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- A Highland welcome...
While the OH is away, I'll go off and do some walking! Not that I wouldn't be walking anyway but there is a certain feel of freedom when there is no dashing home to make the dinner
I opted to repeat this circuit of Glen Banvie and Bruar. It is nearly three years ago since I did this one with Moss and her late big sister Millie, so today Moss returned with her younger bother Còinneach. We missed the falls that time so I figured this time we'd add the falls on too!
- Moss
- Còinneach
There was only one other soon-to-be-gone car in the car park, the owners of that were just returning to the car, when we arrived. Popped a couple of quid into the donation box for the car parking and off we set following the road towards the glen. This route is marked by little orange arrows. We passed a couple of Highland cows and some Highland ponies having a munch on some hay as we walked along the quiet road through Old Blair and not far beyond the last house was our turning onto a track alongside the Banvie Burn. The sides are steep here so keeping dogs on a lead is advised!
- Not an issue for this boy, he's always on the lead. Prey drive far too high to let him run free!
We reached the sign directing to The Whim and followed it to make a return visit to this folly that looks down to Blair Castle and it's grounds.
Returning to the main track we continued up the glen remaining on the same side of the Banvie burn throughout passing through a gate to leave the woodland behind and head out onto the open moorland. The track on the other side leads up to the Munro Beinn Dearg, a potential new target for us in the summer but not today!
It is easy going on the good track with no difficulties. While there was a light covering of snow in places there wasn't too much in the way of ice, just some frozen puddles here and there. Eventually the trees marking the beginning of the next stretch of woodland were reached and we returned to the forest.
- One of the orange markers not far into the forest.
The track through the forest was more frozen over in places but there were ways around the ice. After passing through the second gate the following section of forest has been felled and the lorries have been collecting the timber. At the T junction we saw one of the lorries on the main track loading logs, but this is were we took the right to go visit the Falls of Bruar.
The sides to the gorge are very steep so dogs on leads is highly advised! We headed up the wide track to visit the upper falls. It shouldn't be too much of an issue to add the circuit of the falls onto this for a longer day, but we just visited the top part and returned to our main track.
- Falls of Bruar
The timber lorry was just finishing loading the driver using the claw to pick up the straps to tie down the logs with. We waited until he waved for us to continue on our way. We passed the lorry and continued on our way, the lorry passing us a bit later on.
The track zig-zags down to a farm track that leads back to the start and it was along this farm track we met some old friends! When I did this walk three years ago we met a group of horses in the fields along the lane at the start (the field where the Highland cows now are), the first ones that Moss was introduced to. Well guess what? They were there! I'm pretty sure it was the same horses. Even at the time there was some familiarity time and looking back at the old picture at least some are from the same group!
They watched us coming towards them and Moss headed over to say hello the big grey dropping his head over the fence to greet us. I went from one to the next giving a stroke, scratch and/or a cuddle the dogs touching noses sniffing and being sniffed by the horses. While getting a photo of one of the other horses the grey horse dropped their head over my shoulder for a proper cuddle. I'm sure this is the one who slobbered all over my new jacket the first time we met! I was wearing the same jacket, but I guess slobbering on a jacket that is now three years old doesn't have the same appeal as when it is on it's first outing
- Moss with the grey horse
- Hello, have we met before?
- Those are some REALLY big dogs mum...
Eventually I reached the last horse in the line and after giving this one a stroke we continued on our way somewhat reluctantly. I have to say, they were once again the highlight of this entire walk. They are such beautiful, friendly individuals every single one of them.
The equestrian theme continued as we continued along the track. The fields currently being grazed by sheep are the part of the cross country course at Blair Horse Trials. It was almost strange seeing them in the winter with none of the crowds that are there in the summer. Ahead lay Blair Castle itself, a big Private sign here the orange arrow directing us to follow the road to the left and we were soon retracing our steps back to the car park. There we met a man with another collie that was also called Moss! So there were three Moss' in the car park (Còinneach means moss in Scots Gaelic
)
- A Highland goodbye...