EK News Article by Eric Kent: Duncanrig Rambling Club set out for the Scottish highlands for a four day walking and social Spring break on the Friday of the recent May Bank Holiday weekend. On the way to our destination hotel in Strathpeffer we stopped off for a morning coffee break in the morning at the Bridge Of Tilt Hotel at Blair Atholl and after that we continued to Aviemore where we all enjoyed a walk through the remains of part of the Old Caledonian pine forest which at the time of the Romans covered huge areas of the highlands. The walk was particularly memorable for the outstandingly fine weather conditions and views we could see of the Cairngorm Mountains which were enhanced with the large remains of the winter snow on the slopes of the mountains of Braeriach, Cairn Lochan and Cairngorm. The walk also passed by Loch an Eilein which translated from the Gaelic means ‘Loch of the Island’ On the island stands the ruins of a castle which was once the stronghold of Alexander Stewart, Earl of Buchan, Alasdair Mór mac an Rígh, and called the Wolf of Badenoch (1343 – 20 June 1405),who is remembered for his destruction of the royal burgh of Elgin and its cathedral. His nickname was earned due to his notorious cruelty and rapacity. The walk ended at Inverdruie near Aviemore.

We stayed for three nights in the Highland Hotel which is close to the centre of the village of Strathpeffer. The village name evolved from the River Peffery which translates for Sparkling and Strath which translates for valley. In 1840’s the Victorians were very keen on SPA’S and there were known to be a number of sulphur wells and Chalybeate (which is Iron) wells in the location of the area which was then developed as the village square. These were developed along with accommodation and eventually the railway ran a branch line to Strathpeffer due to its popularity. The Spa became one of Europe’s most popular health resorts between 1870 and 1939. The Highland Hotel was built by the Highland Railway Company in 1911 and even today it is an extremely impressive building with presence internally and externally. The main walks on the Saturday were down Strathgarve from the village of Garbh to Strathpeffer (8.5miles) and a shorter walk for the alternate walkers from Garbh to the village of Contin (6.3 miles). These walkers all enjoyed the fine weather and the outstanding scenery during these walks. A further group of hardy walkers tackled the Mighty Ben Wyvis (1046m) and this tough walk was completed by all the walkers who had a memorable day with outstanding weather with world class views of the mountains which included views up to Assynt, the Fannichs, Torridon, and down to the Glen Affric area. We had some enjoyable entertainment music and dancing laid on by the Hotel for two evenings and on the remaining night a large group of the walkers visited another local hotel where they had a great night’s dancing and a sing song. 

On the Sunday with the weather remaining very good everyone opted for the coastal walk which was on the Black Isle. The walk started at the village of Avoch and on to Rosemarkie and beyond to the caves a far step along the coast and then returned to Rosemarkie where a few hardy souls continued on to visit a view point above Rosemarkie where they had outstanding views of the Moray Firth up to Inverness and over to Fort George and out over to Nairn and Findhorn. It was hoped to see the Moray Firth Dolphins at the Chanonry Point during the walk but it was not to be. Later we found out that we had been to late by an hour as the Dolphins come in with the tide and we passed the point an hour after the high tide when water was ebbing. The sea walk was around 8miles if the full distance had been completed but due to the weather and the attractions of a liquid lunch a number of the walkers opted for a more relaxing afternoon. On Monday we travelled to Newtonmore where we walked the Wildcat Trail. This was a stunning walk with great walking along the River Spey and wonderful views over the Monadhlaith Mountains to the west and similar views over to the Cairngorm Mountains over in the east. Every one enjoyed this walk which had good changing views for most of the time. After the walk we travelled down to Blair Atholl where we all enjoyed great meal in great surroundings in the Atholl Arms Hotel before travelling home after a very memorable weekend in which the fine weather played a major role.