Hikers enjoy highs and lows
The Our Lady of Lourdes Hiking Club took on misty walks to Glen Turret near Comrie last weekend.
Both the High Walkers and the Low Walkers started from the parking area beside the dam where the weather was warm but damp with mist clinging to the mountain tops.
The route for both groups led across the top of the dam but on reaching the end of the construction each turned off in separate directions, the High Group heading north west whilst the Low Group headed along a rough track leading south.
The plan for the Low Walkers was to follow this track around the hills to an isolated building called Braefordie and there strike out west and south to a farm called Balmuick following walking tracks zig-zagging through the hills.
The sun came out and the gold autumn colours speckled the countryside, providing the walkers with a stunning vista.
After Balmuick the route led around Monument Hill and on to Twenty Shilling Wood and it was in this area that a number of birds of prey were spotted showing off their flying skills.
The last section of the route involved approaching the village of Comrie from the west and making contact with the waiting bus thus completing a most enjoyable outing in good walking conditions and covering a distance of 14 kms in approximately five hours.
There were expressions of approval from the members at the end, praising the quality of the walk and the weather as they joined the High Group in one of the village watering holes.
On reaching the south end of the dam the High Group turned north west and followed a rough track along the shore of the Turret Reservoir for about 1km before turning sharply south and climbing up a steep grassy slope on to a ridge which connects Beinn Liath and Carn Chois.
There are no tracks or paths in this vicinity and this, coupled with the rough nature of the undergrowth and the fact the group became enveloped in the mist clinging to the tops made for quite hard work to progress. A compass bearing was set and aimed at accessing a mountain track located approximately 1 km west of Carn Chois and it seemed to take an age to reach this point, but reach it they did and with it relief to escape the mist.
The going was relatively straightforward descending the track to Carroglen Farm and hence on to Balmuick and the discomfort and effort expended on the ridge section were forgotten as the hikers absorbed the splendour of the autumnal scene in what turned out to be a beautiful sunny afternoon.
The last section was down by the River Lednock and through Laggan Wood and into Comrie from the north thus bringing a rewarding walk of 4 kms to an end.
The next outing is scheduled for Saturday, November 12, and will start in Garelochead, with the finish in Helensburgh, and concentrating on the well known Glen Fruin.
The sign-on for this will be on Thursday, November 3.