A drive of about 12 miles from Kirriemuir along a narrow road through Clova (with hotel) and another few miles on a narrower road to Glen Doll. A drive really into the middle of nowhere. The Forestry Commission car park was surprisingly big though empty at that time of the morning. I had intended to go up Driesh first using the Kilbo path, just past the Youth Hostel. However, I couldn't see the Y.H. and missed the connect path ending up on a forest track. A guy, noticing my puzzlement on this path, showed me where on the O.S. map I had gone wrong and suggested I continue up the forest path to Mayar instead. He was going the same way, but even though he walked with a limp, was soon way ahead. The track was good and at its end by a stile it becomes a narrower path, still well made leading right up into a very nice rocky corrie. An easy climb but once into the corrie the path gets fainter and the climb a bit more strenuous, though never difficult. At the top of the corrie it is just a matter of going uphill, which involves
moving to the left from the corrie. Pretty obvious on such a glorious and clear day and probably not a problem in mist. Guinness and rolls at the top where there were two guys and a dog. At least I had someone to take my photo. Shortly after a family of five arrived together with four dogs - a really miserable bunch who would only talk amongst themselves. Nice views but I had trouble identifying specific hills.
The walk from Mayar to Driesh is incredibly easy and the drops and climbs are very gentle. In the middle of the two hills where the Kilbo path crosses over (and there is a sign post up here) I met again the guy who had advised me to take this route. He had reached Driesh and was now on his way back down via the Kilbo path which he pointed out to me (it was pretty obvious). Lots of people now on these hills, well it was lovely sunny summer Sunday, and an unusual number of dogs - never seen so many. The final climb up to Driesh is very gentle and at the top the cairn is huge, with room inside it. This was occupied by the miserable five who seemed oblivious to the crowd of other people around. Even their dogs refused to allow anyone to touch them. Photos taken by a young guy, up with wife and young son. I had a long chat with two other guys, one of whom had climbed all the munros and was now climbing for fun. I asked him about Skye and in particular Sgurr na Gillean and Sgurr Mhic Choinnich which are beginning to worry
me, now that I am getting older and stiffer. He was quite dismissive of them - Sgurr na Gillean was no problem if you had a head for heights as the scramble was not difficult. "Mind you" he said, "there are a few spots you would not care to slip from." As for Sgurr Mhic Choinnich and others he said they were OK, but that you had to pick a good, clear day. In mist they could be very difficult for route finding. His pal had done three munros over a number of years so was obviously not in a hurry. He was from Dunfermline (though his accent was English) and came up to the hills as and when he felt like it.
On the way down, passing yet more people and dogs, and reaching the Kilbo path I met a very pleasant young couple with a very young boy. Seems he was only five years old but had already done seven munros. He was very cheery and clearly enjoyed the climbing. His mother said that even when a baby she had carried him into the hills. After a long chat it was down the path followed by the miserable five. When the path enters the trees it becomes a nice, soft turf path all the way down. At the bottom I saw where I had missed the path but the sign for the Kilbo path was not where I had thought it would be. I had expected it to be on the main path from the car park. I have looked again at the Book and feel that the description is a little deceiving. However, as I seem to have been the only person that day (of those I spoke to) to have gone wrong, the fault obviously is mine. Par for my course, I suppose. A fortunate slip though as the walk I took was much more enjoyable and interesting. I still haven't seen the Youth Hostel but it must be there. Irn Bru at the car park, malicious pleasure at seeing that the miserable five had taken much longer than me to get down.
