Loch Tay Weekend

24 – 26th March 2023

Kenny Maclean was the organiser of the first weekend trip of 2023 and did a great job in tracking down a new bunkhouse for DHC; The Tay Bunkhouse in Logierait. It is fairly small with two dorms sleeping a maximum of 10. Ideal for a club meet with a comfortable lounge. As is normal the attendee list was fluid but we ended up with a group of 9 which was perfect for the accommodation.

The advance weather forecast was not promising but as we neared the weekend optimism grew and we were, by and large, rewarded with a dry and clear few days if a little cold on the tops; but it was only March. A few members managed to squeeze in a hill on the way across: Kenny, Chris and Ken climbed the Pitlochry Corbett Ben Vrackie where a well-made path leads to the summit; Anna headed up Blath Blaig, a Graham between Kirkmichael and Pitlochry, while Sandy took in the Graham Meall Dearg that lies to the south of Aberfeldy and had an interesting conversation with a gamekeeper on the current status of grouse and the moors.

Friday evening was the usual discussion of various plans that continued to change right up to Saturday morning. Ruth, Steve and Sandy had pre-arranged an unusual end to end pairing of two Grahams that required two vehicles and so set off fairly early over very quiet but less travelled roads to leave a car on the south side of Loch Tay. They then set off walking from near Amulree to take the Rob Roy Way over Beinn na Gainimh and along by the river Almond to Ciste Buide a’Chaidheimh and then out to Loch Tay. A long walk but we made good progress on the land-rover track meeting a few mountain bikers on the way.

Photo 2

Anna climbed the Corbett Carn Chreag in Glen Lyon while Kenny, Gail and Ken also headed up Glen Lyon to tackle the Carn Mairg group of four Munros. Parking the car proved to be the first problem of the day with the normal areas closed off. This meant that the party were a bit delayed in getting started and a big round of four mountains with snow underfoot led to a late finish with the group getting back just in time for dinner – no showers!

Kenny booked us into the excellent ‘Inn On The Tay’ at Grandtully for dinner. The Logierait Inn had closed during COVID but the restaurant selected was very good and well worth a return visit. The staff were very flexible with our late arrivals and we all enjoyed an evening of much needed food, beer and stories.

Gail headed off to pick up her dog on Sunday morning while a few of us managed another day on the hill. Anna walked up Meall Tairneachan, a Corbett to the west of Pitlochry and met Chris and Ken who had left earlier to climb Farragon Hill first. And a well done to Chris who summited his 100th Corbett – expecting a compleation weekend very soon Chris! Ruth and Steve went up Schiehallion to give Steve a Munro tick (as well as being a superb hill) while Sandy headed along to Loch Earn to pick off two easy Grahams, Creag Each and Creag Ruadh. On Monday Sandy was rewarded with a glorious blue-sky day on Creag Gharbh above Loch Tay.