Social Walk, Loch an Eilein, 24/09/2016

On Saturday 24 September there was another brilliant day outing for the group, Carrie, Liz, and Rosemary all teamed up for a walk around Loch an Eilein.

Less than an hour’s drive from inverness we were soon lacing up our boots for the 4.5 mile walk around the loch.  The peaks of the Cairngorms formed a stunning backdrop, the beautiful loch reflecting the magnificent pines of Rothiemurchus Forest in which it lies – it is easy to see why it is one of the most popular short walks in the area.  On the day the lovely sunshine and well-made footpath around the loch made it easy to navigate with the woodland floor brilliant with blooming heather – there were many photo opportunities for Carrie & Rosemary (both keen photographers), along the way.  It is reported that osprey fish this loch with some nesting on the ruined castle on the island, however sadly on this occasion none were spotted.   After the walk there was time to stop off at the Mountain Café for a hearty lunch – perfect for hungry walkers!

The next walk is on 22 October when we will be visiting Glen Affric – so why not join us, you’ll be glad you did!

 

Social Walk, KnockFarrel 23/07/2016

{google_map}https://www.google.com/maps/d/embed?mid=1QATDuQ9xHZ1Z8h-uuKHFaxCIHAg|version:classic|width:640|height:480|type:terrain{/google_map}

 The start in the map above is not at the exact start as we had started on the climb before I remembered to set my fitbit to Hike mode.

The day was overcast but dry and warm. Three of us (Claire, Gail, and myself) met up at the old Strathpeffer railway station and set off up the hill. The going was good, half on roads and half along a track, constantly uphill but relatively gentle until we arrived a bench where we stopped for a breather. The view from there was good, with Strathpeffer nestling just below the curve of the field and the hills behind raising up.

Panorama from the bench with Strathpeffer below the brow of the field, Ben Wyvis on the left side.

The next leg of the walk took us past the Touchstone Maze, a fairly modern construction, built using rocks from all over Scotland. The maze is not now quite as magical as it was when it was surrounded by trees but is still interesting. The was the remains of a fire in the center which was still warm, with the odd crackle of still burning wood.

The Touchstone Maze



 

 

Social Walk, Glen Affric, 25/06/2016

The day started overcast but warm with little wind. The sun was trying to show through with a little success.

We all met up at Beauly square, and as there were five of us, we all piled into Clair's car.