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Lat/Long: 56.832317, -04.222893
OS Grid ref: NN 64384 73391
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Last night I’d stayed in the car park above the old Dalnaspidal
railway Station. It was a clear sunny evening and even after a
very late sunset it didn't get dark at all. I was up around 4am
due to the light morning and decided to take advantage and get
an early start to the walk. Yesterday was quite warm and reached
the high 20s. The morning was pleasantly cool a I heated my
breakfast pan outside. After a hot coffee I set off around
04:55am and headed across the railway crossing then south along
the track by Dalnaspidal Lodge. I reached part way across the
first dam then turned left over a gate and into long dewy wet
grass that I followed over the embankment to a bridge over the
main river. |
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Loch Garry in the distance. |
Garry Intake building. |
Up the track I turned right to head for a track along the east
side of Loch Garry. It’s a route I was unsure about it being a
viable route even though it's shown on the map. The main track
along the west side of the loch is on a known through walking
route to Loch Rannoch but this track goes a long way round the
mountain. I needn't have been concerned as it was a well made
vehicle track. The clear sky promised another warm day but even
though it was early and the sun was up but I was soon in shade.
about half way along the loch I was surprised to see a large
tent and 4*4 vehicle on the opposite shore. There was somebody
driving the vehicle so presumably they were camping. being on
private land I can only assume they were fishing. A bit further
to the south on them was an interesting building called Garry
Intake building on the map.
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There seemed to be an inlet into the loch below it. The loch
level was very low and must be about 10m down from the high
water line. I continued to the end of the loch at a gate and
sheep pens. Across the valley I could see a relatively modern
building that seemed to be near a small dam and further south an
odd stone building that seemed to be part bothy and half without
a roof. I looked across the valley to see if there was a way of
linking the routes. With a low river level it would be possible
Loch Garry is part of a hydro scheme and seems to have an outlet
tunnel leading under the mountain to Loch Ericht in the west. I
continued up the well made track and started a steady climb
along Allt Poll Dubh. The surrounding landscape was deserted but
I had nice views of the distant mountains. I was hoping to see
Schiehallion but it wasn’t visible. Over the top of the pass I
started a steady descent towards the main A9 and Glen Garry. It
wasn’t long before I could see the vehicles moving along the A9.
Lower down there were several old shielings either side of the
road. |
Fancy bothy |
Interior through the window. |
Below I could see a new and rather fancy bothy so I crossed some
rough ground to have a look. It was locked but I was able to
peer through the windows to get a view inside. I followed the
track down to the main track parallel to the railway and A9.
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'This point marks the centre of Scotland 1st May 2009 Allister
Andy, Dave, Jamie, Jim' |
The post in Glen Garry. |
I turned left to look for a point marked on Google maps as the
centre of Scotland. Before getting to the published coordinates
I noticed an old stake away from the track with a metal plate
saying 'This point marks the centre of Scotland 1st May 2009
Allister Andy, Dave, Jamie, Jim'. I continued up the glen to
reach the Dalnaspidal buildings. The track to the right took me
to the main farmyard where sheep were fenced in so I returned
then out via the main house whee a woman was playing with her
children on the lawn. I reached the railway level crossing the
up the road back to may car.
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