Perthshire is just perfect for ramblers
Duncanrig enjoy superb weather at Blair Atholl
Duncanrig Ramblers headed to Perthshire – one of the club’s favourite areas – for two walks.
The high walk started opposite the museum in the Blair Atholl estate and followed the edge of the River Tilt up to the village of Old Bridge of Tilt.
Members crossed the river and then headed for Old Blair, taking the lower route that passed through the old Church of St Bride.
T h e c h u r c h wa s d e d i c a t e d t o S t Bride and is an early Christian site. John Gra h a m o f C l av e r h o u s e , Vi s c o u n t Dundee, ‘Bonnie Dundee’, was buried in the aisle attached to the now roofless church after the Battle of Killiecrankie in 1689.
T h e r a mbl e r s l e f t O l d B l a i r a n d followed the old Minigaig route. This is a former drover’s road; the original main route leading between Kingussie and Blair Atholl.
From there, the group followed the tracks through forests, crossing a stone bridge over the Banvie Burn, then over more open forestland and Glen Banvie Wood, heading for Glen Bruar.
At the Glen, the group had spectacular v i e ws o f t he Fa l l s o f Br ua r a nd t he crossing bridge above. After crossing the bridge, the walkers descended by the side of the water to meet the coach at the Bruar tourist complex.
The al t er nate walk was a c i rc ul ar excursion around the lovely historical Glen Tilt.
Members started at Blair Atholl and skirted round the edge of a caravan park with fine views of the old Blair Castle.
Until the early 19th century the only building on the site of the present village was the Old Mill.
It began to grow around the present par i s h church, l argely as a pl anned settlement by the Duke of Atholl and gradually the locals moved away from Old Blair.
The building of the main A9 north road and railway line to Inverness both encouraged the growth of the new village, even though the A9 has bypassed it since the 1980s.
Blair Atholl’s most famous feature is Blair Castle and was the traditional home of the Earls (later Marquises, now Dukes) of Atholl.
The Duke of Atholl is the only person in the United Kingdom allowed to raise a private army.
T h i s a r my , k n o w n a s t h e At h o l l Highlanders, conducts largely social and ceremonial activities, and primarily consists of workers on t he extensive Atholl Estates.
Ramblers followed the path along the edge of the castle grounds past the site of the original Blair village and the ruined church of St Bride and before passing through Blairuachdar Wood, crossing the River Tilt at Cumhann-leum Bridge.
From here, they followed the r iver on to Gilberts Bridge and crossed over some meadowland before joining a track passing through the lovely Dalginross woodlands then on past Croftmore.
There was a gradual descent to cross over the Fender Burn at the hamlet of Fenderbridge and, from here, the group passed through the village of Old Bridge of Tilt then followed a path by the banks of the River Tilt through open woodland t o Blair Atholl where t he coach was waiting.
Both groups then enjoyed their social time in Pitlochry.
The next excursions are this Sunday near Moffat - St Mary’s Loch.
Check out www.duncanrig.com for details on club activities. Visitors welcome.