Festival to explore renowned scenery
Walkers to flock to area
The countdown is on ahead of the area’s popular Crieff and Strathearn Drovers’ Tryst walking festival.
Designed to celebrate the region’s livestock droving heritage, this year’s showcase of all-things outdoors takes place from May 10-13.
The wide-ranging programme includes more than 20 graded walks designed to cater for all abilities – from ‘very hard’ and day-long routes which require a fair degree of fitness and experience, to more gentle woodland walks undertaken in the hands of experienced guides.
Demand in advance of the showpiece is said to have been high, with one third of the walks already sold-out and a large portion of the others more than half-full in terms of capacity.
And, in advance of this year’s Drovers’ Tryst, a spokesperson paid tribute to the efforts of the volunteer-led committee which works hard to bring the event to fruition each year.
The festival’s representative said: “For over 20 years, the Drovers’ Tryst has been providing guided walks during the annual walking festival.
“A third of all walks are already sold-out and a further third are 60 per cent filled, with limited places remaining.
“The good news is that opportunities to take advantage of all walk types are still available.”
The Drovers’ Tryst spokesperson continued: “The challenging double Munro of Ben Starav and Glas Bheinn
Mor in the Glen Etive hills has some places remaining, as does the less challenging Corbett of Beinn Odhar – which, at 899 metres, is only 15 metres short of being a Munro – situated just north of Tyndrum.
“If not attracted to Munro ‘bagging’ the long – but gentler – walk from Kinloch Rannoch to Fortingall at the mouth of Glen Lyon may appeal.
“This walk climbs past the western foot of Schiehallion and is mostly on hill tracks. It is around 14 kilometres but is rarely undertaken as it requires transport at both ends – something the Tryst manages by providing a minibus to drop-off and collect their walkers.”
At the other end of the scale in terms of difficulty, the event representative went on to add: “The gentle woodland walks on offer include a visit to the Pinetum at Scone Palace and also the impressive tall trees of Dunkeld and Birnam.
“Indeed, the Dunkeld and Birnam tall trees are often referred to as the ‘cradle of the Scottish forest renaissance’ because of the activity of the ‘Planting’ Dukes of Atholl, from the 18th century.”
The spokesperson concluded: “The Drovers’ Tryst is a registered charity and is very dependent upon volunteers to assist in various aspects of the walk programme – ranging from helping to guide walks as a walk leader or assistant to driving minibuses – and people wishing to help are most welcome.
“They should contact Tryst chair Ian Buchan, who would welcome anybody interested in helping.”
Further details in relation to the walks available can be viewed online via www. droverstryst.com.
Budding volunteers can contact Tryst chair Ian by sending an email to ibuchan6@gmail.com.
• The Drovers’ Tryst AGM is from 7pm on Thursday, May 2, at Strathearn Arts in Crieff’s Comrie Street, and all members are welcome to attend.