Dun na Cuaiche, Inveraray

When driving out of Inveraray with the castle to your left and the loch to your right have a look up to the hill and you will notice a monument like a small watch tower on the top. Inveraray is one of my favourite places for a day trip so last Sunday my mum and I decided to take a walk up to the monument.

We parked in the castle car park (it's £2 but it gives you £2 off the cafe and as we always need to stop for some cake this was a bargain!) and walked past the castle, over the stone bridge and towards the woodland. There are clear blue signs from this point that lead you up to the monument. This isn't a long walk and is only slightly steep so no specialist training needed for this one! Once at the top there are gorgeous views of Inveraray, Loch Shira and the surrounding hills.

If you're visiting the castle (or even if you're not) I recommend this as a nice afternoon stroll with some impressive views.

Craig Varr, Kinloch Rannoch

As dawn broke on this November Sunday morning my mum and I set off to climb Craig Varr which overlooks the Perthshire village of Kinloch Rannoch. Although not as challenging as Schiehallion we were still looking for a good walk and a beautiful view. Craig Varr did not disappoint.

We set off from the car park on the Pitlochry side of Kinloch Rannoch which has a signpost across road pointing to the "Craig Varr Path". In hindsight we could have parked in the village itself and followed a shorter and clearer route but we got a couple of extra miles walk out of this mishap. I also think this might be a good spot to park in the Summer when the village is really busy. The path almost immediately turns left and climbs gently through a woodland path. Around half way to Kinloch Rannoch there is another sign pointing straight ahead. We ignored this and started to climb upwards to the path on the right. I enjoyed this part of the walk with the rust coloured ferns, gentle brooks and autumnal leaves. We also spotted a deer prancing through the trees ahead of us.

As we followed the path out of the trees the route took us away from the peak we thought we were heading to and towards a larger hill, which we then realised was Craig Varr. At this point the path continues over more moor land, past a cairn and towards a bridge over a small waterfall. This is a beautiful spot offering views down to the village below and across to Schiehallion. As we had set off early the sun was now rising further in to the sky and sending rays over the mountains and lochs around us. A really stunning sight!

We continued over the bridge and turned to the left. Once we got to a rough old stone dyke (keep your eyes peeled for this- we missed it the first time!) we started to head across the rough moorland and up the hill. There is no path at this point so we tried to roughly go up and leftwards avoiding swampy patches. As it had been raining that weekend the ground was very squelchy at some points and there were small streams running from the top of the hill.

As we climbed upwards another rough path emerged which was covered with fern and heather roots. We carefully followed this until we got to a stone dyke which we followed up to the top of the hill. From here we were rewarded with captivating views of Kinloch Rannoch, Loch Rannoch, Dunalastair Water, Schiehallion and the mountains all the way to Glen Coe. We spent some time taking in these views and the peaceful isolation that can be found at the top of hills.

After this pause we set back off on our way down the hill, this time heading towards the village following the river and waterfall. Most of this path had turned in to a stream. We were able to walk through it but in bad weather this may be a more difficult route. This took us out at the waterfall in the centre of Kinloch Rannoch. We then continued along the woodland path beside the road which completed our circular route and took us back to the car park.

Altogether this route took us longer than we had expected but if you were wanting a shorter walk I suggest parking in Kinloch Rannoch and climbing up the route we climbed down from as this did not take long. I think this is a great walk for all abilities at any time of the year, especially if the weather is clear to take full advantage of the view!

The Facts on climbing Craig Varr:

• We started from the park park around 1 mile before Kinloch Rannoch, however you could also park in the village for free.
• I believe there are public toilets in Kinloch Rannoch.
• Climbing Craig Varr from the further car park took us around 3 hours.
• Distance is around 7k.
• Difficult points: Some of the paths had turned in to streams which could be slippy and there was no path once you got near the top of the hill.
• Wear: Hiking/ hill walking boots and trousers that you don't mind getting a bit muddy.
• Perfect for those who enjoy finding their own path and being rewarded with amazing views of the lower Highlands.

Further Reading:

• Another guide to climbing Craig Varr, this time starting from the village.

Invertrossachs: A Short Walk in the Rain

Summer has faded fast in Scotland, trees are already turning copper and I don't think I have managed a non-jacket day since the first of August. Despite the chilling climate, this weekend we found a great walk that is enjoyable for this changeable season, a short jaunt on the south side of Loch Venachar to a secret mini loch near the forest. To get to the small car parking area we left the Callandar to Brig o' Turk road (A821) on the South side of Loch Venachar and continued on the minor road past Invertrossachs house to the car park near the cycle route. We started our walk by turning out the car park and continuing to the left past the Loch and the boat club. There were a lot of canoes and small boats on the Loch as we passed and even someone in swimming (which made me instantly feel warmer!). Despite being near the Loch there are plenty of trees nearby which gave some shelter to the drizzly windy day.

We continued on this path until we got to a signpost of the left pointing out the Right of Way to Aberfoyle via the Menteith Hills. We followed this path up a steep grassy hill and through some overgrown ferns. As we pushed past the foliage we were spattered in water so I would recommend a waterproof if doing this walk on a damp day. The upwards climb was fairly steady with rocky paths to lead the way. Once the route levels out you can take time to observe the beautiful view of the Loch below. At the time we went there were a lot of trees cut down and some had been lain over the track we were following. To get around this we took a brief detour through the edge of the forrest just to get around the logs then continued back on the path, with the forrest on either side providing cover from the elements.

 

This route shortly led us to the hidden Loch (and Scout hut on its banks). On a warmer/ drier day this would be a lovely spot for a rest and picnic and I can even imagine people out canoeing on the secret Loch. At this point we walked past the Scout hut and started on the stroll back to the car park, following the clear path. We passed a few cyclists along the road here and looked out over Loch Venachar and spotted a rainbow (perks of Autumn showers!).

Altogether the walk, at a leisurely pace, took us around 1hr 30mins and is great for all abilities and weather conditions. I loved spotting the changing colours of late Summer into Autumn while also having the shelter of the forrest around us. The views of Loch Venachar and the opposing banks were impressive while the Hidden Loch was peaceful and still (and made me feel like I had discovered something that those in cars cannot!). Hopefully, the sun will last for a couple more walks this year, but if not I'm glad to know there are some shorter hikes for rainy days.

The facts on Invertrossachs walk:

• Starting point is at the car park behind Invertrossachs House.
• Nearest toilets are in Callendar which are free to access.
• Walk is around 3 miles.
• Takes around: 1.5hours at a casual pace.
• Difficult Points: Slightly steep climb through overgrown foliage and if logs are across the track.
• Wear: Waterproofs if the weather needs it and longer trousers for going through high ferns.
• Perfect for all abilities including children and pets.

Thoughts on the World Cup

Every 4 years I do something very out of character and I have a feeling I'm not the only one, that a lot of other women experience this aswell... watch and take an interest in the Fifa World Cup! Having recently came to an end and with the thrill still in my mind (although I'm sure when the normal season starts up, I'll look back on this phase as a sport blip, unable to understand how it occured and how to get it back), I thought now would be a good time to reflect on this phenomenon and even some of my highlights of the past month of football.

Large sporting events are a common occurrence on British television but the thrill and hype around the World Cup still gets me! Even the old woman who you get the bus with every morning seems to know what is going on with Suarez, and she wants to talk to you about it! Its like for a brief period everyone is interested and spending their time in exactly the same way that you are. The World Cup is not just about a certain type of man talking with another man in a manly place about sport, it is inclusive and football chat for this limited period happens between everyone.

This inclusive atmosphere seems to take away some of the negativity that a football outsider normally sees- the aggression and arrogance. It is replaced with people supporting countries they have never been to and fans praising opponents for "a good pass" or "some excellent defense". As a Scot, supporting a foreign team is not something new (often we have no other choice) but the footage of Brazilian fans recognising German skill shows that even in devastating defeat fans are able to give praise.

From papers, online and television I have been told that this World Cup in Brazil is one of the best ever- loads of goals, loads of twists, absolutely gripping, loads of big stars. As an irregular football fan I wouldn't be able to make such a bold claim, although I did witness each of these things and I did enjoy them! I even learnt the names of some of the players, got frustrated at poor defending, slagged the ref, cheered the goalie, placed a bet and covered my eyes at Brazil's 7-1 defeat.

But the thing that that will stick with me, that drew me in so much was the crowd, and the atmosphere. I know this is to the frustration of men the world over, but it is the people that interest me. Yes, I love seeing Van Persie's amazing header whizz into the goals, but the shots of Brazilian fans in tears and German supporters rejoicing, as well as my own enthusiasm at spending 90 minutes with my boyfriend engrossed in a match, that made the World Cup at event for me.

What are your memories of the 2014 World Cup?