|
|
Lat/Long: 56.832317, -04.222893
OS Grid ref: NN 64384 73391
|
|
|
|
I spent the night in the small car park by the old Dalnaspidal
Railway Station. There was a tremendous amount of rain overnight
so I delayed my start until 7am when it had almost stopped. My
plan was to walk all the way round Loch Garry but as there is no
path at the west end i knew I’d have to wade across 2 rivers and
have no idea how much water there’d be in them. I crossed the
railway level crossing and followed the stoned track along the
north shore of Loch Garry. |
|
|
Approach to Loch Garry. |
Loch Garry. |
Loch Garry. |
|
|
|
The water level is very low as it is now used as a feeder into
Loch Ericht 5 miles to the west and 55m lower. This gives Garry
a very unusual appearance as the level varies drastically and no
longer flows down Glen Garry as it used to before the hydro
electric tunnel. I was fortunate that the rain held off for most
of my walk and it looked quite fine at first. I reached the
Garry Ericht tunnel portal building which gives no clue as to
its purpose. |
Loch Garry Gatehouse. |
Jetty and Loch Garry Gatehouse. |
|
|
In front is a concrete jetty construction which is probably
where the underwater sluice gate is continued for another mile
until the track ends at a gate. Up to the right was a waterfall
in spate and a river crossing with some submerged stepping
stones. Fortunately I wa able to get across without much
difficulty. The path ahead was very indistinct across a wet area
of boggy ground. The recent heavy rain hasn't helped. |
possible adit gate |
Hydro generating station. |
Two bridges. |
Eventually I reached the river coming in from the west and
followed the path by its bank up to another building. This one
seemed more recent and was a generating station discharging into
the river. I couldn’t see where the output power cables went.
The track continued up the river to two bridges. The first had
substantial stone abutments and timber span and further upstream
a much more substantial concrete and steel bridge. I crossed the
first bridge and joined the track onwards towards the obscured
Duinish bothy. I soon saw it to the left and followed the branch
track down to the bothy..
|
|
|
Duinish Bothy. |
|
|
Duinish Bothy intrior. |
Duinish Bothy intrior. |
I had a good view across the flat valley that I had to cross but
couldn't see the river level properly, even using binoculars.
There was a low tied up gate to the entrance foyer and the main
door was unlocked. I went inside and found the whole place swept
and tidy. As I left and I re-tied the low gate & heard an engine
and soon a large land rover appeared, drove down the track and
stopped outside the bothy. A man got out and said he was
delivering equipment for a film crew that were due to arrive
later today. They were filming something about wheelchair
access. I wanted to get on with his job and didn't want to chat
so I left. I set off roughly east to cross the low boggy area
towards the river. I had to make several diversions to avoid
swampy areas. At the river it didn't seem as bad as I’d thought
but I had to walk south and upstream to find a crossing spot
where I could wade across.
|
Inlet to Loch Garry. |
The ground was a bit higher on the far side and I passed an old
shieling ruin that isn’t marked on the map. The next river was a
bit more of a problem as a side tributary was narrow but deep
mud on the bottom. Once across the main river was wider but not
too deep to be a problem. I was using my old socks and karimat
inserts on my feet and kept them on for a while until the ground
was solid enough to put my boots back on. Following the fence
north I was able to reach the track on the east side of Loch
Garry and then had an easy walk above the loch shore and back to
the car. I’d originally planned to stay another night but
decided against it due to approaching rain. I drove back towards
Kinloch Rannoch and stayed near the road junction. The rain
started as I arrived and continued very heavy for a while.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
