TGO Challenge 18/05/26

Day 12, Lair to Glenisla.

It was a cold night and the morning was mostly overcast with some low cloud but this lifted and there were some sunny intervals. Again I didn't get wet although there were some rain showers about.

Good thing that I wasn't going that way

Today was slightly odd in that I walked a long way and climbed a lot but didn't actually go very far.

Path up Mount Blair 

There were three hills that I wanted to climb here so it was a good chance to do them all. 

Communication tower on Mount Blair 

Mount Blair was just a short road walk and then a steep path up to the radio/telephone aerials at the top returning to the road by the same path. Why didn't I leave my pack at the bottom?

Looking back to Mount Blair along the wall from Duchray Hill

Across the road then for a rather mor convoluted route up to Duchray Hill. There is a lot of new forestry planting here but I found a way up starting on a new track and ending by climbing a deer fence onto the upper hill.

Too big, heavy and awkward to carry ☹️

There is a big drystone wall all along the ridge here which I followed to the top of the hill and then descended by a different ridge to Forter.

Castle at Forter with ancient roadsign

I found a gorgeous antler and was very tempted to bring it home but after carrying it for a short distance I decided that it was just too heavy and awkward, shame, it was good one.

Looking back to Mount Blair from the track up Badandun Hill

There was a short track that went down to Forter where there's an old 'castle'. The castle is really a fortified house, this one appeared to be a private house and I have never seen a better maintained one.

Windy on the top

But a great view

The last hill was a long walk but relatively easy as there was a track all the way to the top and another one to take be down the other side.

On the way down 

Hill loop completed

Looking back

A couple of hours walk down to Glenisla with it's little unstaffed hotel.

TGO Challenge 17/05/26

Day 11, Pitlochry to Lair.

Another fairly bright day with showers although, once again, I hardly got any. The wind was lighter as well, so a very pleasant day.

Pitlochry in the morning 

The Tay

Pitlochry was nice in the morning with nobody about as I walked out of town before turning onto a little road that climbed up to the forest edge before turning into a track 

Open forest track

The track went for nearly five miles through the forest in wide spaces between the trees making a very pleasant walk.

A deer fence to climb (at least there was some help on this one)

Coming down from the top

I had to climb a deer fence to get out of the forest onto a steep climb with deep heather. Unpleasant to get through but I reached the ridge and it was easier walking then round to the top.

Good track down through the forest

A steep heathery descent then and another deer fence to climb but in the end I reached the end of a track that continued all the way to Kirkmichael.

"Hut" blending into the hillside 

There is an interesting community of timber "huts" above Kirkmichael. Not what I would call huts but high quality Scandinavian log cabins all blended into the landscape, very nice.

Kirkmichael 

Kirkmichael Hotel

There is a community shop and café at Kirkmichael but unfortunately it was shut however the hotel was able to supply coffee and biscuits.

Over the hill

There is a path from here to Lair that is labeled as a mini Cateran trail track. The first part was straightforward to the track past Ashintully Castle but after that it becomes confusing, heathery and wet. I went the wrong way several times.

Where's the path?

I was beginning to despair of finding somewhere to camp before reaching the road but just before I got there I found a level bit beside the path. Perfect.

Sanctuary 

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!