Deuchary Hill

David Kaye

13 July 2018

After the usual round of withdrawals and late entries we ended up with 10 starters for the Deuchary Hill expedition.

The flurry of late entries was due to either the prospect of Marion’s sticky buns or David’s fluorescent Party Animal socks, or perhaps both.

In the event, Fuhrer-for-the-day Jim led Sue, John, Jan, Graham, Russell, Mike, Fiona, Russell, David, Sarah and Cosmo on a warm but not too sunny day.

The early going was deceptively easy on good paths, which lulled us into a false sense of security. We passed Cally Loch, The Glack and Mill Dam before Jim dived into the bushes. No, he had not been taken short. This was actually the start of the brutal ascent up Deuchary Hill, which we mercifully completed before asphyxiating from the sticky heat.

Most settled for sandwiches but Cosmo gnawed happily at Sarah’s ankle. Note the terrifying Cuillin ridge in the background, which Graham was shortly to sit on.

Jim then impressed us with his encyclopaedic knowledge of the surrounding lochs, one of which he got right. (OK that was one more than David).

It had taken two hours to reach the summit, and it was all downhill on the way back. By dint of one of Jim’s short cuts, it took four hours to get back! This despite crystal clear signage such as -

We did eventually stumble back to the Cally Car Park.

It was an interesting and varied walk with woodland, hill and lochside views. Thanks to Jim for selecting and leading the outing.

However the highlight of the day was yet to come. We adjourned to Bull Mansion for a Farewell to Chesterhill knees-up. Maureen joined us and Marion provided a fabulous spread with the Carrot Cake dead-heating with the Lemon Drizzle Cake for pride of place. Even Jack would have given his strict cornflake diet the body-swerve.

Cheers,  David.