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Lat/Long: 56.6934, -4.1219
OS
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I started the walk at the Lassintullich parking area then
continued west along the road for just over a kilometre to the
gate at East Tempar. Through the gate I started on the track up
to the pass. It was a clear sky but was still cold at just above
freezing. I made a short detour to check out an old limekiln
that is shown on the old map and is now very overgrown with its
own tree growing on top. Climbing steadily south I reached the
head of Tempar Burn and also the early morning sunshine. As the
track ended I reached the bothy that I’ve visited a few times
before but never in the sunshine. |
Old limekiln. |
Bothy interior. |
Kate's book - Finding Home. |
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The last time I was here I had to turn back because of a snow
blizzard. I went inside and took a few photos including one with
Kate’s book ‘Finding Home’ propped on the seat where Kate sat 18
months ago while she was researching the book. |
Horse drawing inside the bothy. |
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Today’s objective is to find the least difficult way up to the
Schiehallion south observatory site from 1774. I left the booth
by a narrow path heading SE. It is marked on the map but heads
down towards the bottom of the valley. I kept on it for about a
kilometre then had to leave it to maintain altitude and follow
the contour. The path came and went for a while with some deep
heather in places. Heading up a narrow animal track took me up
to easier ground and it was possible to see the way ahead. The
terrain was much easier than the map suggests and it was only
the last part of the walk that was steep and difficult in
places. |
South observatory site. |
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I reached the excavated shelf that was levelled off around 250
years ago for the delicate instruments to be fixed. There are
two other levelled areas but much smaller. It is interesting to
note that there is a good 4G signal and also DAB radio reception
which is interesting as there is no DAB in the valley. Instead
of just reversing my route for the return I descended by an
easier looking stretch of ground with less deep heather. I took
my time on the descent and soon rejoined the route I’d followed
on the ascent. When I reached the bothy it was bathed in
sunshine but the temperature hadn’t risen much. I continued
north and down the track I’d used on the climb. At the road I
turned right and back to the car. |
Bothy in the sunshine on the way back. |
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