Getting about in the hills on foot and by cycle.

 The rough Estate track is approachable from the A9 road close to Aviemore and is used, in addition to the now Forestry work that is at present ongoing, and by walkers and off road cyclists. The way upwards gives very fine views outwards to the Cairngorm hills and from the high point on the track access to one of the Corbett hills and the way outwards and down into the quiet Glen through which flows the Dulnain river a tributary of the river Spey. Through the gate then ramping upwards. The Cairngorms appearing much grander with the additional cloud. The high point on the trail. Reaching the Glen and with the restored cottage at Caggan below. Below can just be seen the bridge to cross the Dulnain River. From the bridge crossing looking upstream to an estate Bothy and into an area when Curlews, Oystercatchers and Lapwings arrive for the Summer.  The upstream Bothy. To a past Guardian of the Glen. The fine looking Croft at Insharn through which the N7 cycle route passes. The trac...

 From the parking near to the end of the driveable road on the East side of the Glen. A short section of road walking to engage with the fine trail prior to the dip in the road leading to the dwelling at Achlean. The path takes the raised ground above the river Feshie out towards the river crossing above where the water coming out of Coire Garbhlach flows into the river Feshie. I hadn't walked up the Glen for some time since using my bike in the past. The large stones at this crossing are not there and available now. A little way upstream it is possible to move quickly and even without wearing my gaiters to arrive on the other side without wet socks.....speed and the walking pole are key here. Telephone poles are not needed where there are suitable mature pines to rig up wiring for a phone system....maybe a relic of a wartime tree extraction perhaps. A much easier burn crossing close to the Bothy location. Just above where Marif is crossing there is a wider shallower section where ...

 Our Sunday walk this week was to the Cromdale Hills. Our approach was from the alternative road section used on the Speyside way. The crossed sword symbol used to indicate a place of battle on Ordnance Survey maps was something to look at and along with the 1690 date it conjured up the strife that took place in Ireland when the Jacobite army of James V11/11 was defeated by the incoming Protestant Monarch William. Of course the Highland Scots Jacobites along with others were opposed to the change and a group of them were defeated by the Government army in this area and it would appear that after the fighting at Lethandry Castle that there was further action closer to the hills and, it has been said, that a Piper gave encouragement to the action at the Clach a'Piobhair boulder. Area of the fighting with broken down houses. Cairn at the site. An easy approach track. The pipers boulder. The pipers boulder when I passed this way on descent from the hills Twelve years ago. We pushed on ...