Cramond Walkers’ Programme January – June 2019

Interested in any of these walks? Then please contact Fiona Black on 0131 339 6644 or e-mail cramond.walkers@yahoo.co.uk.

Thurs, 10 January : Dalmeny Estate 10 km/6.5 miles Easy

Note: Travel will be by public transport as this is a linear walk.

We get the Lothian 43 bus to Queensferry and walk back through Dalmeny. Followed by New Year party at Richard & Judy Adlington’s, 9 Brae Park.

Meet: Barnton bus stop, Queensferry Road at 10 am for Lothian 43 to Queensferry.

Sat, 19 January : Pentlands Penicuik Estate with option 9.5 km/6 miles Moderately Easy or 17 km/11 miles Hard

We travel to Penicuik by bus or car and start walking south of the North Esk through South Bank Wood then dropping down to the valley. We climb up towards Penicuik House and visit the Lost Garden, then cross the A766 into woodland. From there the easier option is on paths north west of Penicuik, passing the Talla aqueduct and following Cuiken Glen to emerge near Tesco on the Edinburgh Road, to catch a bus or walk to a parked car. For the hard option, the path (created by Friends of the Pentlands) dips and dives, going round the top of a field used for munition training during the last war, then goes up another strip of woodland towards Silverburn. From there we cross the A702 and take the new path onto the Pentlands, climbing South Black Hill, Scald Law and Caernethy Hill. The route descends past Rullion Green memorial, crosses the A702, then heads south west to join the route of the easier option into Penicuik. The folk coming in by car will require time for parking, therefore everyone should meet in the friendly café on the south side of the High Street directly opposite the bus stop.

Meet: Barnton Avenue West at 9.45 am or Penicuik town centre at 10.30 am.

Wed, 30 January : Linlithgow Loch and Union Canal 13 km/8 miles Moderately Easy

A pleasant walk starting from Linlithgow

Palace, going around the loch (anti-

clockwise), then enjoying a well-earned

refreshment in “So Strawberry” before

proceeding towards the Union Canal. Once

at the canal our walk leads us towards

Muiravonside and over the magnificent

aqueduct which spans the River Avon.

From there we will either visit Bridge 49

and/or retrace our steps to a point which

leads down to the river and woods, which

will probably be very muddy, and back to

Linlithgow.

Meet: Barnton Avenue West at 9.30 am or Palace car park 10. 15 am

Thurs, 7 February : Devilla Forest Four Lochs 10 km/6.5 miles Moderately Easy

This walk, which wanders round four secretive

lochs, all hidden in a sprawling Scots Pine forest

is delightful; not only for humans but perfect for

our four-legged friends! After our exertions we

will return, back towards Rosyth along the A985

to join the A994 at a roundabout for Fairley’s

Garden Centre at Cairneyhill for a cuppa!

Meet: Barnton Avenue West at 9.30 am or

Devilla Forest at 10.30 am

Sat, 16 February : Saline Hill and Glen 6 km/4 miles Moderately Easy

You should definitely try and come on this

short but very pleasant walk! Saline Hill, which

combines a relatively quick ascent, has some of

the best views in Fife and with the return leg

along the bonny Saline Glen, will be an

unexpected treat.

Extra Walk: The short drive of 6 km to

Powmill, which is the nearest refreshment

stop, offers the perfect opportunity to enjoy a

4 km/2.5 mile stroll through the wooded,

western section of the Cleish Hills, a favourite

spot for dogs!

Meet: Barnton Avenue West at 9.45 am or Main Street car park in Saline at 10.30 am

Tue, 26 February : Dalgety Bay to Kirkcaldy 18 km/11 miles Moderate but long

We will get on the X60 bus at 9.04 am from Barnton and arrive at

Dalgety Bay at 9.34 am. Following the Fife Coastal Path to

Burntisland but crossing the beach (it should be low tide) and

preferable to walking beside a busy road. Then back onto the Fife

CoastaL Path at the start of the esplanade in Kirkcaldy. The

A58/X60 bus back leaves the bus station at 2.35 pm, 3.25 pm or

3.40 pm. Anyone wishing to shorten this walk can catch

Stagecoach 7 bus (2 per hour) or the train.

Note: There should be some excellent opportunities for finding a

coffee stop on this walk

Thurs, 7 March : Bonaly to Currie 8 km/5.5 miles Moderate

Leaving the No 10 bus stop in Bonaly, we will walk past

Bonaly Tower and the Scout Centre to reach Bonaly

reservoir and open hillside. Descending down the side

of Harbour Hill, this route will go past Easter Kinleith,

down the Poet’s Glen, past Blinkbonny and finally into

Currie and the Corner Café. Afterwards a No 44 bus

will go to Shandwick Place. Those with stamina, may

wish to continue by foot along the Water of Leith to

the West End and Indigo Yard!

Meet: No 10 bus stop at the foot of Lothian Road at 10

am

Sat, 16 March : Selkirk walks 6.5 km/ 4 miles Moderate & 3 km/2 miles Easy

The first walk is in the Philiphaugh estate, west of Selkirk. We park at the Corbie Linn car park (off the A708), climb part of the way towards the Three Brethren cairns, turn off to pass Tibbie Tamson’s grave and later visit a viewpoint on the way back to the cars. We then drive to the centre of Selkirk to walk round the Haining lochside circuit, then complete the outing with a choice of cafés. Meet: Barnton Avenue West at 9.30 am

Wed, 27 March : Strathaven 6 km/4 miles Moderately easy walk and outing!

Strathaven is south west of Hamilton on

the A71 road to Prestwick. We explore

the market town of Strathaven and

walk alongside the Avon Water to a

ruined mill and the Spectacle E’

waterfalls, where lies a grim and dark

story of fury and revenge, which will be

told by Roger Barr! There are also two

small parks to explore which boast a

boating pond, a putting green, tennis

courts, a miniature railway, a castle and

hopefully a tea-room!

Strathaven itself is worth a wee explore as it is an attractive and bustling market town.

Meet: Barnton Avenue West at 8.45 am

Thurs, 4 April : Auchnafree Hill 13.5 km/8.5 miles (623 m ascent) Hard

Starting from the Loch Turret dam car park,

north west of Crieff, the route follows a

good track beside the loch, then joins

another track to climb steeply to 700 m,

finally taking a fainter path to the 789 m

Corbett summit. The return route takes a

winding course across the plateau passing

Choinneachain Hill before descending

across the slope. Afterwards, afternoon tea

will be served at Craigmyle, 55 Carrington

Terrace, courtesy of Callum MacLeod and

‘Dougie’!

Meet: Barnton Avenue West at 9 am or Loch Turret car park at 10.30 am

Sat, 13 April : Kinnoull Hill and Deuchny Wood (Perth) 9 km/5.5 miles Moderate

From the Jubilee Car Park 2 km east of Perth,

the route makes a figure of eight. One loop is

through the deciduous woods of Kinnoull Hill

(222 m) and passes its follies perched on the

cliffs and overlooking the Carse of Gowrie. The

other half of this walk, which will be new

territory for the Cramond Walkers, is a

pleasant stroll through the coniferous

Deuchny Wood. A coffee stop will be arranged

at the Brig End farm shop near Bridge of Earn.

Meet: Barnton Avenue West at 9 am or Kinnoull Jubilee Car Park at 10 am

Tue, 23 April : Humbie Wood and Heughs near Aberdour 5.5 km/3.5 miles Moderately Easy

From the centre of Aberdour,

the route heads north, then

east and south round the edge

of Humbie Wood, with good

views over the Forth. After

crossing the A921 it goes

through The Heughs, a stretch

of coastal woodland, to return

to Aberdour for refreshments

in the tea-room at Aberdour

Castle.

Meet: Barnton Avenue West

at 9.30 am or Aberdour at 10

am

Wed, 9 May : Conic Hill & 4 km/2.5 miles Moderate

Balloch Castle Country Park 5 km/3 miles

This little hill of 350m is often included on the route of the West Highland Way because of the

fantastic views of Loch Lomond from its summit, especially on a clear day. We will commence

from Balmaha which is an excellent

watering hole for the weary wanderers

of the WHW. Once we’ve completed

our first walk, we’ll get on the ‘old’ Post

Boat, which leaves Balmaha pier and

crosses the loch to Inchcailloch (the

island of the old women) and there

have a superb stroll of about 1 km

amongst a sea of sweet scented

bluebells. (Just hope they will be in

flower!) Afterwards, on the way home,

there should be time to enjoy a

pleasant walk in the environs of Balloch

Castle’s 200 acres of parkland. This country park lies within the Loch Lomond and Trossach’s

National Park and is worth an explore and a swim in the loch, especially if you are a dog!

Meet: Barnton Avenue West at 8.30 am

Sat, 18 May : Banvie Burn and Bruar 14.5 km/9 miles Moderate

Although the Cramond Walkers have frequently

visited the Blair Atholl area, they have only done

sections of this particular walk and from studying

the map it looks delightful. First park the cars in

the designated car park in Glen Tilt. The route

takes us towards Old Blair and alongside the

Banvie Burn which flows through the narrow,

steep sided Glen Banvie. Reaching the edge of

Glen Banvie Wood the path turns sharply to enter

Glen Bruar and its deciduous woodland (planted,

thanks to Rabbie Burns). After gazing at the

stunning Falls of Bruar and avoiding retail therapy

at the House of Bruar, the route will lead us on to

a section of Wade’s Military Road and towards Blair Atholl Castle which has a very fine tea-room.

Meet: Barnton Avenue West at 9.15 am or Glen Tilt car park at 11 am

Wed, 29 May : Cullaloe Hills near Aberdour 13 km/8 miles Moderately Easy

This walk is really an extension of the

Humbie Wood walk (23 April) and gives a

great opportunity to explore a part of

Fife which is often overlooked. From the

centre of Aberdour the route heads west

along the pavement beside the A921.

But there the walk becomes much more

pleasant and attractive, passing the

beautiful Otterston Loch, a wooded glen,

and hidden hollows and quarries whilst

trudging along some muddy tracks and

into the Cullaloe Hills with good views of

the Forth and Mossmorran.

Meet: Barnton Avenue West at 9.30 am or Aberdour Car Park at 10.15 am

Thurs, 6 June : Arbroath Cliffs 11.5 km (340m) Moderate

This classic coastal walk explores the

Seaton Cliffs which extend north beyond

Arbroath and have a wealth of red

sandstone formations which in turn

produce dramatic cliffs and in June

there will be colonies of nesting sea

birds . Also, the wild flowers at this time

of year will be at there best, so all in all,

this should prove to be a most attractive

walk. On reaching Auchmithie there will

be a food stop at a popular restaurant

called the ‘But n Ben’. Auchmithie is

served by a local bus to Arbroath, useful for those who may be tired of walking and perhaps wish

an opportunity to explore that famous town whilst waiting for the others to return to their cars.

Meet: Barnton Avenue West at 9 am

Sat, 15 June : Boat Walk Loch Lomond 13 km/7.5 miles - 19 km/12 miles – 24 km/15 miles Hard

Cramond Walkers 20th Anniversary Walk 1999 – 2019

Our very first Cramond Walker’s walk was in early May 1999. I had been asked to arrange a

sponsored walk for Cramond Kirk’s Millennium Project and completing the West Highland Way

seemed like a good idea at the time. Because it was a church event, it meant I acquired a large

number of eager participants and helpers. Twelve completed the entire route of 96 miles, from

Milngavie to Fort William, around twenty came for part of the ‘way’, usually walking for two to

three days whilst the others, the ‘helpers’, offered their invaluable assistance; from carrying

luggage, doing errands and moving walkers to their evening accommodation. Finding seven

different hostelries, in seven different locations, for over thirty people was quite a challenge! But

we did it! Amongst our magnificent volunteers were Anne and Andrew Mather. They decided to

stay at the Bridge of Orchy Hotel for two nights as that is roughly the halfway point. So, when we

left Crianlarich Youth Hostel (this time the walkers were all altogether), the Mathers

commandeered the hostel kitchen and produced a terrific three course meal, consisting of

homemade soup, a rich casserole with three veg and two enormous apple pies with cream.

Andrew, as well as being head waiter, supplied us with wine and much bonhomie! Indeed, Anne

and he had produced so much food that all the other residents, including the warden, all tucked

into the feast! It was a wonderful evening filled with song and laughter and I will always treasure

its memories! The W.H.W. ends at Fort William and it was there that a further number of friends

and relations came to join us at the Glen Nevis Youth Hostel in order to climb Ben Nevis the

following day, which happened to be a Saturday. This we did, and once we had reached its snowy

and mist-shrouded summit, we toasted our success with a wee dram, kindly provided by Anthony

Vennelle. Anthony, one of our most cheery walkers who had completed the entire W.H.W. was

the first to reach the top of the ‘Ben’. The next again day, which was the Sabbath, Gavin and

Callum had arranged to take their mother round the Ring of Steall; a lengthy walk, involving

crossing the river Steall on a suspended wire bridge. This must be done if you want to climb its

three Munros and wander over something called the Devil’s Ridge; which, fortunately, on that

occasion wasn’t too scary as it was invisible due to its covering of thick mist and driving rain. I do

remember, after the long descent and the return to the car, parked about one mile from the

bridge, refusing to cross the wire bridge, being too tired to hold on! Instead, finding a wide,

shallow part of the river I simply waded across, boots and all. I didn’t care! Therefore, the journey

home, after eating a fish supper at Fort William, was very peaceful, except for the occasional

snoring noise from the back seat of my sons’ car.

THE WALK

Hence the reason for doing the “Boat Walk”. Catching the ferry from Tarbet Pier, we sail to

Rowardenan and walk the 7½ miles to Inversnaid where there is a hotel and a lunch stop. Also,

there is the opportunity to get a return ferry to Tarbet if you’re done with hiking!

The next stage of the walk is past Rob Roy’s Cave and Doune, where you can buy homemade

biscuits and a pot of their own honey before reaching an attractive, grassy promontory. Here

there is a tall mast with a large orange float attached to it. Hauling the orange float to the top of

the mast summons the ferry from the Ardlui Hotel; where we will have a celebratory meal. This

stage is a further 5 miles/6 km. However, once you have sailed across the Loch you may have to

indulge in a few drinks on the hotel’s terrace or garden where Jimmy Shand used to play his

accordion, whilst waiting for the more energetic members of the group to complete the final

section of the walk (5 km/3 miles) to Inveranan with its campsite and wooden wigwams. From

there, they will have to double back for nearly 1 km to reach the Drover’s Inn where there will be a

car waiting to drive them back to the Ardlui Hotel and a welcome repast!

N.B. Both ferries only operate during summer. Will find out 2019 ferry times after the New Year.

Meet: Barnton Avenue West at 8 am