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Report on Meikle Bin
30 January 2011
Today?s Craggys ? Maureen, Gail, Irene and Michael
As I was still ?plastered? we decided to climb another fairly easy hill this week. Meikle Bin in the Kilsyth Hills had been on my sights for some time but it was in an area none of us were familiar with. So the SatNav was set and we headed off from my house at 9am.
As we arrived at Lennoxtown, the hills were stunning overlooking the village. We headed uphill along a narrow road where the hilltops were starting to appear white. On the B818, Fintry ? Denny Road, a group of cyclists were warning us to slow down as the road was covered in ice making it too difficult for some of them to cycle on.
We arrived at the parking area opposite Todholes Farm before the Carron Valley Reservoir and headed up the forestry track. The reservoir was still frozen over and soon Meikle Bin, covered in snow, came into view. The track was easy to follow and soon we realised we had run out of track and lost the footprints in the snow of others than had passed us on their way down. We had missed the firebreak in the trees which we should have been looking out for. Luckily we didn?t have far to backtrack and soon we were on the open hillside. It didn?t take us long to reach the summit trig where it was bitterly cold and rather overcast. We didn?t hang around long and decide to make our way back but took a wee detour to look at part of the wreckage of the Farley Firefly which crashed on Meikle Bin in January 1950.
Back in the shelter of the forest we stopped for lunch to heat ourselves up. Then on the way down the sun came out and the skies turned blue which would have given better views than we had on the summit.
All in all this was an easy yet enjoyable day for a winter walk.
Irene Cahill
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