Christmas and New Year.

We spent Christmas and New Year in Symington, Scotland. The weather was very mixed with heavy rain, high winds, very mild temperatures, cooler days, some snow and very occasionally sunshine. We had a great Christmas Day and managed 5 short hill days as well as a trip to Edinburgh and walks around the village.

The photos show some of what we did:

24 December - a walk up Culter Fell.

Walking up the fell looking across to Tinto.

The upper slopes of the fell.

On the very windy summit of Culter Fell.

On the descent.

25 December - a walk up Tinto.

Heading up on a cooler morning.

The view across to Culter Fell from the upper slopes.

The last pull to the large summit cairn.

Climbing up the cairn to the view point.

On the top.

Myself on the summit.

The summit and us from the lower Trig Point.

Starting the descent.

27 December - Gathersnow and Culter Fell.

Sunshine on the approach to Gathersnow.

A blue sky day!!!!

A misty final climb up onto Gathersnow.

Gathersnow summit.

Looking across to a clearing Culter Fell.

On route to Culter Fell.

Taking a break - the view to Tinto.

The  final climb up Culter Fell.

The cloud rolled in as we summited.

Better views as we lost height.

The final ridge leading back to the glen.

28 December - a walk in the Broughton Heights.

Ridiculously warm for December in Scotland. 

Heading up past Broughton Place.

About to leave the John Buchan Way.

The initial climb.

Heading for Trahenna Hill on a windy day.

The view to Trahenna Hill.

Myself on the summit.

The superb ridge to Hammer Head.

If this ridge was in the Lakes in would be 'packed' - we saw no one.

Having a wee rest in a sheltered spot.

Almost at Hammer Head.

But not quite!!

Hammer Head summit.

The final ridge down to the glen.

30 December - a day out in Edinburgh.

A sunny Carlton Hill.

The view across to Arthur's Seat.

Sunshine on Leith.

The Museum of Scotland.

The Declaration of Arbroath - when will Independence be gained?

Two of my Scottish heros!!!

The city was looking very festive.

31 December - one of our walks around the village. This was after Storm Frank.

Near the River Clyde which had flooded the fields the night before.

The Clyde and flooded fields.

New Year's Day - Tinto our first hill of 2016.

Heading off on a very icy morning.

Ice on the track made the going tricky.

Susan adjusts her boots.

More ice and snow higher up.

On a cold summit.

Having a wee rest on a much more wintery day.

Microspikes on for the descent.

A first selfie for 2016.

Heading down.

The view to the Pentlands.

The view to Symington and Culter Fell.

A last look up to Tinto summit.

As always we had a great break despite some poor weather. Let's hope that 2016 brings more adventures in the great outdoors.