Playin' in Scotlandshire

[Damian]

Over new year, KL & I went to visit friends who live about 1 hour drive north from Perth, Scotlandshire. Whilst there I asked of any decent tracks...... well, he gave me a key and some directions. I followed the road for about two miles, saw a track off to the right with a locked gate in front, out with the key and...............

[Damian]

..... and then, on news years day it snowed!

Obviously it was very silly of me to go alone like that and I did turn back when the terrain got too soft. I think we covered about 4 'switchbacks', (zig zags up the mountain), and as we reached them the track got steeper, then as we turned it leveled off only to steeper again as we reached the next turn!

It took us 5 hours to get there and 9 hours to drive back, (hold ups 'n' stuff). I've no idea how much fuel we used but what a motorway mile muncher my Smurf is, and those Recaro seats are just the best....... god know's why she's for sale!

[Verbal]

Where about exactly was it ?

I only ask, because I`m from Perth and know the local area very well. I quite often go into the hills and even without a key its amazing the places you can end up

[Damian]

The place escapes me....... near Kirremuir. I have no idea if that is spelt correctly!

[Verbal]

Either Glen Prosen, Glen Clova or Glen Esk I`d imagine.

I used to take adventure groups to a place called Scott Lodge at the end of Glen Clova, Beautiful place, one of my favourite places to go hillwalking in the UK.

[Verbal]

Its Glen Clova actually, looking at the pictures , can see the hill thats at the head of the glen.

As I said, beautiful place.

[Damian]

That's right, as we reached the bottom the weather was dreadful with the sleet coming at us sideways! We parked at the lodge for a few minutes and watched the river, it was a raging bloomin' torrent!

[Verbal]

Did you take the last forestry track before going over the river at the end of the Glen ?

If you could gain access to some of the forestry tracks further up the glen you could end up in some amazing scenery. The glens both leading over towards Braemar and Glen She are very impressive. I`d recommend walkign up the hill you can see in the background of one of your pictures as its a nice walk.

I had to drive a B-Reg brown dented Vauxhall Nova (993CC ) back from Scott Lodge in late January is three foot of snow, that was quite an experience. Luckliy the Nova had bicycle tyres on it so it cut through the snow fairly well

[Damian]

I'm very impressed Andy. In May I'm hoping to go to Drumclog with the Difflock crew, then up to Skye to climb the 'Old Man of Storr', over to Dornoch to see a friend then back down to Clova. If Karen Lee & I manage that maybe we could meet and you can show me some other tracks in the area?

[jax]

Its Glen Clova actually, looking at the pictures , can see the hill thats at the head of the glen.

As I said, beautiful place.

I was brought up in Glenshee. We used to take Highland ponies over to Glen Clova going via Glen Uig to Glen Prosen and over the top and coming down in Glen Clova and spending the night at the Clova Hotel (had some good nights in there I can tell you). Took the ponies up Jocks Road at Glen Doll (the glen above Clova) and back over to Folda which is in Glenisla. There are lots of tracks for walking and as Verbal said the views are great, but I would wait until the summer because the weather is quite unpredictable. Once got caught in a white-out at Loch Brandy in Glen Clova - very scary!

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Jacqueline

[Verbal]

I was brought up in Glenshee. We used to take Highland ponies over to Glen Clova going via Glen Uig to Glen Prosen and over the top and coming down in Glen Clova and spending the night at the Clova Hotel (had some good nights in there I can tell you). Took the ponies up Jocks Road at Glen Doll (the glen above Clova) and back over to Folda which is in Glenisla. There are lots of tracks for walking and as Verbal said the views are great, but I would wait until the summer because the weather is quite unpredictable. Once got caught in a white-out at Loch Brandy in Glen Clova - very scary!

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Jacqueline

I got stuck in a white-out on Jocks road once, luckily we were near that bothy that sits at the top of Glen Doll.

I`ve been up to Loch Brandy a few times as well (walked on it a few times too) The last time i was up there we were heading up the hill to the left of it and one of the lads dropped his rucksac whilst having lunch and I ended up heading back down the hill a few hundred feet.

Walking up Jocks Road is one of my favourites in Scotland. I`ve only ever done winter walking as I prefer winter scenery and the extra difficulties involved.

I`m not so keen on Glen Shee, as the skiing has ruined it, most of the time we went up there in winter and over cairnwell to that loch on the other side (can`t remember the name) we used to try ice fishing there in the hieght of winter, never ever caught anything apart from the cold

Where about in Glen Shee were you brought up Jax ? As one of the guys I wok with was a posty up that route and another guy who just left us lived up on a farm up there before moving to Blairgowrie. He is one of those guys who knows everyone

Damian - Next time your up this way give me a shout and I`ll try and find you and show you some of the hidden gems of the area Then if we get bored we could go and see Jax and drive around on her farm for a while

[Damian]

Sounds like a grand idea. Possibly up there at Easter now, driving up to Dornoch then down to Glen Clova, that should be an interesting drive!

[Verbal]

Sounds like a grand idea. Possibly up there at Easter now, driving up to Dornoch then down to Glen Clova, that should be an interesting drive!

Depends which way you go really. I would go down by Grantown on Spey then across via Ballater as thats one of the nicest roads around.

[jax]

Where about in Glen Shee were you brought up Jax ? As one of the guys I wok with was a posty up that route and another guy who just left us lived up on a farm up there before moving to Blairgowrie. He is one of those guys who knows everyone [/QUOTE]




Hi Verbal, just got back to my computer. I've been too busy the last few days. I know the south side of Glenshee best (Blacklunans), round about Middleton Farm (The Camerons own it) That was about 40 odd years ago. Also stayed in Kirkmichael (about 4 miles away). Still keep in touch with the folk at Wester Bleaton Farm. (Mr and Mrs Sheach). Who is the guy who lived up there?


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Jacqueline

[Verbal]

Forgot about this thread

The guy I know is called Matt Taylor (possibly William Taylor as he is William Mathew Taylor). His parents owned a farm out the Glenshee road and he grew up on it.

This was a long while ago as Matt is now 67yr old. He went on to be a mechanic for Frews in Perth selling Agricultural machinery and later on selling just grass cutting machinery.

I would ask Matt about exact details etc, but he retired at the end of last year and I`ve not seen him for a while.

If i see him and remember I`ll try and get an idea of where his farm was.

I also know the ex-posty for the Kirkmichael run, the infamous Glenn Campbell. I still work with him, he was the posty who got caught burning the mail and ended up in the Daily Record after being caught and recieving 240hrs community service. He is now one of the top amatuer golfers in the UK and a Scotland International, so he has since recovered from his moment of madness