KYQ4: In Praise of Micro Hiils

Ben Ledi from Ben Gullipen

Ben Lomond from the Menteith Hills

Ben Ledi from Lime Craig

2020 was the year that disappeared in so many ways. I had plans to complete the Corbetts, go to Ireland to complete the 3000 feet mountains and revisit some of my favourite hills. Over the past thirty years, I have climbed an average of 60 Scottish Munro or Corbett mountains every year. This has usually taken between 20 and 25 days. This year has been very different with a total lockdown between March and July and travel restrictions from October onwards. As a result, I managed only 20 Munros or Corbetts on the 12 days that I escaped to the bigger mountains.

Running has also suffered during the lockdown. The travel limit of 5 miles in Scotland meant only running on tarmac roads with traffic and no pavements was possible, not an enticing prospect. When lockdown eased a knee injury occurred when I began to run again. Since retiring I have averaged 1000 kilometres a year, a reasonable distance but well short of the 2000 - 2500 kilometres a year in my thirties and forties. This year, despite a 9-kilometre recovery run last week, I have not even reached 100 kilometres.

The consolation has been the realisation that a couple of local hills are perfect outings and can be done most days in a little over an hour. They provide only 300 metres of climbing but are only 10 minutes away from home. They were out of bounds and taped off during the first lockdown and several acquaintances were chastised by the police for attempting to secure some safe space in the great outdoors. The Scottish Government made a mistake as the local hills provided far better social distancing than the parks and streets that we were encouraged to traipse around on our daily exercise. Since then these hills have become the staple way to keep some fitness. I have made over 75 walks up Lime Craig, with an occasional saunter out to the Menteith Hills, and Ben Gullipen. In recent months these outings have become almost daily events. We have been up every day over the last week following the snowfall as the photos below show.

They have also become a local exercise haunt for dozens of others. Aileen has started walking them as well and has become a firm convert. As well as the recuperative effect of clearing the lungs with clean hill air, lots of wildlife are on display from red squirrels to deer, wrens to buzzards, and there are like-minded people. They keep their distance but engage in friendly conversations at a time when normal relationships with family, friends and work colleagues have been suspended. We have met lots of contented active walkers including several old friends.

Today I went up Ben Gullipen in the afternoon, there were 31 others on the hill including one of Gregor's running friends who holds numerous hill running records. Today, he was towing two young children on a sledge. On the early morning climbs up Lime Craig. I regularly meet Archie, a retired lorry driver who walks for 2 to 3 hours most mornings and often meet Jenni, always happy and everyday climbs Lime Craig the hard way before jogging down the less steep way with her three dogs. We see Jan, our children's old music teacher, John and Gayle our old neighbours keeping in trim so that they can complete the Munros next year. There are lots of other new acquaintances, all intent on enjoying the freedom, peace and prompting their endorphins on their local hills.

I have belatedly become a fan of these micro hills. Alan Dawson wrote the definitive book about relative hills including what he termed Marilyns in 1992. Since then there have been several other lists of smaller hills listed including The Hughs a book of Scotland's best wee hills by Andrew Dempster and The Synges, a list of smaller hills in the Lake District. A regular walk up our local micro hills is just as important as the government's hands, face and space mantra to ensure that our physical and mental health are protected during these strange days of the pandemic.