Loch Faskally
Staying Local in lockdown
Brenda Clough • January 11, 2021
Ben Vrackie from Moulin
We are all back in lockdown again and need to be limiting our contacts with others and staying local. But fresh air and exercise does lots to lift the spirits and keep you fit and active in the winter and we would like to share some of our favourite local walks with you.
If you wish to find your own local walks where you live there is lots of information available from leaflets to on-line information. The two mapping apps we use on our phones on a regular basis are Viewranger and OSMaps and these also have information on local routes. And in Scotland we also have a right of responsible access so don’t forget to use it and go and explore your local fields, open country and woodland. You can often find routes you didn’t know existed before. But please be responsible in not causing damage, keeping dogs under control and closing gates.
These are some of our favourite walks around Pitlochry which can all be done from home.
First of all there is the Tummel circuit which is a short fairly flat wander across the bouncy bridge, up the south or north side of the river to the Clunie Bridge and back along the other side. Once the weather improves you can easily extend this into a longer walk heading up the south side of the river to the Coronation Bridge (along the road unfortunately) and then up to Garry Bridge and back along the side of Loch Faskally. It is fairly flat walking with some steps.
Black Spout waterfall and woods
Our next walk is on the north side of Pitlochry, which has all sorts of delights when life re-opens such as the Red Deer Restaurant and the Moulin Inn. However, for now it is a good stretch of the legs up through Black Spout Wood (lots of options - and don't miss the waterfall), past Auchnahyle, the Black Castle and then from Moulin up to Balnacraig and down through the golf course either by the side of the 1st and 2nd fairways or by heading a bit further west and coming down west of The Cuilc and across the railway at the bottom of Cuilc Brae. This can easily be extended to include Craigower (a great viewpoint in clear conditions) and back or vary it by going up to Kinnaird via Edradour and back to town via the right of way at the western end of Kinnaird (a bit more road walking).
Clachan an Diridh, on the route between Pitlochry and Strathtay
Another option is to go across the bouncy bridge and up to the stone circle of Clachan an Diridh. In the summer we often head over to Grandtully to one of the inns or the Highland Chocolatier before walking back or alternatively you can catch the bus to Aberfeldy and walk all the way back along the river and then up from Strathtay and past the standing stones on the Rob Roy Way.
Loch a' Choire below Ben Vrackie
Finally of course we can’t forget Ben Vrackie, our much loved local mountain. But in winter you do need to be suitably kitted out with drinks, food, warm clothing, waterproofs and in some conditions ice axe and crampons may be needed. Often the most dangerous bit is the icy paths near the start and sometimes it is slippier coming down the steep path then going up it due to the ice. If you are happy off paths one option after reaching the summit is to head east to the next top and then head south east down the ridge of Creag an Fhithich where you eventually reach an unmapped track by a stone wall which you can follow over the burn above the lower reservoir and eventually rejoin the main path.
Enjoy your local walking and stay safe!
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