Stained feet and black toenails are 'tools of the trade', I think! I know what you mean about the flagged bit, from the aerials over to the trig point; I know it's to counter erosion but it's taken a bit of the fun out of that stretch. Also, the prehistoric cairn that used to be next to the trig has disappeared since that path was built.
Did you enjoy it? That's all that really matters...