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Suddenly there are only 42 sleeps left before I set off on a long distance walk
This winter I've really enjoyed the Sub 2000's of Perthshire and Angus, I've done my first walk in The Ochils, I've even done a Sub 2000 in Eberdeenshire. It's all been good fun following in the footsteps of the likes of The Rodmeister and GraemeD amongst others but on checking my stats for the last 3 years (yes I really am that sad) I've suddenly realised that I'm way down on my mileage and I really need to step things up so it's time to head for the tracks to the north of Dunkeld.
This walk is the one I will use for the next few weeks and I'll try to get here twice a week (Fri - Sun) if the weather is half decent.
I've done this walk so many times but I never get bored of it although today was tougher than any other time I've done it.
Setting off at 8.15am from the Cally Car Park it was fairly cold, just my car in the car park so first out, I get to see all the deer and scare them off to the higher ground.
The first part of the walk is signed to Loch Ordie and at times can be really busy but friday is usually a good quiet day and at 8.15 there is nobody about.
- Track to the north of Hatton
After about 30 minutes Mill Dam is reached and it has it's usual thin crust of ice on it.
- Mill Dam
There are 3 lochs in quick succession now with Rotmell Loch and Dowally Loch following on from Mill Dam.
- Rotmell Loch
- No fishing today
- Dowally Loch
At Raor Lodge some residents seemed happy to get their photo taken.
- I think they were waiting for breakfast
From Raor Lodge to the far end of Loch Ordie (bridge at north end) takes about 40 minutes.
- Loch Ordie
Leaving Loch Ordie behind and heading north towards Kirkmichael the track narrows a little and there is noticeably more snow around. The frozen ground with snow on top means the usual boggy bits are easily passed and it doesn't take long to leave the trees behind and get out on to the open moorland.
I have so many photos of this ruin but I can't pass it without taking more.
- Ruin
The track continues to gradually climb and the snow is getting deeper. At times the track disappears under fairly deep drifts (deeper than I was expecting).
- Track (now under a foot of snow)
- Drifts
Arriving at Lochan Oisinneach Mor the loch was frozen over with a layer of snow on top.
- Lochan Oisinneach Mor
Walking was now really difficult, along the side of the loch the track was under close to 2 feet of snow and my pace slowed as it became a bit of a grind to reach the point where I would leave the Kirkmichael track.
- A disappearing sign
I'm now heading for Ballinluig although I know the next mile will be difficult till I get to a field where hopefully on lower ground there will be less drifts to negotiate.
- Looking back towards Lochan Oisinneach Mor
- Gate in to field
- Looking north towards the Pitlochry area
Once in to the field the path disappears but it's just a case of heading down the right hand side keeping within about 30 yards of the fence. Normally this is a boggy area but today it was no problem. At the bottom of the field, cross the bridge and pick up a track heading south west.
- Bridge at bottom of field
I'm now on lower ground so the walking is easier and whilst the track is fairly muddy there is a lot less snow around.
Sometimes I look at houses and I think they have to be haunted
. This place (Tulliemet House) always looks very imposing and on high ground overlooking the valley it seems to dominate the area and for some reason I've decided it's haunted.
- Tulliemet House
After Tulliemet House there is a small section of tarmac before reaching the Y junction on the next photo. I met a farmer here a couple of years ago and he told me that the left fork had to be used by workmen and staff going to Tulliemet House wihile the family and guests would use the right fork. I know my place, I take the left fork.
- Y Junction
The track goes throgh a farmyard before linking up with the Guay - Ballinluig road at Balnamoan. The next 2-3 miles are along the Guay road but it's really quiet and you would be unlucky to see more than a couple of cars.
- Guay road
Every effort was made to get this guy to look at me for the photo but he just wasn't having it (normally he comes over to see me but not today).
At the end of a long straight and just after a house on the left I link up with the Dunkeld track (through a gate on the left of the road just beyond the house). A mile along the track I always stop for a couple of minutes to take in the view looking north towards Pitlochry.
- Looking north towards Pitlochry
The track now runs parallel with the A9 but is a couple of hundred feet up and half a mile away. At Rotmell Farm I met up with my first lambs of the year...............they must be cold in this weather.
Beyond Rotmell Farm the track starts to climb gradually.
- Dunkeld side of Rotmell Farm
At the junction in the next pic I head left towards Mill Dam rather than Dunkeld and this is the final climb of the day and whilst it's nothing major I've now covered around 18 miles so the legs are starting to tire and more so today because of the harder going with the snow.
- Turning left for Mill Dam
Back on higher ground there's a bit of snow on the track but nothing like earlier on so fairly easy walking through a wood and down to link up with the Dunkeld - Loch Ordie track at Mill Dam.
One final pick of Mill Dam before the last half hour of easy walking down the track to Cally Car Park.
- Mill Dam
Halfway between Mill Dam and the car park I met a couple out walking their dog, the first people I saw all day and that's really unusual on these tracks.
So, this is my world for the next few weeks, hopefully the snow around Lochan Oisinneach Mor will melt soon and things will get a bit easier in the weeks to come.
I'm knackered tonight...............but it's a good knackered