The
Rob Roy Way run was successfully completed
by nine runners on Sunday afternoon. We
started from Edinburgh on Thursday evening
in a mini-bus – picking up runners on the way
to a B&B in Drymen. The next day
started rather wet as we ran northwards from
Drymen and through Loch Ard Forest to Aberfoyle. From
there we ran on a rather wet and muddy footpath
through forest and open moorland past the foot
of the Menteith Hills. Ollie was waiting
for us with the mini-bus at the shores of Loch
Venachar. This gave us welcome shelter
in the bus for a lunch stop. We continued
eastwards past the loch and across towards
Kilmahog. By this time the rain had eased
off and we had alternate wet and dry spells. We
got onto the cycle track at Kilmahog and ran
all the way up the west side of Loch Lubnaig
to our B&B in Strathyre. A good meal
and drinks restored our energy ready for the
next day.
On
Saturday we found our way out of Strathyre
through the back of a hotel car park and
up onto a high forest road. This took us
for several miles along to the Kingshouse Hotel. We
got back onto the cycle track and ran for miles
past Lochearnhead and up to the top of Glen
Ogle. The weather turned sunny and we
had magnificent views along the full length
of Loch Earn. Ollie was waiting for us
at the head of the glen so we paused for another
refreshment stop. After we crossed the
main road we stayed high on a forest road which
contoured around the hills above Killin. We
occasionally got great views across Loch Tay
to Ben Lawers through gaps in the trees. We
paused at the large reservoir of Lochan Breaclaich
for lunch. The hydro road went for a
few more miles before we left it and tried
to follow a barely existent path across the
hillside to the Outdoor Centre near Ardeonaig. For
some of the runners that was the end of the
day's journey. The rest of us continued
for endless miles along the south Loch Tay
road towards Acharn. Arthur was the only
one to actually get there. The rest of
us were picked up on the way by Ollie who had
to get us back to the Outdoor Centre in time
for early dinner. After dinner we relaxed
in the lounge and Arthur treated us to some
of his excellent malt whisky.
The
following day we bussed back up to Acharn
then climbed up the hill past the Falls. A
complex sequence of hill tracks and footpaths
took us round the hillsides above Kenmore then
on towards Aberfeldy. We had intended
to come down by the Birks of Aberfeldy but
somehow missed a turning. We were compensated
by a long stop in an Aberfeldy teashop for
cakes and tea. Suitably fortified, we
followed the path along the south bank of the
Tay to Grandtully. We crossed the river
to Strathtay and saw the first sign to our
destination,”footpath to Pitlochry”. The
path climbed high over open moorland before
descending through a forest towards Pitlochry. The
most hazardous part of the journey was crossing
the busy A9 to get to Pitlochry. Our
journey finally finished outside the railway
station, some 75 miles after we had started.
Many thanks to Nicki for superbly organising
a great weekend and to Olivier for supporting
us so well.
Nigel Rose |
