Campsie Glen II - This time it's personal.

Avid readers ( and News International journalists) will be aware that last autumn I set out on a little venture in the hitherto unvisited Campsies. This ended badly when I took what is known in medical jargon as "a wee turn".and had to abort the mission.
Yesterday it was time to return to the scene of the crime and attempt to make amends.
The bus goes right into Clachan Of Campsie, and there is a pleasant walk up the wooded glen to emerge at the Crow Road carpark.



The Crow Road is a steepish pass through the Campsies, popular with bikers and boy racers. Some of you may be familiar with the eponymous novel by Iain Banks. In the vernacular, to be "away the crow road" is to be dead - quite a graphic image if you have read "The Twa Corbies"
This carpark is a favourite spot for members of the Glasgow underworld for secret meetings and deals. There was a double murder here a few years ago.



Clachan of Campsie



The way up



The very stone where I succumbed last time



Glasgow !




I may have been lucky so far, but this was the wettest, squelchiest walk I have done this year. I kept hearing the phrase "What is it that's not exactly water, and ain't exactly earth ?". I have considered putting that clip up several times, but have been deterred by the possibility of causing offence to the politically correct readership of this blog.



A glimpse of Stronend






Top of Cort-Ma-Law with Meikle Bin in the background.



I had left myself three options for the completion of this walk, and, in the end, opted for Plan D, the steepish descent straight down the scarp. There was a roughish metalled track ( you know the kind - like walking on scree) for most of the way down.







Wildflower Central today, with the grasses particularly impressive. loads of butterflies, mainly Scotch Argus with some small yellow jobs which could have been Clouded Yellows. The little buggers would not sit still and spread out their wings like they do for Mark and Danny's pics - I will carry a taser next time.


And so onward to a finish in mute inglorious Milton of Campsie.
Success ? Well obviously, and I shouldn't be greedy, but I am still very slow.About 6 miles and 600 feet of up and it took me just under 5 hours. Naismith, he say 2hr 45min. However, if I can get the camping thing organised, I can do the longer day walks over two days, as I did last weekend in the Lowthers (so graphically described in the excellent "Golfing in Brobdingnag" post which most of you were too busy washing your hair to read)


Anyway

Feck it

Here it is