Monday, November 25, 2013
Sunday, September 22, 2013
Coaltown of Balgonie
With the sun
shining and a lovely breeze 10 walkers set off for the Thornton to Coaltown of
Balgonie circular walk. We welcomed a new walker to the group (Linda) and there
were some celebrations amongst group members. Isobel has celebrated her
daughter’s wedding and June and Bob their Golden wedding – congratulations to
all.
Sunday, September 01, 2013
Auchterarder
Charlie wrote:
What better way to welcome in the month of September than to make a foray into beautiful Perthshire to the town of Auhterarder, once famous for weaving, malting and distilling.Fifteen pairs of feet mustered at the town's car park,and then with bodies attached, set off on a little adventure on a cloudy, windy, but fair afternoon.
The walk of 4.7 miles in and around the town took us through the settlement of Castleton and via Oak Walk to a woodland area, populated with birds, animals and fish, all carved in wood by members of the local community. Naturally clever.
Then across town to walk by the Ruthven Water with its weir and fish ladder, a required photo stop. On past the Old Glen Ruthven Mill and to the stairway, giving splendid views of the Ochil Hills, back into town for delicious scones and cake, topped with much banter and chat.
What better way to welcome in the month of September than to make a foray into beautiful Perthshire to the town of Auhterarder, once famous for weaving, malting and distilling.Fifteen pairs of feet mustered at the town's car park,and then with bodies attached, set off on a little adventure on a cloudy, windy, but fair afternoon.
The walk of 4.7 miles in and around the town took us through the settlement of Castleton and via Oak Walk to a woodland area, populated with birds, animals and fish, all carved in wood by members of the local community. Naturally clever.
Then across town to walk by the Ruthven Water with its weir and fish ladder, a required photo stop. On past the Old Glen Ruthven Mill and to the stairway, giving splendid views of the Ochil Hills, back into town for delicious scones and cake, topped with much banter and chat.
Sunday, August 11, 2013
Auchtermuchty
Hilda wrote:
The walkers revisited Auchtermuchty
today. We did the first walk in January
2012 and as I recall it was a lovely winter’s day although cold and frosty but
what a change in the countryside on a beautiful sunny summer’s day. We had
thirteen in the group and when we arrived in Muchty it was a bit busier than
usual due to the Muchty Festival holding the final day of celebration.
We headed up Bondgate towards the
school and straight on to part of the Common Loop. We had our first wee breather at the Mairs
car park before crossing the road and picking our way through a tricky pathway
and crossing the burn. The next part of the walk took us through Glassart’s
Den. Now having done this walk before I
thought I knew the way but I soon realised the picnic table at the top of a
hill where we were to have the next stop had been completely missed! Oops. However, we were all enjoying the walk and
the company and the omission didn’t seem to have made any difference. We passed the lovely house belonging to Jimmy
Shand Jnr which is positioned to benefit from the most amazing scenery. Further along the same road is the plot where
his father Jimmy Shand Snr had his home.
It was demolished and another lovely house rebuilt on the site. On the
last part of the walk we visited the bronze sculpture of Jimmy Shand and had a
few photos taken.
Back where we started and music
beckoning us we headed up to The Square where a fair crowd of people had
gathered to join in the festivities. We
listened for a while but when the MC announced the Dashing White Sergeant,
Janis was off like a shot, dragging Audrey and Charlie with her. I was “persuaded” by Mary to make another set
and the rest is history.
Yes, we were neat about the feet in our walking
boots! Soon it was time to depart and we
left Muchty for the Covenanters Hotel in Falkland. There we enjoyed delicious hot scones and a
generous helping of tea/coffee in pleasant surroundings.
Another successful day with the
Walkers.
Saturday, June 29, 2013
Rosslyn Castle
Viewforth High School's old minibus came belting along Elgin Street at 10mph just before 10.00am and a good few walkers had already gathered, fair dying to get away on the summer trip to Rosslyn Chapel. We had been watching the weather forecast all week hoping for a fair day and prayers were answered. We left at 10 on the dot once all the seats on the bus were occupied, and just as if the radio had been switched on, the blethering started.
50 mph all the way to midlothian seemed like eternity so it was about 11am by the time we reached Roslin. We knew we would have a delay before our guided tour began so had planned to bring along a wee snackette to keep wolves from the door. It was lovely just hanging about in the sunshine, eating our picnics in the grounds of the chapel and admiring the stunning architecture of the chapel built by William Sinclair the 1st earl of Caithness for the Sinclair family.
Although the Sinclairs no longer live or worship here, one Helen Sinclair was the founder of the trust in 1995 with the intention of conservation of the chapel through opening it up to the paying public. Little was she to know what would happen ten years later .
As this is a working church - St Matthew's Episcopal Church - at 1200 a few local ladies conducted a short service of prayer and so the majority of us took part in that before our guide began her talk at 1215. Boy did this lady know her stuff. She talked at a great rate of knots giving the history of Rosslyn from its creation in 15th century until the present fascination instigated by Dan Brown's novel the Da Vinci Code and a Hollywood blockbuster of the same name. We were enthralled by her knowledge of the carvings which were captivating as they depict stories of religious, masonic, pagan and Knights Templar - it is no wonder that this building attracts so much international interest. We were told that, before the movie, the chapel had 30,000 visitors per year. They now have 140,000 per year. We were told the story of the Apprentice's pillar and the Mystery over his murder by the master mason. We took time to trace some of the carvings of note including Green men, the seven sins and the seven virtues, Lucifer in chains and the pendant keystone in the middle of the roof. You somehow expected to see Tom Hanks running down the stairs to the crypt but he wasn't there. We checked.
Outside once again we took some more photos and then headed off on a four mile walk from Roslin to Polton which had been advertised as 'absolutely flat'. Hmphh.
Undulating is the nicest euphemism I heard. There was nothing of any interest at Polton so we came back via the same route only this time because there was climbing involved, comments became a bit more blunt.
We were glad to have a wee seat at this memorial for a photo and catch our breath again.
Back at the minibus, we changed out of our walking boots (!!) as we were going for a meal at Melville Inn Lasswade. Now we expected to be there in 4 miles but when it looked like we were getting a bit lost we had to stop and ask a local for directions. The driver made one of her unusual manoeuvres to face the other direction and we were off again. Hilda, the navigator, who has never been to Lasswade before, did her best, but was eventually told to belt up by the driver who was crabbit and hungry by this time. Melville Inn came into sight and we were relieved. It was a lovely, comfortable place for 17 of us to eat and very reasonably priced. We all thoroughly enjoyed our meals and then it was 'Home James" at 50mph again.
What a lovely crowd on today's walk: we are all so comfortable with each other.
Back safe and sound at Elgin Street everyone appeared very content with this year's trip as they said their goodbyes. Just to take the minibus back now.
As always the driver completes the log, checks the inside and outside of the bus and removes all possessions. Just a cotton pickin minute..... where did the driver's walking shoes get to?
(!!) She just pictured them sitting there, abandoned in the middle of the bus park at Rosslyn Chapel and wondered if their paths would ever cross again.....
50 mph all the way to midlothian seemed like eternity so it was about 11am by the time we reached Roslin. We knew we would have a delay before our guided tour began so had planned to bring along a wee snackette to keep wolves from the door. It was lovely just hanging about in the sunshine, eating our picnics in the grounds of the chapel and admiring the stunning architecture of the chapel built by William Sinclair the 1st earl of Caithness for the Sinclair family.
As this is a working church - St Matthew's Episcopal Church - at 1200 a few local ladies conducted a short service of prayer and so the majority of us took part in that before our guide began her talk at 1215. Boy did this lady know her stuff. She talked at a great rate of knots giving the history of Rosslyn from its creation in 15th century until the present fascination instigated by Dan Brown's novel the Da Vinci Code and a Hollywood blockbuster of the same name. We were enthralled by her knowledge of the carvings which were captivating as they depict stories of religious, masonic, pagan and Knights Templar - it is no wonder that this building attracts so much international interest. We were told that, before the movie, the chapel had 30,000 visitors per year. They now have 140,000 per year. We were told the story of the Apprentice's pillar and the Mystery over his murder by the master mason. We took time to trace some of the carvings of note including Green men, the seven sins and the seven virtues, Lucifer in chains and the pendant keystone in the middle of the roof. You somehow expected to see Tom Hanks running down the stairs to the crypt but he wasn't there. We checked.
Outside once again we took some more photos and then headed off on a four mile walk from Roslin to Polton which had been advertised as 'absolutely flat'. Hmphh.
Back at the minibus, we changed out of our walking boots (!!) as we were going for a meal at Melville Inn Lasswade. Now we expected to be there in 4 miles but when it looked like we were getting a bit lost we had to stop and ask a local for directions. The driver made one of her unusual manoeuvres to face the other direction and we were off again. Hilda, the navigator, who has never been to Lasswade before, did her best, but was eventually told to belt up by the driver who was crabbit and hungry by this time. Melville Inn came into sight and we were relieved. It was a lovely, comfortable place for 17 of us to eat and very reasonably priced. We all thoroughly enjoyed our meals and then it was 'Home James" at 50mph again.
What a lovely crowd on today's walk: we are all so comfortable with each other.
Back safe and sound at Elgin Street everyone appeared very content with this year's trip as they said their goodbyes. Just to take the minibus back now.
As always the driver completes the log, checks the inside and outside of the bus and removes all possessions. Just a cotton pickin minute..... where did the driver's walking shoes get to?
(!!) She just pictured them sitting there, abandoned in the middle of the bus park at Rosslyn Chapel and wondered if their paths would ever cross again.....
Sunday, May 19, 2013
Dysart to Kirkcaldy
Although this was just a wee short walk, it was a bit special as we were treating it as a pilgrimage. It was also special because we had children with us - Keiran, Brodie and Morgan. At church this morning, the worship committee were taking the service as Robin is on holiday. Their theme was Pilgrimage and so the Walkers decided to support them by actually doing a walk involving saints who have a place in Fife's history. We started at St Serf's tower in Dysart at 9am reading a wee passage about how St Serf came to be connected with Fife.
The weather could not have been kinder. Warm, sunny and so quiet. Only our chatter broke the silence walking through the woods at Ravenscraig. So, so peaceful. We made our way down the Path and past Nairn's buildings, as was, at the harbour, then crossing at the traffic lights at Pillans Pie shop, as was. Up Coal Wynd past Beatties bakeries, as was, along Townsend Place then down Oswald's Wynd past Allen Litho, as was. We walked through the grounds of the Old Kirk and on to St Bryce Kirk, the parish church of Kirkcaldy. We read a little about St Bryce or Brice and then crossed over to Adam Smith college before making our way back to Bennochy where we managed to find time to get some refreshments before the service at 11am when our Worship Committee made a great impact on the congregation with their talks, prayer and old hymns prompting thoughts of our history and how and why we came to be here. A wonderful start to a day.
The weather could not have been kinder. Warm, sunny and so quiet. Only our chatter broke the silence walking through the woods at Ravenscraig. So, so peaceful. We made our way down the Path and past Nairn's buildings, as was, at the harbour, then crossing at the traffic lights at Pillans Pie shop, as was. Up Coal Wynd past Beatties bakeries, as was, along Townsend Place then down Oswald's Wynd past Allen Litho, as was. We walked through the grounds of the Old Kirk and on to St Bryce Kirk, the parish church of Kirkcaldy. We read a little about St Bryce or Brice and then crossed over to Adam Smith college before making our way back to Bennochy where we managed to find time to get some refreshments before the service at 11am when our Worship Committee made a great impact on the congregation with their talks, prayer and old hymns prompting thoughts of our history and how and why we came to be here. A wonderful start to a day.
Friday, May 17, 2013
Lochore to Cardenden
The recce for this walk was done a few weeks ago with the South Queensferry Ramblers. We thought there wouldn't be a big take up today as it was advertised as a 7 mile ramble with lots of mud and steep gradients. Sixteen walkers took it on and I heard comments like, " It's not that muddy." Hill? What hill?" We must be getting fitter and braver then.
Starting off at Lochore Meadows we crossed the Main Road into the housing estate and then off into the country through what is called Torres Lane. There is a very gradual incline up to the point where Hare Law Cairn was pointed out. The Victorians from Ballingry discovered the foundations of a wall under a pile of stones at this point. Within the wall they found three cists , kitchen utensils , teeth and bones inside a food vessel. The cairn was left open overnight to allow locals to view the discovery but the treasures had all been nicked before dawn. So now there is just a wee mound with a tree planted there to mark the spot.
There are terrific views of the Lomonds, particularly Benarty from there, but today the mist was dumbing down the beautiful greens we saw on the recce.
We also talked about the Westfiled plant down there on our left which is the first power plant in the world to burn poultry litter and turn it into electricity and fertiliser. Now that's smart. Let's all start keeping chickens to help keep the leccy bills down.
We only just reached the metropolis of Cardenden when we had to veer off to the right at Woodend into the countryside again. The half way mark.
The challenge that we'd been warned about was there in front of us. Not sure if there is a name for a climb of 200 feet - a Pimple maybe - but it certainly got our hearts pumping. We hovered at the top to catch our breath and to watch the rain come tumbling over the Lomonds heading our way. It was all downhill from there which isn't always easier though. By the time we were on flat ground again it was absolutely pelting! Some of us were not exactly prepared for bad weather as we are normally fortunate, but no matter what we were wearing we were all drookit when we got back to the Lochore Meadows cafe ony to find it had closed at 3.00pm today. Sack the walk leader. We would have made an awful lot of puddles on their floor so maybe just as well. It was encouraging that most folk enjoyed the length of this walk and so there will be more similar ones in the summer months ahead.
Starting off at Lochore Meadows we crossed the Main Road into the housing estate and then off into the country through what is called Torres Lane. There is a very gradual incline up to the point where Hare Law Cairn was pointed out. The Victorians from Ballingry discovered the foundations of a wall under a pile of stones at this point. Within the wall they found three cists , kitchen utensils , teeth and bones inside a food vessel. The cairn was left open overnight to allow locals to view the discovery but the treasures had all been nicked before dawn. So now there is just a wee mound with a tree planted there to mark the spot.
We also talked about the Westfiled plant down there on our left which is the first power plant in the world to burn poultry litter and turn it into electricity and fertiliser. Now that's smart. Let's all start keeping chickens to help keep the leccy bills down.
We only just reached the metropolis of Cardenden when we had to veer off to the right at Woodend into the countryside again. The half way mark.
The challenge that we'd been warned about was there in front of us. Not sure if there is a name for a climb of 200 feet - a Pimple maybe - but it certainly got our hearts pumping. We hovered at the top to catch our breath and to watch the rain come tumbling over the Lomonds heading our way. It was all downhill from there which isn't always easier though. By the time we were on flat ground again it was absolutely pelting! Some of us were not exactly prepared for bad weather as we are normally fortunate, but no matter what we were wearing we were all drookit when we got back to the Lochore Meadows cafe ony to find it had closed at 3.00pm today. Sack the walk leader. We would have made an awful lot of puddles on their floor so maybe just as well. It was encouraging that most folk enjoyed the length of this walk and so there will be more similar ones in the summer months ahead.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)