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Tuesday 8th May 34km 1100m ascent |
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There was nobody at the campsite to take my money either this morning or last night so feeling only slightly guilty I walked out following the 'Great Glen Way' across the Caledonian Canal and up the hill to the ugliest building I think I have ever seen only to find it was the home of Scottish National Heritage amongst others!
The 'Way' through the forest seemed too well groomed and felt more like a road walk but I soon reached Blackfold where I could turn onto a proper forest track to Newtonhill, a couple obviously walking the'Way' told me that I was taking the wrong track as I turned off!.
Newtonhill is obviously a desirable place to live with wonderful views over the Beauly Firth and some very nice houses to see it from.
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I did not call into the 'Winery' at Moniack Castle, I thought it might compromise the rest of the days walk!
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I took a short-cut through Beaufort Castle, feeling slightly guilty as I climbed over the locked gates past the NO ENTRY sign and walked through the nicely kept grounds. The western entrance, interestingly, had no gates and no signs at all, must be the tradesmens entrance.
| After crossing the River Beauly at the Kilmorack power station, a short walk down the A831 past the Kilmorack Gallery, with it's giant chamelion?, brought me to a minor road climbing steeply up the hill to Farley, the last road until Strathcarron. |
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| Leaving the trees the track wound across open moorland for some distance before I had to find my own way over Cnoc Eille Mor to Gleann Goibhre. |
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I soon saw Tighachrochadair and dropped down through the heather to this perfect site. From the visitors book in the barn I learnt that it had been occupied by Donald Ross until 1990 and he had been reared in the cottage with his six brothers and sisters, a teacher coming to live with them as it was too far to go to school, He had taken over the stalkers position from his father who died in 1951.
| This is a lovely place to stay and the open-fronted barn makes a fine sheltered cooking area where I was able to set up a washing line, which unfortunately I left behind! I hope it is useful to others. I fell asleep to the sound of drumming snipe. |
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