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There's no place like home!

There's no place like home!


Postby BlackPanther » Wed Nov 07, 2012 5:25 pm

Route description: River Beauly and Lovat Bridge circuit

Date walked: 22/10/2012

Time taken: 2 hours

Distance: 7.4 km

Ascent: 50m

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I was home alone on Monday the 22nd, with my second half busy driving... Having finished all my domestic duties, I couldn't resist going out for a short stroll with Kevin's camera - usually on the hills he is the one who plays with the stuff :lol: :lol:
The day was cold but ohh so lovely and I walked the route which I regularly use for jogging. Obviously, carrying the bulky camera with me meant I had to walk rather than run this time, but I didn't mind it at all.
The hills above Beauly may not be the highest peaks to climb, but there is a lot to explore here. The following route is a great low level circuit, just what one needs on their doorstep :D
There's no place like home, I should say... :D :D :D
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Route:

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My version is slightly longer than the WH description, but even when walking from the village, this circuit shouldn't take longer than 2 hours (my jogging time is 45-50 min). It's on a good tracks/tarmac roads all the time and the river views are lovely.
But before I reached the river, the first mile was walked on the pavement by A862 - not the most scenic route, especially when the traffic is dense, but with some good views to the surrounding fields...
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On the northern side, the hills of Beauly:
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A glimpse back to the village:
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I always liked autumn as the best time for photographing - all the colours of the rainbow...
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I stopped for a while to greet the locals...
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...but I was also eager to leave the busy road behind and dive into the quiet countryside. The next stop - Lovat Bridge:
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I crossed the road just before the bridge and walked on a track past a couple of houses. Now I was on the best part of this circuit, along the River Beauly.
Lovat Bridge from the south:
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The river was definitely in spate:
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The track follows the river - it's a private road but accessible to walkers:
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The river splits and for a short distance I walked through the woods, with the narrow canal to the left:
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Soon I was back in the open:
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Looking back:
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Sometimes when jogging I meet dog walkers on this track, but today I was completely alone, with the blue sky and the quiet autumnal landscape around...
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The track continues to a gate, which is chained, but not locked. Sometimes, when I can't be bothered to untangle the chain, I simply climb over it :lol: :lol:
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From this spot, one can see the nearest Corbett, Beinn a' Bha'ach Ard:
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The track into the forest:
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There is even a place for picnic!
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...with lovely views towards the river:
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The walk continues...
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Additional attractions:
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This part of the river is also a popular fishing spot, with "pools" created for fish to hang about :wink:
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All the colours of the fall...
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I continued along the river as long as I could but eventually I came across an obvious obstacle, which I wasn't ready to dive in :lol: :lol: :lol:
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Definitely in spate...
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I turned off the river path and picked a forest track:
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After a short distance, I emerged from the woods and was greeted by more local tenants:
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A great spot for cow watching :lol: :lol:
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The walk goes on on a slightly boggy track. A few times before, during my jogging sessions, I had come across cows grazing on the track, but today they were all on the fenced off pasture and no manoeuvring was necessary:
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A second gate, I use this one sometimes for stretching exercises :lol: :lol:
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One can continue the stroll along the river past this house, but I stayed on my usual route:
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A glimpse back:
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One last view of the river:
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The hills of Beauly in the 50 shades of the fall...
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The track is still a bit wet and especially after heavy rain it can be muddy:
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Looking east across the fields:
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Wild roses in fruit. My dad used to collect them for homemade wine, a long time ago when I was officially too young to drink alcohol... And the wine was yummy :shh:
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I turned NE on a tarmac road - the rest of the circuit is on a dry surface:
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Photographing pylons may not be the most ambitious task... They spoil the views, all right, but what would we do without electricity?
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But sometimes, I must admit, they are an interesting addition to the landscape:
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Bird cherries in fruit and some more childhood memories. These little berries aren't particularly tasty when eaten raw (bitter :? ) but when made into high juice they are a fantastic addition to your hot cup of tea... or a pint of beer if you like it with a sweet touch :lol:
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Autumnal fields on the way back:
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Before returning home I took a short detour to the war memorial:
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In about two hours I was back in my kitchen cooking dinner... Sure there's no place like home - and I can highly recommend this walk. :D If you don't want to walk from the village, there is space for a few cars below the war memorial. Now excuse me, time to put my running shoes on! Meow!
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BlackPanther
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Re: There's no place like home!

Postby The Rodmiester » Wed Nov 07, 2012 6:18 pm

What a cracking walk to have on your doorstep! :D I recognise those fields along the A862, I have stoped there with the car to support my daughter doing the Highland Cross a few times. Some lovely autumnal colours :D , and is it not funny how the old pylons seem to be more acceptable than windfarms.
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Re: There's no place like home!

Postby dogplodder » Wed Nov 07, 2012 6:21 pm

This is a favourite dog walk of ours. Lovely autumn colours. :D
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Re: There's no place like home!

Postby gyles » Wed Nov 07, 2012 7:38 pm

Nice report. The Beauly & Muir of Ord area is a nice area for walks.

I only get across there when visiting my girlfriends family as she's a Kirkhill lass. I would love to settle down there maybe in the future.
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Re: There's no place like home!

Postby BlackPanther » Thu Nov 08, 2012 3:04 pm

Thanks, folks :D :D Not a big mountain adventure but this little walk is well worth a proper TR... A bit of local advertising :lol:

The Rodmiester wrote:What a cracking walk to have on your doorstep! :D I recognise those fields along the A862, I have stoped there with the car to support my daughter doing the Highland Cross a few times. Some lovely autumnal colours :D , and is it not funny how the old pylons seem to be more acceptable than windfarms.


I have always had the same "approving" feeling about pylons, at least the existing ones, they seem to blend into the landscape more easily than windfarms. And do they have a great impact on the environment? I don't think so. The alternative would be to bury the cables in the ground - well that would be a mess!

dogplodder wrote:This is a favourite dog walk of ours. Lovely autumn colours. :D


It's possible we might have passed each other at some point (or maybe will in the future :D ) I see quite a few people with dogs on this route. Do you remember noticing a puffing-huffing blonde on the run? :lol: :lol:

gyles wrote:Nice report. The Beauly & Muir of Ord area is a nice area for walks.
I only get across there when visiting my girlfriends family as she's a Kirkhill lass. I would love to settle down there maybe in the future.


I moved to Beauly from Inverness when I met my now husband, it was like running away from the busy, noisy city into the tranquil, quiet spot, a perfect place to live :D :D And the surrounding area is full of walks to explore, the northern hills I mentioned, Loch nam Bonnach and plenty of forests to look for mushrooms :wink: Really a good place to settle down. The village is growing, new apartments are now built on the western side. All you need is a car to drive to work.
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Re: There's no place like home!

Postby dogplodder » Thu Nov 08, 2012 3:44 pm

After all the photos on here I'm sure I would recognise you - even on the run! :lol: We did the river walk more often when living at Kinmylies but now we've moved to the Culloden side of Inverness it's a bit further away. Must get back to it. The Beauly deli is always good for apres walk calorie intake! :D
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Re: There's no place like home!

Postby ChrisW » Thu Nov 08, 2012 7:02 pm

Another lovely local BP, and what a great running circuit :D Those elderberries make fantastic bait for coarse fishing during autumn...roach absolutely love em :lol:
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Re: There's no place like home!

Postby Bruno » Fri Nov 09, 2012 10:51 pm

Another cracker, BP!
Really enjoy your reports - great pics and a spotlight on a part of the country I`ve neglected . Beautiful area.
Bruno
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