10-12 Lower Glen Lyon
How about you try the winter hills at the foot of Perthshire's Glen Lyon, suggests Ronald Turnbull...
Glen Lyon is long, lonely and lovely. But if the snowplough hasn't been, the glen's far end may be a snowscape too far. Yet the glen foot also offers a big drift of loneliness and a shovelful of loveliness. This is the back of Ben Lawers, and the lower but intricate Munros of the Mairg group. Or, if you’ve got low cloud and soggy snow, tracks lead over to the back of Schiehallion and – if you can find it – a little limestone pothole. At the end of the day the light in the darkness is the Fortingall Inn, one of Scotland's oldest. And the streetlights throw the long shadow of something even older: the Fortingall yew tree. According to legend, Pontius Pilate played under it as a child 2,000 years ago.
TRANSPORT
Bus 23 from Perth or Dunkeld (station) to Aberfeldy, nothing closer 0871 200 2233 www.traveline.info; Aberfeldy Taxis (01887) 820370; in summer, Ring of Breadalbane Explorer bus along north side of Loch Tay
PUBS/GRUB
Fortingall Hotel, excellent bar meals www.fortingall.com; good pubs, cafés and chip shop in Aberfeldy
ACCOMMODATION
Boreland Loch Tay at Fearnan luxury bunkhouse borelandlochtay.co.uk (01887) 827691 info@borelandlochtay.co.uk; Culdees Hostel and B&B, just north of Fearnan (01887) 830 519 or 07904 954116 ,
PRACTICALITIES
Aberfeldy has everything including late-opening petrol station, supermarket and Munro's gear shop.
LOCAL INFO Aberfeldy Tourist Info
(01887) 820276 aberfeldy@visitscotland.com www.visitaberfeldy.co.uk
Glen Lyon is long, lonely and lovely...