a subsiduary top of Ben Cleuch.
Looking back during initial ascent of
The Law:
As I gained
height, the walking became increasingly difficult as it was blowin' a
hoolie.
Ascending The Law:
Looking back
towards Tillicoultry:
Looking
back:
During the
final ascent, the wind was so strong I actually got blown off my feet.
Final ascent:
It was a
real struggle to stand at the summit never mind take a photo, so apologies
that the photo is a tad blurred. After taking a photo and touching the cairn
I immediately retreated back a) to get out of the wind and b) to get back
beyond the short scramble before dark.
At the summit cairn:
During the
descent I was treated to some pre-sunset blue skies.
Improving
weather during descent:
I got back to the car in ample time to avoid walking in the dark. Think I
will return to the Ochils to walk them again and will definitely include
Mill Glen in my next circuit.