Our Christmas Walk this year took place in the Scottish Border country.
We set off from East Kilbride and travelled to Traquair where we had our morning foffee and scones at the Traquair Hotel.
We then travelled on to Walkerburn and over the River Tweed, this is where our walk started. From the start of the walk we climbed up fairly high and had some nice views out over the border countryside.
During our lunch stop as is the usual practice during the christmas walk we had some mulled wine and mince pies.
Our walk finished near Traquair House, we then travelled to Peebles where we had a lovely christmas dinner at the Park Hotel before heading home.
We were very lucky to-day, we had dry but over cast conditions throughout the day.
MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYBODY, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMPANY DURING OUR WALKING YEAR.
GOD BLESS,
CATH.

A wet walk in the Fife countryside.
Starting at Birkhill Estate we walked through the woodland to the banks of the River Tay,-=. We then walked along the side of the river to just past Balmerino where we had our lunch. After lunch we headed to Wormit , just under the Tay Railway bridge on the South sideof the Tay.

To-days walk was a 7 mile stretch of the Southern Upland Way, starting at Stroanfreggan up over Culmark Hill and the moors to finish our walk at St. John's Town of Dalry.
We set off from East Kilbride, travelled to the Hollybush for our morning coffee, we then headed to Stroanfreggan to start our walk.
Our weather today was wet and underfoot conditions were quite difficult at times.
We headed up over Culmark Hill onto the moors to continue our walk, we headed on to cross Earlston Burn and skirt Ardoch Hill to eventually descend down to St. John's Town of Dalry. Our day finished with our social stop at the Clachan Inn then our journey back to East Kilbride.

OUR WEATHER TODAY PREVENTED US FROM SEEING THE GREAT VIEWS ON THE WALK, BUT ON THE RECCI THE VIEWS WERE FANTASTIC, KLICK ON THE UNDERNOTED ADDRESS TO VIEW THE RECCI PHOTOS.

http://public.fotki.com/pipsmitch/walks/2009-walks/miscellaneous-walks-2009/culmark-hill/

Another lovely walk in the Perthshire countryside.
Our day started with our journey to the distillery at Aberfeldy where we had our morning coffee stop.
We then headed to Edradynate where our 7 mile walk started at the entrance to the Edradynate Estate. Our walk took up up through the estate to the moorlands, where we had stunning views over the beautiful autumn countryside. We continued walking until we reached Loch Derculich in the shadow of Farragon Hill, this is where we stopped for lunch.
After lunch our walk continued until we reached Loch Glassie and from there downhill to return to our starting point at the entrance of the Edradynate Estate.
We were very luchy with the weather today, although overcast, conditions remained warm and dry.
Our day finished with a meal in a local hotel just as you enter Weem. Another good walk

A rainy day in the Pentland Hills.
Our day started in dry weather as we journeyed to Balerno for our morning coffee break. We then headed to wards the Scottish Wildlife Trust, Red Moss Wildlife Reserve where we started out 7 mile walk up through the Pentland Hills to Carlops.
Unfortunately the weather deteriorated as the walk progressed, despite this, the group to enjoy the walk, sometimes it's nice to walk in the rain, it's really refreshing.
During the walk the mist came down and visibility deteriorated quite a bit, then you could look back to see the sun trying to shine through the clouds.
On completion of the walk our social stop was at The Flotterstone Inn at to foot of the pentland hills, from here we travelled home by coach to East Kilbride.
Another good day out/

This year is Homecoming Scotland 2009 where Scots from all over the world will come together to celebrate. 1) The 250th birthday of Robert Burns our National Bard. 2) Our Culture & Heritage 3) Our Contributions to Whisky & Golf. & 4) Our Great Minds & Innovations.
To celebrate, our walking club decided to have a Special Homecoming Walk.
This took place at Mabie Forest, Dumfries, this is where Robert Burns spent some part of his life and where he is buried in a local churchyard.
To celebrate a few of our members wore something tartan, some had little paper shields with tartan printed on it.

We travelled to Mabie Forest where we had morning coffee at The Mabie House Hotel before starting our walk.
Our 7 mile walk in the Mabie Forest started in dry overcast but warm weather. As we walked round the forest it was plain to see that this forest was different, it had large open areas in it with some great views over the Dumfries countryside plus views to the Solway Firth and the mountains of the Lake District. The paths were very good and the terrain very variable.
After lunch the rain started and remained with us for the remainder of the walk.
Our walk ended as we returned to Mabie House Hotel, it was where we had booked to have a meal before returning home to East Kilbride.

One of the highlights of the day was meeting up with Bill & Marjory, old friends who left our walking club when they moved house to live in Dumfries, it was lovely to share a meal with them.

Very enjoyable days walking, lots of good company, loads of laughs, a nice meal and a wee drink.
Just what guid Scots folks do very well , gathering together and enjoying themselves

Setting off from East Kilbride in lovely summer weather, we headed to Inverary for our morning stop at the Argyle Hotel.
After our coffee stop we travelled onto the village of Furnace on the banks of Loch Fyne in Argyll. Our circular 6 mile walk started from Furnace, our route was well singposted and one of the villagers came and handed out some leaflets of the Leacainn Walk we were about to do.
Our weather was beautiful but very warm, but it was still lovely to walk in the sunshine.
Our lunch stop was at the Auchindrain Museum, an old farming township, set in beautiful Argyll countryside.
After lunch we carried on our walk and headed onward to circle back to Furnace, the views of Loch Fyne as we came down toward Furnace were lovely.
Our social stop was at The Furnace Inn before we boarded the bus for our journey back to home to EAst Kilbride

Our summer special walk took us to a wilderness part of Scotland, Loch Ossian in the middle of Rannoch Moor. You can't sail there, you can't fly there, you can't drive there, you have to reach there by train to a very isolated train station in the middle of nowwhere.
We have tried to organise this walk on two previous occassions each time it had to be cancelled, so at last we were really looking forward to the walk. We were not dissapointed, it was a great walk with some fantastic views.

We left East Kilbride at 8am and travelled by bus to the Green Welly Shop at Tyndrum, here we had a 15 minute stop before travelling on to Bridge of Orchy, there we caught the train to Currour station in the middle of Rannoch Moor.
We started our 9 mile walk around Loch Ossian in beautiful walking weather, sunny and warm, comfortable walking weather. The views while walking round the loch were fantastic. The only down side was our lunch stop where we were eaten alive by the dreded Scottish Midge. No problem, you can't keep a good walker down, we just had a quick lunch stop and moved on to continue our walk.
We caried on round the loch and at one point we could see Ben Nevis the highest mountain in Britain. We stopped in to visit the newly furbished eco friendly Loch Ossian youth hostel.
Our walk finished back at the old station house which is now an Inn with a restaurant, here we had a meal before boarding the train to take us back to our bus at Bridge of Orchy then onward home to East Kilbride.

Verdict on the day, this walk was well worth waiting for, great weather, fantastic views and a great group of people to walk with.
THANK YOU ALL.

We travelled to the Riverside Inn where we had our morning stop for tea & scones. We then headed to Altizourie Farm just a few miles outside the lovely village of Straiton in Ayrshire, and started our walk from there.
We headed up into the hills skirting the Scienteuck Moor Plantation, from here we had wonderful views over the Ayrshire countryside. We eventually came to the village of Straiton, which houses the lovely 13th centruy St Cuthbert's Church, we headed through the village past the school to head for the path to take us up to Traboyack Wood, then onto Craigengower Hill (the hill of the Goats in Gaelic). We then had a steep climb to the top of the hill to the obelisk, a monument to Lt. Col. James Hunter Blair mortally wounded at the Battle of Inkerman in 1854, the monument was erected by his friends and family in 1856. Our lunch stop was at the top of Craigengower Hill.
After lunch we headed down the hill to cross the river, we then headed for the wood skirting Bennan Hill, we walked through the wood, all the time having great views of the hill we had just climbed and eventually we returned to Straiton.
We were very lucky, our weather today was mostly dry, only one small shower. the length of the walk was just over 8 miles.
After the walk we headed back to the Riverside Inn for our social stop.
Another great day out.

A lovely 8.75 mile walk in open countryside in the Perthshire Hills near Comrie .
Once again we were blessed, overcast but warm conditions with slight breeze, perfect walking conditions.
Our social stop was in the Royal Hotel in Comrie.

A lovely days walking in the Pentland Hills not very far from the city of Edinburgh.
The weather was kind to us, only a very little rain which cleaared quickly, followed by very mild conditions.
Great day out.