For their most recent trip Duncanrig Rambling Club set out for Perthshire and, in particular, the ever popular district of Dunkeld in Strathtay. The town of Dunkeld, whose name means the fort of the Caledonians, despite being of moderate size has numerous claims to fame, not least having a cathedral on the site where there has been a church for more than 1400 years dating from a time when Celtic monks set up a mission. This area, known as Perthshire Big Tree Country, boasts “Neil Gow’s Oak” under which the famous traditional musician composed his Strathspeys and reels and, of course, adjoining Birnam wood featured in Shakespeare’s Macbeth. This delightful part of the country has numerous tracks and paths to appeal to the lovers of the outdoors and Duncanrig Rambling Club planned 2 walks of ten and seven and a half miles respectively. The high walkers, after a brief section of road, headed north on good tracks, then east on a well sign-posted route towards Raor Lodge where the walking party arrived just at feeding time. The lady resident keeps dozens of bantams, rare ducks with bouffant hairdos and guinea fowl as pets, not for the table. The birdlife created endless entertainment for the passers-by who happily smiled and clicked their cameras at the scene before continuing their route alongside the highland burns and low-growing blaeberry plants to Loch Ordie in the unlikely hope of spotting an osprey. After a spot of road passing Riemore Lodge to the welcome lunch spot, the route took the ramblers onto a beautiful narrow track through the just changing colours of heather and bracken and nearby birch, hazel and pine below the south face of Deuchary Hill where the rich colour of the August heather had given way to the muted russet tones of autumn. Once onto the main path it was all downhill to the Mill Dam and on past the piles of recently harvested timber whose unmistakeable scent filled the nostrils. The low walkers, after a section of upland farmland near Forneth, descended through woodland to cross the road to the famous wild life sanctuaries of Loch of Butterstone and Loch o’ the Lowes where the fresh breeze encouraged them to keep up a brisk pace towards the visitor centre, then on into Dunkeld where they found that the high walkers had just arrived for a perfectly synchronised end to an interesting and enjoyable day in the Perthshire hills. The next walk will take place when many of the members will be in Puerto Pollensa Mallorca for a week’s hiking. This will provide an ideal opportunity for visitors to find space on the coach for a new Grade “C” version of a Fife coastal walk starting at Elie, to Kilconquhar Loch then via country lanes, paths and woodland to Largo Bay for a finish along the coast to St Monans harbour. Booking-on on 9 September will include a return of the social programme with a talk on Wildlife and Conservation in Arran by Kate Sampson. For further information visit the website duncanrig or telephone Mike on 07854 099005.
Posted on: Mon, 02 Sep 2013 16:19:07 +0000
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