Photo Gallery - Balquidder to Killin: 20^th Sep 2009 

Leaders: Ronnie Taylor & Ken Gemmell

Photo Gallery - Pics taken by May Trescowthick & Jim Clare
 

EK News Article: Charlie McGrillan   Rob Roy country was the destination for Duncanrig Rambling Club's recent fortnightly excursion for 2 walks both of which finished in Killin. The main walk was an 11-mile hike from Balquhidder while the 7-mile alternative followed the scenic route of the dismantled railway track from Lochearnhead. After a brief visit to the grave of the notorious historical character the main party set out up good land rover tracks for a couple of miles under open skies into Kirkton Glen. Bright sunshine accompanied the walkers as they discarded outer layers of clothing on their steady ascent through the surrounding wooded hills in this peaceful area. A teabreak beside the tumbling burn allowed the hikers to summon up their energy for the 650-foot pull up the rougher terrain of the narrow heathery trail through a plantation of young spruce trees and the occasional pause to look back afforded a splendid view of the glen and the hills to the south. The narrow pass through the rugged outcrops at the highest point of the walk took the route past Lochan an Eireannaich (the Loch of the Irishman) to the next section which descended over much wetter and muddier terrain on an increasingly vague trail, eventually following the bed of Ledcharrie Burn under an old viaduct and onto the road for a very short stretch before crossing to take the quiet back road to Killin. In complete contrast to the first part of the walk, this tranquil, level route let the ramblers make speedy progress past stands of oak, hazel and pine as well as fields of cattle and unusual breeds of sheep before the last mile and a half alongside the River Dochart itself took the party into Killin. The alternative walkers, meanwhile, headed north out of Lochearnhead on the track high on the west shoulder of Glen Ogle over the viaduct to Lochan Lairig Cheile and over the road to follow the forest track down into Killin. Both parties took in the drama of the Falls of Dochart as they made their way to the local hostelries for a welcome refreshment before their return to East Kilbride.