Happy New Year to one and all. Time to blow the cobwebs away and to start losing some of the extra pounds that I’m sure everyone has gained.

We start the year off as usual with a wee look at Ben Ledi. Who knows what the weather will have in store for us. It could be wind, rain, sunshine (possibly) or even a touch of the white stuff. So pack your rucksack and be prepared.

Let’s meet at 9.30 for a 10.00 start in the carpark. To find the carpark turn off the A84, following the sign for Strathyre Forest Cabins, to cross the Garbh Uisge to the south of Loch Lubnaig; on the far side of the bridge turn left to reach the parking area. This is very popular and often full in high season so it is a good idea to arrive sharp.

Yahoo has altered the system for sending emails so if anyone is aware of someone who comments they have stopped receiving the emails then they need to alter their settings in Yahoo.

Hi all.

***The Sheep Hied lunch is FULL***.

However I am asking the venue if there’s space for a few more. I’ll run a waiting list as you know there’s always a few drop outs.
If things change for you and you can’t make it LET ME KNOW so I can give the place to someone who is waiting

If you just want to join us for the cafe, walk and pub that’s great – come along.

Sue

The walk this Sunday is Ben Venue, it may be small in stature but it is a mountain of real character, the finest in the Trossachs when seen across Loch Venachar, Loch Achray or Loch Katrine. The ascent is a great walk with both boggy and rocky ground higher up, and stunning views from the summit. It is not in view from Loch Ard, which results in this approach being quieter than that from Loch Achray. Nonetheless the beautiful broadleaved woodland of the lower Ledard Glen provides a picturesque approach, though the upper glen is boggy. Once on the ridge, the views are magnificent.

Ben Venue from Ledard Farm

There is a good sized layby on the road alongside Loch Ard opposite the track to Ledard Farm grid ref NN460 022 for the techies among us. Let’s meet at 9.30 for a 10.00 start.

It’s that time of year again.

The clocks have gone back so it’s time to start thinking of next year – spring, summer and all that beautiful weather.

So put your thinking caps on and let us have some ideas for next year’s walks. They don’t have to be spectacular, mammoth expeditions just something that you think you and others would enjoy as a Sunday out and about.

I looking forward to my mailbox being inundated with ideas.

This Sunday’s walk is Beinn nan Oighreag behind Killin. Ranking amongst the highest of the Corbetts, Beinn nan Oighreag was briefly thought to top 3000 feet. The approach from Glen Lochay is perhaps the most attractive, following an old path to the shielings of the Allt Dhuin Croisg.

We need to park carefully – taking care not to cause an obstruction – by the start of tarmac track branching from Glen Lochay minor road at NN539352, about 700m from where the two roads up the glen join up.

Lets meet at 10.00 for a 10.30 start. As usual the weather is unpredictable with some forecasts being good and others not so good. So remember this is Scotland.

The usual carsharing thing applies.

The walk this Sunday is the graham, Mealna Letter and includes Loch Beanie.  A great circuit climbing to the summit of Mealna Letter with good views before descending to Loch Beanie to return along the Cateran Trail in Glen Shee.

https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/angus/mealna-letter.shtml

The start of the walk is from a layby on the B951 between Cray and Forfar – NO153642.  The B951 is the road to Glenisla off the road to Glenshee.

The start time is 10am for a 10.30am start.  If you are interested in car sharing let me know and we can see if we can organise this.

I hope to see you there.

The walk this Sunday (8th September) is Meall an Fhudair – a corbett between Tarbet on Loch Lomond and Crianlarich. Walkhighlands describes it as having a great feeling of wildness and solitude and some fine views.

I’ll not go into the flights of prose you normally get from Bill. He will not be there so you’ll have to put up with my much poorer note.
The parking is on the road verge north of Glen Falloch Farm on the A82. There seems to be only limited spaces so car sharing would be good. The walk starts on a track just opposite the farm.
If people can be there at 10.00am for 10.30am start. The walk is 15km and should take 5 to 6 hours.

No time for chatty stuff today – just the main points.

Number 1 –  the weather forecast for Sunday looks glorious.  Break out the shades/sunscreen.

Number 2 –  walk is Beinn Chabhair just north of Loch Lomond giving terrific views on a clear day (yippee!) down Loch Lomond, Loch Long and maybe a glimpse of Loch Fyne as well as looking directly onto Ben Lui, Ben Lomond, Ben More and the rest of the Trossachs

https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/lochlomond/beinn-chabhair.shtml 

Number 3 –  start point is Inverarnan

Number 4 –  let’s meet at 10 o’clock for a 10.30 start.

Number 5 –  a wee reminder attached for the brave few who made it out a fortnight ago to Loch Lee when we found what was probably the only dry(ish) part of Scotland reachable by car that day.

From memory, there’s not a whole lot of parking so carsharing even more sensible than usual.

Hope to see you on Sunday.

As a ‘nod’ to the West Coast members this week’s walk is a lovely Corbett above the beautiful River Orchy.

https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/argyll/beinn-mhic-mhonaidh.shtml

Passing alongside an ancient Caledonian pinewood you gain the open slopes of this rather forgotten Corbett. The summit offers superb views of the higher mountains all around in this part of the Highlands (weather permitting).

This being Scotland there is no clue as to what the weather will actually be like – beautiful sunshine or torrential rain but being Easy Walkers we will take it all in our stride just like everything else.

There is a car park at the bridge in Glen Orchy at the Allt Broighleachan Caledonian Forest Reserve. Grid ref NN243320 for those of you who into that sort of thing.

Let’s meet at 10.00 for a 10.30 start. Car parking is limited so carsharing, as usual, is recommended.