New Year's Day dawned raw and cold, but mainly dry - a contrast to the grim conditions of the previous day. Whilst "first footing" family, neighbours and friends isn't allowed this year due to Coronavirus restrictions, first footing a local hill could certainly go ahead.
I chose Lord Arthur's Hill, the highest of the Correen Hills, partly because it's very close to home but mostly because during the most restrictive part of 2020's lockdown when travel was severely curtailed these were my "go to" hills and gave such a lot of space and exercise.
The approach track was very icy, higher up on the hill the snow was quite deep but sugary. Sub-zero temperatures forecast for the first week of January will harden it and make for easier going than I experienced. Snow showers came and went as I climbed into the cloud.
It was bitterly cold at the summit with a raw northerly wind - and no place to linger; especially since there wasn't a view. The new year was barely 10 hours old and I was definitely the first visitor of the year. After a few minutes I headed off the summit by a different route than that I'd climbed to give a partial circuit.
I headed down to a wood on the Fouchie Shank where I knew I'd find shelter from the northerly wind and where I've previously camped. In under the trees it was calm if not particularly warm and I could sit and make cup of tea, pleased to have been the first foot on this "home" hill.
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