Strathpeffer Circuit

A local walk for us this weekend: a 9 mile route with almost 1700 feet of climbing.

We started at Catherine's, the Museum cafe, knowing that when we finished, we could stagger in and regain our spent energy with lovely home made soup and scones.

The walk started steeply, heading up the hill directly behind the old railway station, to the Stone Maze. From there we headed East, in an anti-clockwise direction, to the tiny top of Knockfarrel before descending the fields below back to the main road and over to the hamlet of Achterneed.

Picking up the forest path above the Cromartie sawmill we followed a line through the recent deforestation for the full length of the village. This led us to the beautiful Loch Kinellan, where we looped round and back to the main road again.

The last stretch of the walk took us into Blackmuir Woods and back to the Stone Maze, where we returned to our starting point, exhausted.

Hartfell

An earlier than intended rise (6:08am - I read the time on my phone upside down) and we were on our way to climb Hartfell via Blackshope Farm and back via Moffat Well.

We climbed Saddle Yolk and we contoured around Hartfell Rigg to reach the summit of Hartfell (approx 808 metres).  It was a steady climb all the way to the cairn and it consisted of good grassy paths all the way to Swatte Fell.

From here we started the descent which was a hard slog down a boggy, heathery and tussocky Hind Hill. I was so relieved to eventually reach a farm track (negotiating a herd of cattle) and the last stretch of the route back home, via Moffat Well.

This was a walk of mixed feelings: wonderful views of the valley on the climb up to the summit but twisted ankles and frustration in making our way through the tussocky descent.


Later on, we took a walk over the town and had a mediocre meal at Ariette.  Another coffee later we headed home.

To finish off we had a great meal at the Italian and then an early night.

Inver Lodge Weekend - 22nd April

A breakfast of kippers started the day for me and we departed Inver Lodge mid morning on a detoured return home via Achiltibuie.

Before we hit the tiny coastal village we stopped off for another circular walk: Achnahaird Bay circuit.

The start of the walk was along a sandy beach before climbing upwards and across more boggy ground.

We lost the path a bit and ended up taking a more boggy path than was intended but we made our way to Garve Bay and sat for a while admiring the view out to sea.

The route took us back to the single track road for a mile or so walk back to the car and lunch.
We drove on to Achiltibuie and had coffee in the Hotel before turning back on ourselves and heading to Ullapool and the drive home.

Inver Lodge Weekend - 21st April

Our second day in Lochinver and we woke to a bit of mist that scuppered our plans to climb Suilven.  Instead we took a drive to Stoer Lighthouse and took off on a circular route with views out to the Atlantic and the Old Man of Stoer.

The route was a bit boggy but the weather cheered up a bit and we had clear views of the rocky landscape in the distance: Cul Mor, Suilven, Quinag and Ben More Coigach.

The drive out to Stoer was lovely, very remote and isolated along a single track road.

On the drive back we took a detour to the Little Assynt Estate for a 6 mile run along, what appeared to be newly constructed paths.  I was absolutely knackered and had to keep stopping on the more hilly parts of the run. 

I felt as if I truly deserved my meal that night:  white onion soup, fish stew and sorbet.  A hot bath and an early night.

Inver Lodge Weekend - 20th April

My long awaited birthday treat weekend started with us driving North and stopping off at Ardvrek Castle. It was quite cool and breezy here overlooking Loch Assynt.



We continued the drive to Lochinver and arrived at about 11.30am. We started with a coffee at a local bistro/local homemade pie shop. Thankfully, Friday was a warm and dry day and we eventually managed to do a planned walk following the River Inver and out to Glencanisp Lodge - the Lodge being bought by the community in 2005 and now used for luxury accommodation.

Achnashellach Forest - 14th April 2012

Driving approx 25 miles West of home, we stopped at the edge of Achnashellach Forest to start our circular walk via Easan Dorcha bothy.  It was another lovely day as we made the steady, but straightforward, walk up a well constructed rocky path.  The views were spectacular but I was grateful for this walk being not too hilly as I was up for an easier excursion!

Off to the left was Fuarr Tholl, which looked quite scary to me although it wasn't a Munro.  Ahead of us was Beinn Liath Mhor,  which we could have gone on to walk but we'll save that for another day.

We carried on to Easan Dorcha, a tiny one roomed bothy which was situated next to the river with an impressive waterfall.  As we carried on we discovered a wonderful view of -Beinn Eighe, a large scree covered mountain which I'm a tad nervous about doing in the future.

We continued the walk up the Coulin Pass, to reach the edge of the Forest again and had to make a detour along a pony trail due to deforestation (it was a bit boggy which, for me, dampened my spirits a bit).

All in, this was a great walk at around 10 miles/3hrs.

Easter Weekend 2012

The Easter Weekend started with my sister travelling up from Glasgow on the Friday. We went for a great pint at the Castle Tavern in Inverness and then on to dinner at the Mustard Seed.

On Saturday, Blair and I did our 3rd Park Run at Burght Park and I managed a new personal best of 31.18 (great). We then bi-passed the rain and drove on to Brodie Castle for the day and it was great - the tour was very informative. We managed to take a picture of the kitchens before finding out that no pictures were allowed! We had a late, but very welcome lunch before heading back home via the Black Isle Brewery for some beer to go with the curry for dinner!

The weekend ended with a walk in Torachility Woods and then a brunch at the Victorian Tea Room in Strathpeffer.