We decided to start this hill from Kilfinnan so that we would not be duplicating the Meall na Teanga walk. The trip to Kilfinnan was OK though the last couple of miles are on a very narrow, bumpy road. There is nothing to indicate you are in Kilfinnan but as the road ends at a farm with a bunch of sheep staring at you, you have to assume you are there. At first it is a very easy walk past holiday chalets and then onto a Forestry Commission path. This goes on for a couple of miles then, when you think you must by now have missed it, there is a narrow path leading off and uphill to the col between this hill and Meall na Teanga. It is a good couple of miles but after the first steep drag it is an easy and pleasant walk, one of those where you can see where you are going. One stop for juice and then up to the col reaching it on the opposite side from which when we did Meall na Teanga. The stalkers path is a good one with very wide zigzag sweeps and an easy climb. Just as you reach the ridge the path goes straight up and gradually peters out leaving you on a grassy hill and knowing that the summit is a few hundred yards to the left. No problem in clear weather but at this point we were again going into thick mist. Graeme went ahead and for once did not stay within vision. At first this was no problem as I knew I only had to go in a south east direction and basically keep going uphill. However as I kept going uphill the direction on the compass started changing and although I moved to the compass bearing I felt I was moving round the summit rather to it. I also began to wonder if I had veered off towards another top on the ridge. Graeme was getting well cursed with me thinking that if either of us had gone wrong it could be a long walk back for one of us. Using a mixture of compass and uphill climbing I eventually saw the cairn materialise out of the mist with Graeme sitting beside it. This had probably taken only a few minutes but with everything magnified in the mist your mind runs riot. Graeme says he went ahead because he wanted to try hill walking in the mist on his own. He had actually veered further off course than me but still got there.
Guinness and sandwiches at the edge of what looked like a cliff behind the cairn, a short rest and back down. Reversing the compass bearing we again had that "this can't possibly be the way" feeling and we actually swung off the bearing a little. Amazement though as we came out under the mist cover and were literally at the start of the footpath. The way down to the col was dead easy, meeting a guy with a pot belly and big drip on his nose, then another couple. The walk back though easy seemed to go on for ever but at last at the car to find Graeme scanning the skies. He thought he had found some young eagles but it was only falcons or their like, flying around and attacking each other in fun.
