North of Scotland LDWA Local Group Page

15/01/2025

Joined Roger Boston to do Carn Kitty (521mts) for the first time this year. Good views and warm breezy weather.

08/01/2025

The response to our Highland Coast to Coast challenge walk, on June 28, was quite amazing, and totally unexpected - the event was fully subscribed within hours of entries opening on January 1.
Thanks to Karen Meikle, we have now been able to organise two additional coaches, to transport walkers from the HQ at Ardgay to the start at Ullapool, almost doubling our capacity.
The waiting list has been released and the event is now full, with 208 entries. Entries have been closed.
The event really seems to have caught people's imagination.
Also, so far 32 people have offered to marshal on the event, so thank you very much.
It's a great walk so let's hope we are blessed with good weather on the day.

31/12/2024

Entries for our 36 mile Highland Coast to Coast challenge event open tomorrow (January 1).
The event is on June 28, and the route goes from Ullapool on Loch Broom to Ardgay on Dornoch Firth – the shortest distance coast to coast across Scotland. It will take in some of the most spectacular scenery in Britain, including Loch Achall, East Rhidorroch, Strath Cuileannach and Strathcarron, with 2107ft of ascent.
The event will be based at Ardgay Community Hall, with walkers transported by coach to the start. They will be given 15 hours to complete the challenge, and there will be three checkpoints – two in bothies and the other in the open air at Croik, 10 miles from the end. There will be badges and completion certificates for entrants.
Entries for the Highland Coast to Coast cost £35 for LDWA members and £45 for non- members. Entering is via SiEntries - go to https://www.sientries.co.uk/event.php?event_id=14936
Co-organisers for the event are Julie Cribb, currently national LDWA chair, and NoS committee member Graham Smith, who can be contacted for more information about the event on [email protected]
There will be a marshals' walk on June 14, and details about this will be communicated to members in due course. Anyone wishing to go on the marshals' walk and/or marshal on the event is asked to email Graham on the above email address.
In the meantime, a very happy new year to all North of Scotland LDWA members - 2025 is already shaping up to be a memorable one for our group.

15/12/2024

North of Scotland LDWA Christmas walk and meal today, from Fortrose and Rosemarkie Golf Club on the Black Isle.
Eighteen group members came for the walk and meal, with four just for the meal, and it was particularly good to see Jenni Coelho, who has been bravely fighting a quite debilitating illness for more than a year.
The walk went out to Chanory Point (where, sadly, we didn't see any dolphins), then Fortrose Cathedral, before a stiff climb to take a path (offering fine views across Moray Firth) to the Fairy Glen, where we all marvelled at the spectacular waterfalls.
By the time we got back to the seafront, it was 2pm, so it was decided to give Caird's Cave a miss, as we were all thirsty and hungry, and we were due to sit down to eat at 3pm. And the meal, organised by Karen Meikle, was excellent - so it was a fine end to the walk. Many thanks, Karen.

09/12/2024

On June 28 next year, our group is putting on a new challenge event for the LDWA – the Highland Coast to Coast. And we are going to need marshals.
The Highland Coast to Coast will follow a spectacular 36 mile route from Ullapool on Loch Broom to Ardgay on Dornoch Firth. Walkers will be transported by coach to the start from the event HQ, Ardgay Community Hall. They will be given 15 hours to complete the walk and there will be three checkpoints, two in bothies (Knockdamph and Schoolhouse) and the other is likely to be in the open air at Croik. Entries open on January 1, via SiEntries, and there has already been huge interest shown in the event among LDWA members.
The event will not be as big as the Speyside 100, the LDWA’s flagship event which we organised this year and which was a huge success thanks to so many people from our group helping out.
But it’s an important new LDWA challenge event and we are going to need marshals – at the HQ, at the start and at the three checkpoints. So there is also going to be a marshals’ walk, and this will be two weeks before the event – on Saturday June 14.
Some people from the group have already offered to marshal on the event, but if you would like to marshal and have not yet put your name down, please email me. Please indicate if you would like to enter the marshals walk as well as marshalling on the event. Honestly – marshalling on an LDWA event is very rewarding and is a lot of fun.
My email address is [email protected]
Many thanks.
Graham Smith,
North of Scotland LDWA

09/12/2024

01/12/2024

Final walkout of the group's pre-Christmas meal walk today, from Fortrose and Rosemarkie Golf Club on the Black Isle.
The walk is just under nine miles and I have to say it's very pleasant and packs quite a lot in - Chanory Point (where, sadly, I didn't see any dolphins today), Fortrose Cathedral, a climb to turn off through the woods and a descent to the Fairy Glen, then there and back to see the glen's spectacular waterfalls, and then out and back to Caird's Cave (the cave itself is pretty underwhelming but it's a lovely part of the walk, taking a nice raised path out and along the beach back).
It took me just under 3.5 hours and there's 534 feet of ascent. Let's hope we get decent weather on December 15.
And if members want to go, I need to know soon - my email address is [email protected]

28/11/2024

Went to the Oykel Bridge area today, with Tain NoS pals Heather and David Kirkland, to check part of the route for next year's Highland Coast to Coast challenge - and just about the coldest walk I have ever done.
When we started walking, at 10am, the temperature was minus 7, and I could hardly feel my hands in my gloves. But we warmed up after about 40 minutes. There was frost and ice everywhere, with parts of the burns iced over. But quite spectacular in those conditions.
We walked to Schoolhouse Bothy in Strath Mulzie - checkpoint 2 on the challenge - and then took the route walkers are going to follow next year. It was very cold and pretty icy but that part of the route is a delightful high level march, with superb views back to Strath Mulzie, and I reckon the walkers next year will love it. We certainly did today.
When we got back to the car, at about 1.30pm, the temperature had reached a balmy minus 1. It had been a really enjoyable walk, and a very useful exercise because I was checking that section on the route description, which I'm in the process of finishing.
Our Highland Coast to Coast - based on the social walk Pete Mitchell organised for us in July - is on June 28 next year: 36 miles from UIlapool on Loch Broom to Ardgay on Dornoch Firth, with walkers being transported by coach to the start. Entries, via SiEntries, open on January 1. There is a story about the challenge in the new Strider, which should drop through our letterboxes any day now.

22/11/2024

The weather forecast for tomorrow is bad, so Shelagh Walker has decided to cancel tomorrow's Ladycairn Loop from Inverness.
Shelagh hopes to put it on the group programme at a later date.

20/11/2024

The weather forecast for Saturday's 23 mile Ladycairn Loop, from Inverness, is not good right now.
On Friday leader Shelagh Walker will make a decision about whether the walk will go ahead, and there will be an update put on the website and on the group page then.

17/11/2024

North of Scotland LDWA pre-meeting walk, followed by the group AGM, today.
The 10 mile walk went out from North Kessock to Redcastle and was led by John Maclaren, from Inverness Ramblers, who lives in North Kessock and who kindly agreed to lead it for us. It was a very nice walk, in weather which improved as the day went on. We took an inland route out to Redcastle - where we saw some rare Jacobs Sheep in the field near the castle - and followed a minor road back, with lovely views over Beauly Firth.
And we had a decent turnout for the AGM, which was held at North Kessock Community Hub.
Many thanks, John.

11/11/2024

Don't forget the group AGM, at North Kessock Community Hub, and pre-AGM walk this Sunday (November 17).
The 10 mile walk starts from the Hub at 10am and goes out to Redcastle, and then back along Beauly Firth. The AGM starts at 2.15pm (and shouldn't go on too long - honestly!)
This is your group and the AGM will be your chance to have your say in how we are run. So if you have not yet said you are going and you would like to do so, contact Graham Smith - who is leading the walk - on [email protected]
See you there!

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.