Into the Highlands: Scottish Watershed

The rise from the Lowlands to the Highlands is very noticeable, especially on foot. Suddenly the hills are bigger, steeper, rougher and feel like real mountains. At the same time, oddly, the walking is actually easier. That's because up high, above around 600 metres, the ground is drier and firmer and the vegetation much shorter. Gone is most of the bog hopping. Tussocks are now rare. And on the highest hills, the Munros, there are even paths, something so far rare on the Watershed. There is more water too and more choice of dry, flat camp sites. Then of course there is the land itself, far grander, wilder and impressive than anything to the south. From the summit of Ben Lomond I has a glorious vista of the mountains and lochs of the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park. Two more camps saw me over a fine Corbett, Beinn a'Choin, and another four Munros before a long descent to Crianlarich. I am now in the heart of the hills. The picture shows An Caisteal, one of the Munros above Crianlarich.