Ramblers do battle with the dreaded midges
The scourge of walkers – the dreaded midges – were out in force when Duncanrig Ramblers headed to Gairlochhead at the weekend.
But neither they nor the mist and the rain stopped the hardy bunch from completing the two walks on offer.
The alternate walk star t ed at Glen Fruin, above Faslane, near to the site of the Battle of Glen Fruin, one of the last clan battles in Scotland, in which an estimated 300 warriors on foot from the MacGregor Clan claimed victor y over an estimated 600-800 men from the Colquhoun Clan on horseback.
The road f rom Glen Fr uin to L och L ong was known as Scottish Gaelic: Rathad Mòr nan Gàidheal, (in English “The High Road of the Gaels/ Highlanders”).
The route that the ramblers were f oll owing i s part of t he three lochs way.
After a short distanced on a tarred path, their route then followed a track which should have afforded them great and views down over the Gare Loch, Loch Long and the surrounding hills but due to the mist this was lost on the walkers.
Most of the walk was in open forest but this did not distract the midges who were out in force on the day.
At Glen Douglass, the group followed a road downhill and they then had their first glimpse on the day of Loch Long, before reaching the waiting coach.
The high walkers had an initial steep as cent upon to the Strone and then onto Ben Mhanaich but due to the mist the group could not enjoy the views down the Clyde Estuary and the surrounding sea lochs.
From the cairn, the group had a significant descent down very steep grassy terrain and then f ol l owed t he l i ne of t he Al l t Derigan Burn which is the line of a nearly forgotten route from Loch Long to Luss.
After passing under the Oban and Fort William railway line their route took them to Glen Douglass and the waiting coach.
The ramblers enjoyed a social hour in Helensburgh.
The club’s next outing, on July 3, is to the Borders and members can book at the meeting on June 27.
Visit www.duncanrig.com for details on all the club activities, visitors welcome.