[Trip Index] [Munro Index] [Home] 29th May 1995   Schiehallion Map A former Astronomer Royal (Maskelyne) used Schiehallion in an experiment to determine the earth's mass - by measuring how much its own mass deflected a pendulum. There's a plaque at the bottom to commemorate it. The mountain is a big whale-shaped mass, not unduly steep anywhere. A bit of an uneventful, boggy slog. We stayed at Aberfeldy that night. Maskelyne's plaque at the base of Schiehallion Andrew's version: Parked up at a Forestry Commission car park and trudged off in the rain, across a morass of mud which passed for a path. This is 'one of Scotland's most popular mountains' - ie heavily used, and so degraded. The final mile was rough stone - very hard walking. But good views over Rannoch - Loch Rannoch, and Rannoch Moor in the dark distance. Both Alan and I felt we'd had enough with just five miles, after yesterday's excess. Still, we managed the walk in around 3.75 hours, well inside the allocated time in Alan's Munro book. After a drive along the main street of Aberfeldy, we were directed round an 1890s drive, and found £16 B&B at the Nunns, overlooking the River Tay. A grand spot.