Back in August (Walkabout Glen post), we almost climbed a wee hill (647m, not quite a Munro, but a challenge for little legs, not to mention big ones too!) On that occasion, we were beaten by common sense as I came close to breaking boy number 2. Ever since, Big Boy has been desperate to complete our walk and get over the hill and explore the waterfalls that await on the other side. As it's the end of the Easter holidays, we had to have a go, as the next chance will be summer I think.....
We set off on a glorious morning. I gave R a compass (which I later came to regret - turns out that you need to stand still to check a compass, and you also need to check it every 50 paces or so). I thought it was going to be a bit nippy up the glen, as the snow was still on top of the hills, but it was a pleasant two degrees warmer that home at 6 degrees when we arrived.
Here he is keen to show me which way north is. He's right too, as you can see by the lack of snow of the south faces of the hill to his left. We were climbing the one directly behind him.
Dad found time to take an artistic shot for mum as the loch was so still. Time well spend as it turns out, because the stillness was gone by lunchtime!
We were getting on for the foot of the hill now. The weather was still on our side. We were aiming to climb using a path behind the cliffs to the left (pic below) and then head up almost from left to right as you look at the photo. When we were about half way up, the weather started to turn, and the nice blue sky at the summit was replaced by cloud and mist. Not to be deterred, we continued up into the snow. We were persevering and almost at the top, but he kept stepping in snow that was almost waist deep for him. After five or six decisions to carry on, we decided on an about turn, and had our lunch back on the side of the hill. I was also thinking that the decent might be a tad difficult as it was north facing too.
Give boyo some credit though, he decided (given the option too!) that instead of returning to the car, we'd trek the long way around, and at least we were rewarded with the sight of one waterfall in full flow. That added a good couple of hours to our day, but he enjoyed a play on some rocks whilst I had a rest.
In all, we were out for almost 7 hours, and a couple of those at the top were pretty bleak and cold. We saw lots of mountain hares near the top of the hill, two sizable herds of deer, plenty frogs and a few spring lambs too. We have now done the walk both ways without closing the arc at the far end, but he remains keen, so here's hoping we are lucky at the third attempt.
