Over the weekend of the 7-8th of May I underwent my training and assessment for the Mountain Training Expedition Skills module with Mary Matthews, who runs Mountains and Wildlife. Mary is based in Kincardine and uses the surrounding hill areas to deliver her courses, which are excellent. If you’re interested in her courses I can put you in touch.
The other people on the course were good company and involved in providing aspects of the Duke of Edinburgh Scheme in their institutions.
Speaking of touch, or Touch, we did our overnight in a sheltered wee spot in the Touch Hills to the SW of Stirling. Touch (pronounced Too-ch) is probably a mutation from Tullach (Gaelic). I had an amazing ‘kitchen’ area on some of the volcanic rock by a waterfall where I could just set up the stove and sit on a throne of stone to eat. Appropriate for a geologist.
The Touch Hills and their slightly higher neighbours, the Gargunnock Hills, offer some very challenging navigation if you want to sharpen your skills for a HML or ML micronavigation session.
I am a palaeobiologist in my early 40's carrying out research work. I am based in Scotland.
Hills of Hame 
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