Creagan a' Chaise windy walk with hail stones, sleet and gusty wind

Today I decided to go and explore the bonny Scottish hills again despite the bad weather forecast. I decided to walk up Creagan a' Chaise (722 metres above the sea level), meaning the Steep Rock in Gaelic. It is a graham hill which means it reaches at least 2000 feet.
It started off in the woods

With a nice rural path

I visited the ruins of Lethendry Castle which was the centre of the battle in 1960 when general Cannon and his Jacobite army of 1500 men were attacked by King's troops and decide their bravery, they were forced into the hills and 100 prisoners defending the castle were taken. The next Scottish uprising took place in 1715.

The castle now joints with the farm buildings.

However, it still gives us a window into its dark past

After the visit to the Scottish uprising history, I went back on the track

Look at some amazing stone wall building skills of Scotts who never used any mortar binding them together

The dark clouds are coming

I saw some riuns of the settlement from ages ago and now abandoned

And continued hiking the path which was rising

I hope there won't be any mist up high as at the last moment before the walk I realised I haven't got the map and my gps is playing up today...

I spotted a small cairn, a pile of stones that mark the trails or summits

I must be on the right track then

I need to find the faint path that is going south to start climbing the hills now ... oh here it is...

It starting to get steep as I gain height quickly

My friend is just behind me

I think I can see the first summit. The cairn is just there

Here we are at the

The Coronation Cairn was built in 1902 to commemorate the crowning of King Edward VII and Queen
Alexandria and the huge bonfire was lit up here.

I certainly won't be lighting any fires in this wind as I can bearly walk.

The views are still superb though

I realised that this is only 2/3 of the way up the summit of Creagan a Chaise and it's still a long way with very faint or no path across the moor and the deteriorating weather conditions

After a quick debate with my friend, we decided to crack on and continue the hike.

With the gust of wind and hail up our faces, we finally can spot the summit.

Not much view here as the weather is closing in and clag (mist) came upon us very quickly

The Jubilee Cairn was built to commemorate Queen Victoria Golden Jubilee and you need to believe that it looks superb but the wind was so strong it started to blow me over and took away my ruck sack's rain cover so I wasn't able to take photos in these conditions.

As we couldn't eat any lunch either we rushed back traversing across the moorland area with the hail stinging our faves leaving the summit behind.

Some bogs were quite deep.

!

I am now carefully looking at my compass the only equipment that seems to be working today as no map and malfunctioning gps are no help.

Finally, the mist lifts up

Where is that Coronation cairn...

There it is

I am getting tired and hungry but the weather is just unforgiving we need to push onto the lower level for lunch

When we got down a bit and ate something we then went even lower back to the beaten track where we found the piper stone.

The lonely Jacobite Hamish, as lonely as the pine standing strong beside him, who was badly wounded in the aforementioned battle, but manage to reach the top of this boulder. He stood proudly and played the tune to encourage his men to battle before he collapsed to his death. It's a very sad story of the century-long Scottish struggle to get their independence...

Here comes the sun. The weather in the highlands can be so unpredictable and changeable.

Almost summer

I came across the animal traps. I don't understand who and why would do hunt poor animals.

Bonny forest with a stony structure

Oh no can't believe it here comes the hail again

All four seasons in one day that is the Scotland for you.
Thank you for reading my post and see you next week.