North of Scotland LDWA Local Group Page

03/11/2024

03/11/2024

Lovely day today to walk out the group's Christmas meal walk on the Black Isle, with Karen Miekle and Jane Bregazzi and their collies Skye and Renn (who, at 15, is quite amazing).
The walk started from Rosemarkie Golf Club, where we are having the meal on December 15, and took in Chanory Point (where, sadly, we didn't see any dolphins), Fortrose and its impressive cathedral, and the the Fairy Glen and its wonderful waterfalls.
The pre-meal walk is still a work in progress, as Karen, Jane and myself need to return to give it some tweaks, including a detour to Cairds Cave. When those tweaks are complete, the walk will be about nine miles. So watch this space ...

29/10/2024

The weather forecast is looking great for this Saturday's cafe walk. it's a circular route starting from Dallas Dhu, from where we'll travel south on the Dava Way and then onto woodland paths to Rafford VH via Skene Meadows. After café break at VH, up Sourbank to Burgie Hill for viewpoint lunch. Thereafter, down Califer Hill to Forres flood alleviation on minor roads and then through Sanquhar woods to Dava Way and Dallas Dhu Distillery
Booking details are on the North of Scotland LDWA web site.

28/10/2024

Eight group members, plus three folks from the Moray Way Association, took part in an excellent outdoor first aid course at the weekend, held at EdinkilleVillage Hall.
The course was delivered by Outfit Moray, and paid for by the LDWA NEC’s Martyn Greaves Fund (Martyn, who died in 2022, was a popular LDWA member who left the association £113,837 in his estate).
Group secretary Alison Collins, who organised the course, said: “We learnt loads of stuff, covering heaps of different medical conditions from hypothermia to diabetes. We covered how to share our location, how to signal a helicopter, how to use defibrillators, and we practiced CPR”.
Everyone who went on the course received a first aid certificate which is valid for three years.

19/10/2024

Because the weather forecast is for heavy rain and strong winds tomorrow, the Bennachie Loop Walk has been cancelled. It is hoped to reschedule in the near future, so keep an eye on the group website. Sincere apologies.

16/10/2024

What a lovely day yesterday was to walk out our pre-AGM walk, from the delightful village of North Kessock, just outside Inverness.
The 11 mile walk goes from North Kessock to Redcastle (the photo shows why it has that name) and I walked it out with John MacLaren from Inverness Ramblers, who lives in the village and has led the walk before for that group.
The weather was glorious and we had fine views across Beauly Firth. Let's hope the weather is almost as good when we have the AGM on November 17. The meeting will be held at North Kessock Community Hub - details will shortly go on the group website, and a bulk email will be sent to our members.

08/10/2024

Did a recce for the Ladycairn Loop group walk today with Shelagh Walker, who is leading it on November 23.
We started off up the Great Glen Way under a grey sky, with only one shower on the way to Ladycairn - but it made no difference as this section is very boggy anyway 😯 But we were rewarded with some blue sky as we descended overlooking Loch Ness, and some great views.
A straightforward walk back to Inverness along the Caledonian Canal from Dochgarroch - just short of 23 miles and only two showers to dampen our spirits 😂

24/09/2024

Some more photos from Saturday's traverse of the Lairig Ghru, which 17 NoS members and two guests from South of Scotland Group completed in glorious sunny weather.
The 21 mile trek over the famous mountain pass - from Linn of Dee to Coylumbridge - started just before 10.30am. The group split after 5.8 miles, with the striders getting back at about 8pm, the faster WASPS (Walkers at a Slower Pace) finishing about one-and-a-half hours later, and the slower WASPS reaching Coylumbridge at 11pm - so it was lucky everyone was asked to take their head torches.
These fabulous photos were taken by Els Freshwater, Sally Kendall and Karen Meikle.

22/09/2024

Yesterday, 19 members of the LDWA walked the Lairig Ghru – probably the most spectacular mountain pass in Scotland – and what an adventure it turned out to be.
The scenery, passing between several magnificent Munros, was absolutely spectacular and the weather could not have been better. The walk is 21 miles, and after almost six miles, it was decided to split the party into two groups – Striders and WASPS (Walkers At a Slower Pace). As I had organised the walk, I was a WASP, and after another few miles, the WASP group was split again, as one walker, Sandra McInness, was clearly unwell and struggling, and having to walk slowly. So Shelagh Walker, Diane Saywack and myself stayed with her.
The Lairig Ghru is a tough walk which reaches 2,740 feet at its highest point, although the climbing is never steep, but it does involve negotiating a few boulder fields. Main concerns were to get Sandra past those boulder fields while it was still light, and to get her safely to the end, at Coylumbridge.
The Striders finished in good time, and the quicker WASP group weren’t too far behind. The slower WASP group just managed to get past the boulder fields in daylight, after which we put on our head torches, and eventually reached Coylumbridge at around 11pm. So all’s well that ends well.
The party comprised 17 members of North of Scotland LDWA and two from South of Scotland Group. We had hired a coach to take us to the start, at Linn of Dee, near Braemar, and while the arrangements worked well, the next time the Lairig Ghru goes on the group programme will probably be in June, in order to maximise daylight.

16/09/2024

Twelve members of the group went on an extremely enjoyable ‘Skills For The Hills’ navigation course, held at Glenmore Lodge, at the weekend.
There were two courses – one for beginners and a more advanced course. Subjects included orientating, pacing, following a linear feature and bearing along a linear feature, and grid references. There was even a temporary shelter, which was put up in the classroom.
The course was arranged by secretary Alison Collins and followed a donation from the LDWA NEC’s Martyn Greaves Fund (Martyn, who died in 2022, was a popular LDWA member who left the association £113,837 in his estate).
One of the group members who attended, Sally Kendall, said: “It was an amazing weekend, we all learned so much. And we had good weather, with the odd shower and lots of rainbows. We also saw a reindeer!”
Bea Jefferson, who also attended, said: “Glenmore Lodge is very much recommended to any LDWA group which may be looking to develop their skills – great instructors, good food and good venue”.

08/09/2024

The route details of our walk on Saturday 7th September 2024

01/09/2024

Many thanks to Trevor for driving the Osprey Minibus and providing refreshments at the end.

25/08/2024

These photos were taken on the 13.7 mile Pluscarden Panorama walk, led by Sally Kendall yesterday.
The walk started from Pluscarden Abbey and went through Monaughty Woods and along the Heldon Hill ridge, with great views to the north and south. We then zig-zagged down to our picnic spot before walking behind Pluscarden House on the opposite side of the glen. It was all on good forest tracks and minor roads.
Fifteen group members and two dogs went on the walk. Sally said: "It was a lovely day in lovely company. See you all soon”.