Xmas Walk, 15th December 2024
Christmas walks are always fun, regardless of route, this year, thirty-three walkers set out from Blairgowrie and Alyth, to the start of their walk near Fortar. The coach took the road through Folda and dropped off its load of walkers at the point where the Cateran Trail heads off NE on its way to Auchintaple loch. One local lady driving a Landrover looked amazed as she pulled over to allow the coach to progress, perhaps the first time that such a vehicle had driven that quiet by-road! One tradition of the Xmas Walk has always been that walkers should dress their rucksacks in a festive fashion, the JP Coach driver, Dave, sportingly agreed to judge the rucksacks at the start of the walk and declared that Madeleine McIntosh was the worthy 2024 winner with a particularly richly decorated rucksack. See the group picture together an image of Madeleine’s winning entry on the club website www.bdhc.org.uk.
The weather remained fine as the group, walking together, headed uphill before turning SE and down to the loch with its impressive boat house. Crossing the damn, the party headed NE over Cnoc na Cailliche where they enjoyed views across to Mount Blair and back down to Auchintaple Loch. Crossing the moor, Loch Shandra eventually came into view, the main party having earlier detoured W than SE to reach the trail track that passes Loch Shandra, a smaller party took a more direct route and eventually re-joined the main group by the boathouse at its southern end.
The Cateran Trail was again followed to reach the car park at Kirkton of Glenisla and the waiting coach. The faster walkers even managing to have some refreshments at the hotel!
It was then a matter time before the coach arrived in Alyth and at the Alyth Hotel, our host for the afternoon with mince pies and warming lentil soup. Our driver joined us for this traditional end of walk gathering, the staff at the Alyth Hotel couldn’t have been more welcoming and accommodating, even arranging for our party to enjoy a room to itself. Thank you.
Another tradition of this annual event is for walkers to exercise their brains as well as their muscles earlier on, after enjoying the food, by taking part in an entertaining quiz, this time created and compered by the club’s Meet Secretary, Bruce Henderson. Another great success, thanks Bruce.
