Pentlands
I was out today running a hill walking navigation course for The City of Edinburgh Council Adult Education. We started from Hillend and used the northern Pentlands. Winds were strong with a bit more rain than forecast, so we stayed lower than I normally would for this course to make use of available shelter.
Some of the group dealing with the weather on one of the lower hill tracks.
Pentlands Navigation
The last four Tuesdays I’ve been running a navigation course for The City of Edinburgh Council Adult Education. This has consisted of four sessions of 2.5 hours. The last two of which have been in the Pentlands. We’ve covered what would often be covered in a single day navigation course, but the extra time between sessions to think about and practice skills has seemed to work very well. Thanks to all the attendees for their interest and enthusiasm. Unfortunately, I’ve been very poor at getting my camera out, so I’m afraid the photo is from a previous day in the Pentlands.
Edinburgh from the Pentlands.
Navigation Courses
Over the weekend I was running two single day navigation courses for The City of Edinburgh Council Adult Education. We used the area near the ski-centre in the Pentlands. The courses were well attended and the groups were keen to learn and improve their navigation skills, which made for good enjoyable days.
Edinburgh from the Pentlands.
The weather was dry on both days, windy on Saturday and cold and sunny on Sunday, which was drying out the ground and paths in the Pentlands.
Pentland Push
On Saturday Euan and I were working with Cameron. Davy, Fran, Glenn, James, Keith, Lawrie and Nettle. We were providing mountain support and emergency response for Maximillion Events who were managing the Pentland Push event.
The finish line at the Pentland Push.
The Pentland Push is a fundraising event for the very good cause of St Columba’s Hospice and consists of three very tough routes through the Pentland Hills aimed at runners and walkers. The event was very well organised by Maximillion and after some very windy weather during the set up on Friday it was good to have some fine weather for the event itself on Saturday. The day ran very smoothly, so a big thanks to all involved and congratulations to all the participants.
Pentlands
Yesterday evening and early night Cameron and I were out in the Pentlands. We used the Caerketton Crags to look at security on steep ground and then spent time practicing navigation including some night nav.
Moonrise in the Pentlands.
It’s worth noting that the Caerketton Crags are very loose/friable and require care and good route choice.
Pentlands
On Monday and Tuesday I was out in the Pentlands again with a Bronze DofE Group, who were traversing the Pentland Jills from Garvald to Easter Kinleith over two days with a wild camp.
The view from my tent door.
The group were excellent and the weather was generally kind making for a pleasant two days in the hills.
Pentlands
The last two days I’ve been working for The City of Edinburgh Council supervising a Bronze DofE group who were traversing the Pentland Hills from Garvald to The Flotterstone.
My tent at a the wild camp near North Esk Reservoir.
The group did a great job and we were treated to some fine weather with only a light shower late this afternoon.
Pentlands and Lammermuirs
This week I’ve been running a Silver DofE training for The City of Edinburgh Council. This included navigation in the Pentland Hills on Tuesday and a three day practice expedition in the Lammermuirs.
The group approaching the Meikle Says Law trig point.
The expedition took in Meikle Says Law and some delightful and, at times, tough walking terrain with a couple of beautiful camping spots. The group coped very well with some very mixed weather, which changed from heavy rain to bright sunshine on a fairly regular basis.
Pentlands Navigation
I was out in the Pentlands this evening with Alan, Lorn and Paul looking at hill navigation. We started from the Ranger Centre near the Flotterstone and headed around the Castle Law and Fala Knowe area with a fair bit of time off the paths looking at bearings and pacing.
Carnethy and Turnhouse Hills at dusk this evening.
It was a beautiful evening with a cool breeze. The Pentland Hills are pretty dry at the moment, but there are still some boggy spots off the paths.
