Hard Work in Scotland |
| Date: 8th to 18th October 2007 Submitted by: Keith Monaghan 8th to 18th October 2007 I spent 10 days in Scotland in Auchterarder near Perth, courtesy of work, and was able to get a few mountains climbed (and a few dozen Tennents Ice Cold dispatched). Getting away at about 3pm most days I travelled to Glen Lyon, and Glen Lochay Starting sometime after 4pm I ended most days using a head torch and the well known navigation rule of go downhill to you meet a road or river or lake or something. However I never had to take the GPS from my rucksack and I was spurred on during the darkness by the ever increasing sounds of stags during the rut which was in full swing. On route to Meall Glas and Sgiath Chuil in Glen Lochay I walked 2 miles up a track only to find that the footbridge had disappeared. With wet feet I plodded on to the first top where I met a local man approx 70 years old who had removed his shirt. He explained that there was a warm breeze and the sun was still out and scoffed at my designer gear. I enquired if he had been drinking and if so did he have any left in his rucksack but he didn’t appreciate my sense of humour! Sandra flew over and joined me for the middle weekend and we went to Glen Doll where we climbed Mayer and Driesh with superb views of the Lochnagar area. The next day I was forced into a traverse of the well known Princess Street in Edinburgh which was hardest day of my visit. Having despatched said wife back home I spent a full day dandering about in the clouds at Drumochter pass on the A9 near Dalwhinnie. My last day was spent in bright sunshine on Beinn a’ Ghlo at Blair Attholl . This is a fantastic set of 3 mountains with great views of Cairngorms. Having walked to the end of the ridge and intending to drop to a path and skirt back around the base of the mountains I met two stalkers with rifles in an 8 wheel buggy. The back of this buggy was covered in blood and they told me I would have to go back over ridge (additional 2000ft climb) so as not to disturb the deer. I highlighting that the hill phone recording stated no Bambi murder was taking place in the area but being only armed with walking poles and a compass I felt a little outgunned so agreed to retrace my steps. However before bidding them farewell I couldn’t help pointing out the similarities of their transport with that used by the Banana Bunch. (Sat morning TV about 30 years ago. Big Yellow Elephant and friends.) |
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