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Balquhidder

Tuesday, 25 January 2011

9.0 miles with 1575 feet of ascent (4 hours 25 mins)
Walked with Sheena + Tim dog
8 ºC, moderate NW winds, cloudy and dry
Start - Strathyre village - roadside parking (NN560171)
Maps - Explorer Nº365 (1:25,000) or Landranger Nº57 (1:50,000) route mapgpx file

We were back up in Scotland for a few days again. The main plan was to try and get some nice photos of the Scottish mountains, but the weather on the first day was pretty grey and dark. So over breakfast in the  pub where we were staying The Munro Inn at Strathyre we hatched a plan climb Ben Shian, a small but shapely looking hill in front of the village. Then drop down into Glen Buckie and walk back through the woods. Well like all good plans, it didn't quite go as thought. I won't say much more, I'll let the story develop, it still turned out to be nice walk though!

Looking along the River Balvag towards Ben Ledi

Looking along the River Balvag towards Ben Ledi

Looking up at Ben Shian our target for today's walk

Looking up at Ben Shian our target for today's walk

Well we didn't get very far, at the start of the path up through the forest we found this!

Well we didn't get very far, at the start of the path up through the forest we found this!

Oh well never mind, we thought we might be able to get round the forestry works?

Oh well never mind, we thought we might be able to get round the forestry works?

So we headed off down the road in hope of finding another path

So we headed off down the road in hope of finding another path

It turned out that all the paths on this side of the hill were closed!

It turned out that all the paths on this side of the hill were closed!

Not to be put off we headed off along the road towards Balquhidder

Not to be put off we headed off along the road towards Balquhidder

Even though it was a lot of road walking we hardly saw any cars

Even though it was a lot of road walking we hardly saw any cars

In fact we hardly saw anyone on the walk

In fact we hardly saw anyone on the walk

Well apart from a few of these!

Well apart from a few of these!

Loch Voil, which was still frozen

Loch Voil, which was still frozen

The quiet village of Balquhidder

The quiet village of Balquhidder

The remains of the 'Old Kirk'

The remains of the 'Old Kirk'

and Rob Roy's grave

and Rob Roy's grave

Ben Shian and Benvane from Balquhidder

Ben Shian and Benvane from Balquhidder

From Balquhidder we walked along the road to the Kings House Hotel

From Balquhidder we walked along the road to the Kings House Hotel

Then up through the woods behind the hotel

Then up through the woods behind the hotel

Where we followed the tracks through the forest back to Strathyre

Where we followed the tracks through the forest back to Strathyre

Tim really the forest part, it meant he could be off his lead for the first time today!

Tim really the forest part, it meant he could be off his lead for the first time today!

Ben Shian and Benvane

Ben Shian and Benvane

A view of Ben Ledi as we headed back through the forest

A view of Ben Ledi as we headed back through the forest

Come on you two the pub's this way!

Come on you two the pub's this way!