BEN VRACKIE

Fabulous cloud formations 

Pitlochry under cloud

more

Beinn a' Ghlo

Looking south from the summit

Ben Vrackie clearing

Peaceful

Autumn leaves

Autumn berries

Holly

Autumn colours still hanging on

An uninspiring weather forecast in Northern latitudes led us further south and away from the Cairngorms, into Perthshire. We had a late and leisurely start (mid day) for a walk up to Ben Vrackie. This is a fab wee hill that can be walked from the middle of Pitlochty. Although if you start from Moulin there's one of the best pubs at the end, The Moulin Inn. Actually Ben Vrackie is almost Munro height, weighing in at 841m. There's an excellent path all the way up so navigation is minimal and underfoot not muddy! We started off in rain and very low cloud. By the time we reached the steep second half of the hill the rain eased off and at the summit we were rewarded with some fantastic cloud formations. Layers of broken cloud swirling about for a 20 minute spectacle. The stags roaring further to the east. Then the cloud smothered the hill again and time for us to head back down and the obligatory drink in the Moulin.
Autumn colours hanging on in the lower reaches. Amazing to think we had full winter conditions just a day or so ago. Today the temperatures were in double figures at sea level, not much cooler on the tops. All change again from Monday and into next week with snow forecast again in The Cairngorms.  Winter returns.