Stirlings & Porungurups - mountains of magic & mystery

Well it's stretching a point to call them mountains, most of them are big hills. However they are pretty spectacular, and there's some lovely day walks. We didn't walk up Bluff Knoll this time, but I went for a walk at the bottom, and we both walked up to the walkway around Castle Rock. Here's a few other day walks, for the next trip. 

A misty, grey day with beams of sunshine lighting up the landscape, and glistening on the wet leaves. It had been raining lightly, so everything had that warm, damp smell to it. Behind that heavy cloud is an impressive part of the Stirlings, however I walked on a track at the bottom of the range. 

The local wildlife were out and about, including the possums at night raiding any scraps of food. 

Andy at the start of the scrambling up rocks section of the walk, up to the top of Castle Rock. It's an easy walk on a well made path, until suddenly you get to the granite some and boulders that form the top of the hill. From this point it's a bit of a scramble to the first platform, and a real scramble to the second walkway, all around the top of the rock and an amazing ( in clear weather) view to Stirlings and to Albany. 

The view from the top, we could just sort-of make out Albany but on a clear day it would be really clear. 

Andy used his walking poles, I didn't use mine, and the difference in our speed was really noticeable. I am a huge fan of walking poles, they take a small but continual load off your knees and ankles, and give you an edge of stability. You get into a really good rhythm with them, and I would have found the Camino harder without them.  So I would strongly recommend them to anyone. 

The walkway around the top, it was lowered in by helicopter and attached by absailers - amazing as you walk around thinking how they installed it. Don't go if you are scared of looking through grating, you can see to the forest below you !