UKC

Looking for suggestions, bearing in mind time of year & potential ground conditions, for easy hill walk within 2 hrs drive of Glasgow for someone (me) recovering from a (clean) broken ankle.

Its been 8 weeks and back on my (push)bike. I have walked a few forest tracks, up to 3 hrs. So looking to move up a grade: something with a bit of a gradient but not too steep and a good track is essential. Need to re-accustom foot to uneven terrain & slopes.

I have discounted the Luss Hills as too grassy and so too easy to slip on in the wet. Not great for paths either.

In reply to Flinticus:

Ben Ledi above Callander?

Auchnafree Hill, above Crieff - good track all the way, starting at the dam at about 300m. Look out for mountain hares. (From the car park, walk to the dam, cross the fence and then turn back on yourself heading away from the loch, and a good track takes you round the bottom of the hill, then bends north up to King Kenneth's Cairn and along to Auchnafree Hill, and then there's a track back down to the loch, with about 3 miles back along the loch to the car park. 10 miles in total.

In reply to Flinticus:

Ben Chonzie from Glen Lednock: LR track to 800m then low angled ground to the top.
Tinto: good track/path from the north-east side.
Meall Tairneachan: the track to the mine goes to 50m below the top.
Ben Lomond, perhaps?

In reply to Mark Bull:
Ben Lomond! Great idea. Can't even it from the only time I've been up.

Tinto too. Once did it covered in deep snow so could be nice to do without.

In reply to tony:
Ben Ledi is another great suggestion. It helps that its popular in case I get into difficulties.

Auchnafree Hill: again one I did before in lots of snow: couldn't find a track then. Good idea.

In reply to Flinticus:

For something smaller to break you in more gently, there's loads of good walking in the Pentlands, with a variety of good paths and off-path wandering to be had.

The Shee of Ardtalnaig south of Loch Tay is a bonny walk, with good paths.
Then you could work up to some of the Corbetts south of Loch Tay, or the Rob Roy Way, or walk up Kirkton Gln to the wee lochan, which I find a bonny walk.

After this, I would not go on to Ben Ledi straight away as there are some steepish bits. I'd suggest Ben Chonzie as the next step up. Then perhaps a trip up to Glenshee. Glas Tulaichean is a remote-feeling hill, but has a good track all the way to the top.

Hopefully this would see your ankle back to proper strength

In reply to almost sane: Ben Lomond, but minus the Ptarmigan ridge bit detailed here: http://www.ukhillwalking.com/logbook/r/?i=74

Ben Venue, but just go back the way you came from point 4 rather than the leg to point 5: http://www.ukhillwalking.com/logbook/r/?i=436

Ben Ledi, but just points 1 to 2 and then back home (not the extension north over Ardnandave hill, it's rough): http://www.ukhillwalking.com/logbook/r/?i=91

The Dollar Glen and King's Seat Hill bit of this walk, minus the long leg over the boggy hills to the north: http://www.ukhillwalking.com/logbook/r/?i=505

Fife's west Lomond, but I'd reverse the route direction described here to get the steeper bit in ascent rather than descent: http://www.ukhillwalking.com/logbook/r/?i=140

Benarty Hill is well worthwhile: http://www.ukhillwalking.com/logbook/r/?i=451

Central Pentlands, but make it a shorter day than the one described by backtracking from Scald Law, then down to Loganlea reservoir and out along the road as per stage 6: http://www.ukhillwalking.com/logbook/r/?i=306

Thanks all.

The Pentlands will make a perfect start: not walked them before at all and am on holiday in North Berwick next week so fairly close as hills go.

Glenshee! That area is my goal as that's where the accident happened & I want to complete the walk. Slay the demon...

In reply to Flinticus:
North Berwick Law then. You can have a wee nosy at the sport climbing in the quarry afterwards.

In reply to Flinticus:

The Whangie?

The Kilpatricks from Old Kilpatrick ?

Both options allow for a spot of bouldering to test out the ankle?

Mount Loudoun - climbers path up the front, again climbing options

Wander around Mauchline Gorge area, again bouldering or climbing options

All good for short blasts, or for longer slwoer walks to appreciate the scenic beauty

In reply to Flinticus:

There's some lovely coastal walks around N. Berwick, too.

In reply to Pids:
Hey! Unexpected treasures. Never even heard of the Mauchline Gorge. Will definitely check out for bouldering.

In reply to Dan Bailey - UKHillwalking.com:
Thanks, Dan, for all these.

Some new places & variations on hills I've been too before.

In reply to Flinticus: No worries, I hope the recovery continues well

In reply to Flinticus:
If you want something gentle and beautiful, there's a whole wheen of walks from Aberfoyle through the forest park. One of my favourites is round Loch Ard. One of my favourite lochs, but I think you may have missed out on the chance of tea and a bun mid way at the Wee Blether tea room in Kinlochard. I think they have closed for the winter now.

Another lovely loch walk is round Loch Ossian. This has the bonus of the West Highland Line to get there.