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The original intention had been to walk from
Blair Atoll to Glen Tilt over four days, sticking to the Glens, a distance
of 48 miles.
Thursday 27 December
Paul arrived at 5.57am. We were at Tesco at Queensferry by 8.40am for
a great value breakfast; not much traffic. Began walking up Glen Tilt at 10.30am,
stopping for lunch at 1pm'ish. Pitched at 4.30pm just as it was getting dark
about three quarters of a mile from the Falls of Tarf at 979784. It had started
snowing just as we turned off the road in Blair Atholl and had continued snowing
lightly all day, so there was a fair amount of snow at the pitch.
Friday 28 December
Began walking at 9.15am unaware of the very hard day ahead of us! We had hoped
to get to within a short distance of Glen Feshie or even into Glen Feshie
itself, but the going became very hard after the ravine (Allt Garbh Buidhe)
that contains a stream that flows into the Tilt.
After the second stop the wind was blowing into our face and continued to
do so for the next hour. The going was very hard as the snow obscured the
stream gullies. This means you have to pull yourself out of them on a regular
basis.
Eventually we saw some trees loaming out of the mist and decided to get some
shelter. As we arrived at the trees the visibility cleared and we found we
were at the ruin of Bynack Lodge. We had another short break and then intended
to have lunch at the bothy on the Geldie Burn. It took us another hour
and a difficult stream crossing to get to the bothy.
By the time we had reached the bothy we needed a good rest; it was also 3pm
and still blowing with quite a strong wind. It had taken six hours to walk
6 miles on the map! Obviously we were walking further due to the conditions
and it felt like twice that distance.
After a lot of consideration we decided that as we had only done a third of
the distance in half the time allotted that we would go back the way we had
come. If we had not got back to Blair Atholl by Sunday the Mountain
rescue might be called out!
Saturday 29 December
Left the bothy about 9.30am aiming to pitch in Glen Tilt about two miles below
Thursday night’s pitch. The visibility was much better than the day before,
but the going was still hard. As planned we pitched by the bridge at 956764.
It was a fairly cold night.
Sunday 30 December
Had breakfast, packed up and then walked 10.5 miles to Blair Atholl. The weather
was cold but clear. Met a group of people doing Beinn A’Ghlo. Arrived at the
car about 1pm'ish, then onto Tesco, our value for money restaurant.
On the way home the roads deteriorated after Pathhead. We tried coming down
the A68 where it turns off the A696 but turned back and went via Belsay. Got
back about 7pm after probably the worst drive back from Scotland I can remember.
(Jonathan lane)
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