Easter 2004 – Strath Tay

Area

The week ran from Saturday 10th April to Saturday 17th April 2004. In a break with tradition we’ve moved towards the east this Easter. Strath Tay is the east-west Glen that bisects the highlands to the south of Rannoch Moor. At the east it starts south of Pitlochry on the A9, through Aberfeldy, Loch Tay, Killin and then on to Crianlarich, whilst the west coast is quite a distance away. We stayed in 3 lettings though the main one was an ex-hotel with an extensive communal area and large dining room big enough for everyone. Check out Scottish-towns or Undiscoveredscotland.

Accommodation

The hotel proved to be a very successful communal centre, allowing a very relaxing social gathering every day. It had a comfortable lounge and conservatory plus a bar (stocked by us with cans!) with darts board and snooker table. The dining room just fitted the large group, including those in additional cottages, a mile or two away on the outskirts of Strathtay village. The larger of these two cottages was in a fine situation on the side of the valley, a delightful cottage, tucked away in a south facing position above Strathtay, with a lovely sheltered garden. It was accessed along a series of small lanes, which in at one point became un-surfaced. Its small terraced garden was pleasant for afternoon tea in the sunshine. The third cottage was hired as “dog friendly” and had only two occupants. This was further out of the village and turned out to be a poorer standard than the others (though costing more per head!).

Grandtully

Taigh Fuirich

Taigh Fuirich -garden

Drumchanachan

With so many volunteers to contribute courses for evening meals, a hotel of our own and the superb standard and variety of cuisine from our own chefs, in another break with tradition we didn’t eat out. Whilst it is not fair in general to single out particular courses, unsuspected culinary talents were displayed in the production of a Danish Christmas dinner!

Mountains and other Walks

Ben Glas & Ben Lawers

Lawers from Kenmore

East along Tarmachan

Schiehallion from the East

The weather was generally good though more mixed than last year..

The week began with a three way split and good weather. A large group traversed the Tarmachan ridge giving Patricia her first Munro. Phil and “the lads” tackled the 4 Munros on Carn Mairg. Meanwhile the ‘A-team’ (Dave, Rosemary, Gordon & Janet) bagged Meall Buidhe – Janet’s first.

Simon got a first taste of rocky Scottish mountains on Aanoch Eagach which he traversed with Dave B and Phil in rather damp misty conditions (a repeat for Dave after a 30 year gap). Later in the week whilst on the much less rugged traverse of the Ben Lawers group Simon slipped and tumbled on the descent of An Stuc breaking his wrist in the fall. The resulting rescue and hospital visit left Gordon T with the task of getting Phil’s car out of a rather slippery car park .. and also left the car like a travelling mud pie! Tourism included Castle Menzies, the Falls of Bruar, Bolfracks Garden .. and the distillery