Bridge of Balgie Split Rock walk 17/11/19

After seeing photos of the Split Rock, Fiann's Arrow or Praying Hands of Mary, the stone with many names, we decided to plot a map route to it. The forecast was good on Saturday so we drove the hour and a half to the carpark beside the Bridge of Balgie Post Office tearoom.
We followed the map, compass and stop watch for the hour, bang on time we saw the top of the vee as we headed up the hill. The rock is named after the glen in which it sits, in Gaelic Da Eig, the two nicks/notches. Well worth the effort to see it and the stunning scenery, blue skies and thick white cloud clinging to the mountain tops.

River Lyon

Obstacle course

Big clouds

Climbing higher

Track ahead

Split rock in front of Creag nan Eildeag

Big clouds in the glen

A good day at split rock

Time to head down before the weather rolls in

Allt Gleann da-eig tributary

Looking to Bridge of Balgie on the way back down

Sitka home after our walk

Sitka resting his eyelids

Ben Vorlich, Loch Earn Walk 6/10/18

The forecast was perfect for our third Munro climb, beautiful sunshine and zero degrees as we got out the car. Thankfully we were early as pretty soon the verge on the west side of the loch filled up with cars and camper vans, some were abandoned in passing places and in front of farm gates.

It was a steady climb with the low sun in our faces, checking the map made sure we were on the right track. We made it to the trig point in 2 hours 8 minutes, a couple of photos then we walked along to the cairn. We sheltered over the side of the ridge to get out the freezing wind for hot chocolate, oatcakes and cheese, amazing how much milder it was 2 metres down.

The descent took around 2 hours, an amazing morning walk and stunning views.

Cracking early morning sunshine

Gaining height, looking back to Loch Earn

Looking over to Stuc a' Chroin from the Ben Vorlich cairn

Alt an Dubh Choirein river below and Grangemouth in the distance

View of the hills above Loch Earn

Lesley filling up Sitka's water bowl

Jacket and hat on as it was freezing at the top, Sitka was fine

Stunning 360 degree view 

Looking back to Ben Vorlich trig point

The trig point at 985m

Lesley and Sitka heading back down, pretty slippy on the loose rocks

Looking back up the path, the sunshine still with us

Sitka waiting for me to open his own personal dog gate

Bridge over the Ardvorlich Burn

Loch Earn

Autumn Walks - Venachar Forest 22/09/18, Bridge of Balgie 29/09/19, Killiecrankie 27/10/18 and Castle Dow 04/11/18

Making the most of the decent weather over the last two months, we had plenty walks to take in the autumn colours and scenery. A blog update with some photos from four of the walks.

Venachar Forest, part of the Rob Roy Way

Loch Venachar

Sitka bringing up the rear

Rainbow rising

Wee waterfall

Looking out to Ben Ledi from our pit stop at Mhor 84 after our walk, well worth a visit

Meggernie Woods walk from Bridge of Balgie, great wee tearoom at the post office

Nice autumn colours

Looking up the glen to Rannoch Forest

The village of Innerwick

River Garry walk up the West path, we should have crossed the green iron bridge, but not being one to be put off by a poor attempt at a fence to stop folk from venturing onward. The path continued on high above the river, sometimes indistinct and fallen trees blocking our path, character building scrambling as we headed down towards the river, a fisherman in the middle of the water telling us we could go no further and we weren't the only ones to try. We did head back, scrambling up the steep banking until we found a faint higher path leading to the Soldiers Leap. We stopped off at the Killicrankie bridge for hot chocolate from a flask, not a handy food van. We followed the East path back along the river, stopping off at the Soldiers Leap viewpoint then headed back to the Garry Bridge in time to hear shouts of encouragement to the folk doing bungee jumps off it, not my idea of fun, Heights are fine, no need to get down so quick.

Some colourful plants

 One of the trees blocking the path

Sitka looking for treats

River Garry

Autumn leaves

Looking North from the Killiecrankie Bridge

They didnt need bungee jumping thrills in these days

Beautiful viaduct with turrets

Tranquility

Brigadier Balfour of the Dutch Brigade Redcoat army's grave

The Garry Bridge, bonnie colours and noisy bungee jumpers

Castle Dow walk between Haugh of Grandtully and Sketewan, parking for a couple of cars at the forestry carpark and an easy to follow landrover track, a 3 hour return at most, great views north and south.

Looking South towards Logierait

Stone cairns

Looking north west towards Schiehallion

Wee tree growing out of a cairn

Sitka roaming the heather

Castle Dow, remains of