Pink Castle Walk n' Talk Group
Glen Affric Walk 20th November 2011

By Alice Brown

It was a very satisfying surprise to arrive at Beauly Railway station's car park to find 10 people waiting top go on the walk up Glen Affric. People I personally haven't met before and all coming from very far away Skye and beyond Lochinver!

While the weather was a bit dull and overcast the spirits for this walk were very high. So the convoy of 4 cars set off to Cannich to pick another colleague to accompany us on the walk. Then it was onwards up the valley to the Dog Falls Car Park, where the changing of shoes and getting prepared for the walk began in earnest.

There was a a brief stop to look westwards towards Loch Affric over Loch Beinn a' Mheadhoin Before resuming the walk towards the Dog Falls.

After a brief discussion it was decided to go the opposite way round than was normal so up the hill we went. Initially the pace was a bit too quick for some members of the party, but we all soon got into our stride, despite seeming at every opportunity to split into 3 little groups. Though the discussions within these groups was diverse and interesting in the extreme, some of which cannot be committed to print I'm afraid.

There was a a brief stop to look westwards towards Loch Affric over Loch Beinn a' Mheadhoin Before resuming the walk towards the Dog Falls

There was a discussion about the use of the English language that the Forestry Commission had used to describe an otter on one of their signposts, where an erudite discussion ensued on the merits or otherwise of this English usage! You don't get that every day on a walk in Glen Affric.

One of our more ecologically aware walkers pointed out something we may find interesting and would tell us more after lunch, which was overlooking a beautiful Loch in the middle of the forest.

After lunch the mystery was revealed and it was all about the misnomer that the Caledonian Forest was all pine trees, which it wasn't. As we were shown a coppiced oak tree of about 450 year old, living quite happily high up in the glen.

Then it was downhill to the river where brief glimpses of the Dog Falls. While the water level was quite low, as there hadn't been much rain for the last 3 weeks, they were still nice to see. Better views were still to come as we walked further down the road, and how pretty they looked and how much more majestic they will be when the snow melt from the winter to come starts next year.

It was generally agreed that we should to the walk again in early spring next year to see the differences. Once we got back to the car park, some of the walker decided they would  be heading off and not joining us at the Tomich Hotel for tea, coffee and scones. This was understandable as they did have a way to travel home. So 8 of us went to the hotel where more talk and mutterings about 'petrol head' and 'Jeremy' were banded about just because one of us likes 4x4's and fastish cars! Me.

It was a lovely walk in great company, and am definitely looking forward to the next one a loop around Inverness via the Caledonian Canal and Great Glen Way.

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Next 'Walk 'n' Talk' on Sunday... January 8th 2012
 
GREAT GLEN WAY taster
   
Gather at 10.30 am at the front entrance of Inverness Sports & Leisure Centre

A 5  mile hike ... Lunch/Tea/Coffee/Chat in Inverness

Bring waterproof coat & stout shoes

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