TGO Challenge 16/05/26

Day 10, Aberfeldy to Pitlochry.

It was a beautiful morning, sunshine, light wind and while not warm was very pleasant.

Dewars distillery Aberfeldy 

If you're wondering why I'm walking to the same place two days in a row you need to read yesterday's post!

River Tay outside Aberfeldy 

As I walked out of Aberfeldy I noticed a sign outside a hotel that said breakfast. I needed no more encouragement.

John and Sue on the riverside path

The route soon left the road and became a nice little path by the river where I met John and Sue, fellow TGO vetters.

Bluebells 

We walked on together to Grandtully where we stopped for coffee at the hotel. John and Sue were heading for Balinluig and beyond so our routes diverged.

A selection of chocolates

There is a chocolate shop in Grandtully that advertises that it produces the best chocolate truffle in the world so I went in and bought one. Maybe my palate is jaded but I thought a Snickers bar was tastier and better priced.

River Tay at  Grandtully 

The path up from Grandtully 

I followed the Rob Roy Way over the hill to Pitlochry and there were some lovely views back to the Tay and beyond.

Looking back from the hill

Down to Pitlochry 

I was soon descending to the A9 and Pitlochry which as usual was full of Tourists. I can understand people coming to this area as it is beautiful but why they just hang around the town is less understandable.

A9

I couldn't get into the backpackers until 17.00 so I had some time to look at the 'attractions', mostly retail therapy designed to empty your wallet.

River at Pitlochry 

Pitlochry again

At least there is a good co-op where I was able to purchase enough food for the rest of my walk.

TGO Challenge 15/05/26

Day 9, Glengoulandie to Pitlochry.

I had great hopes for the weather today, the forecast was good and the wind had eased after last night's battering. However the promising early brightness soon changed to cloud and showers and the wind picked up so it was much the same as every other day.

Shehallion about to escape the cloud

I walked up the road with views of Shehallion, partly hidden by cloud, to my left. After a short descent towards the Braes of Foss I turned onto a track that went steeply up through the trees.

The track to the top, Shehallion hiding it's head in the cloud

A warm climb because It was sheltered from the wind but that quickly changed when I emerged from the trees.

An interesting tunnel above the old open cast mine

Inside the tunnel 

A return to the track that continues down past an old open cast barites mine before finishing below the the next top.

An old dumper, abandoned? At the open cast mine 

The way down before climbing up to the second top

On top of Farragon hill 

A steep and rocky climb over Farragon hill and down through potentially soggy ground to another track. It just proved how dry it has been, apart from the odd snow shower, that I managed to walk all day with dry feet.

A good track after descending Farragon hill

The track climbed up around Beinn Eagagach which has a newish barites mine on its east side not open cast this time but tunneled into the hill.

The new barites mine

Several dumper loads are taken from the mine to a processing plant right miles away at Balinluig.

Dumper retuning to the mine

The old track, not the new one to the mine, then descends to Loch Tummel where I had thought of camping but I decided to go on to the campsite at Fascally.

Clunie dam at the end of Loch Tummel 

A lovely walk following the River Tummel before crossing on the Coronation footbridge and walking down the other bank until the confluence with the River Garry.

Coronation bridge 

A short walk up the bank to the Garry Bridge where there are a lot of high level zip wires in the trees and bungee jumping from under the bridge.

Path by the river

Down the other side then to Fascally where the campsite I remembered is now a "holiday park" therefore no tents.

Garry bridge with bungee jumping platform underneath 

A swift change of plan was called for. Nowhere to camp or stay, for a reasonable price, in Pitlochry but there was a cheap place in Aberfeldy.

A very low River Garry from Garry Bridge 

A quick walk down the road to Pitlochry where I was just in time for the bus to Balinluig where after a few minutes the connection to Aberfeldy turned up.

Under the Garry bridge

The weather was bright and sunny at this stage with a light wind, whether it was still blowing on the top I don't know. 

Pitlochry 

I have the backpackers booked in Pitlochry for tomorrow night so maybe I'll walk back there tomorrow, I seem to have plenty of time!

TGO Challenge 14/05/26

Day 8, Innerwick to Glengoulandie.

It was a showery night which continued for a while in the morning before drying up in the afternoon but starting again in the late afternoon. It was also very cold with a strong north wind.

Innerwick War Memorial 

Fresh snow on the hills

I had planned to go over two hills to the north and back to the road a short distance from where I was camping. I was all set to do it until I got out of the tent and felt the wind strength and temperature. A look at the cloud covered hills and, discretion being the better part of valour, I headed down to the road.

River Lyon

Having made the decision of course the weather improved but it was still very cold and windy. The right choice I think.

Road down the Glen 

Walking down Glen Lochy on the very quiet road was delightful with the new leaves on the trees and various spring flowers appearing.

Pigs by the roadside 

A section of track on the other side of the river was through fields full of lambs and their mums enjoying the sunny periods.

River Lyon

Very fertile land here and beautiful farms and other houses. A delightful place.

5000 year old Yew tree

I reached Fortingall but the hotel wasn't serving lunch so I had to make do with coffee and a bag of crisps.

5000 year old Yew tree 

After inspecting the 5000 year old Yew tree in the neighboring church yard I had to decide what to do next.

Is the finger pointing the right way?

The plan from here was to head north on a track and find somewhere to camp below Schiehallion but with the cold windy weather I was a bit doubtful.

Outside a sculpture workshop 

The problem was solved when I looked at the map and discovered a campsite beside the road I would be crossing tomorrow. Not much more sheltered but at least it would have a level pitch a more importantly, hot showers.

Very quiet 'B' road

A good campsite, not very sheltered as I expected but the shower was great.

Glengoulandie campsite 

TGO Challenge 13/05/26

Day 7, Gaur power station to Innerwick.

It was a cold morning but dry and bright although the showers soon started with hail higher-up.

I was camping behind the power station near the fish ladder which is going up in the centre of the picture 

I had plenty of layers of clothes on when I started the walk although the outer layers had been removed by the time I had walked down the road to Bridge of Balgie.

Near Bridge of Balgie 

The weather stayed good as I walked up the track towards Meall Dubh in fact I was enjoying everything so much I completely missed the path that I had intended to take to cut round the hill.

Up the track 

The clothing all went back on as some hail showers moved over making it feel very cold. The high hills in the distance all had an extra covering of snow last night.

The long way round 

No problem just extra distance but it was on a good track rather than the probably boggy path.

Looking back down the hill

At this stage I am about half a day ahead of my original plan and when I got to the place that I had planned to camp there was nowhere really suitable. Ideal for a lunch stop though.

Towards Loch Rannoch 

I climbed over a deer fence by a locked gate and discovered a vague track marks going diagonally up the exactly the way I wanted to go. It always makes it easier when there is something to follow no matter how vague and boggy it is.

The top of Cam Chreag

I reached Cut Lochan and then faced a steep climb to the humpy ridge before today's high point..

Coming off the hill

A little further along the ridge then a short, steep drop to a track that wound down the glen. There was a tin shed where I met the track with a picnic bench inside, obviously for grouse shooting. It would be a useful shelter in bad weather

Looking back

The track made an easy descent of a long glen that would have been very awkward without it.

Camping space

I found a sheltered spot in some trees for the tent where there was a fire ring. And various wooden 'things'. Looks like it is or was used as an encampment of some sort.

Cold but happy 

It felt very cold when when I was sorting everything out and I was happy to get into the tent. There was some bits of sunshine later which made it very pleasant.