I decided as the Autumn colours were going to be leaving us and that last months tour was such a success that I owed it to myself to get up early, pack the Nikons and do a final 2012 tour.
I decided to focus my attentions on Perthshire, despite it being IMHO being a let down in scenery compared to the majestic west Highlands, as its well vegitated and I wanted to see the golden Autumnal colours.
I woke early and piloted the skip down the A82, and I forgot to charge my iPod. It died not that long into the journey, so I pulled over somewhere safe and convienient to find the charger and run it off the battery.
At this point, I wondered if I had made the right decision
![]()
DSC_0525 by stephentaylor4@hotmail.com, on Flickr
The weather was grim and looking to the East it wasn't much better. Still, it had half a tank of fuel in it so I thought, what the hell, if its a dud idea it's cost me a tenner in fuel.
From Tarbert to Ardlui the A82 is awful, and with the low light weather and standing water, hiding potholes as the surface is needing a bit of attention. This brought back feelings of contempt for the Olympics, 27million to waste on that rubbish but not enough to keep a major trunk route running, but never mind, I was in my C class estate and after this stretch the road opens up and can be savoured and enjoyed. One thing from the S class experience last weekend is I wouldn't want to take Dads car along here, its very broad, the road is very narrow and coaches take people on tour here as its magical. Not everyone is fortunate enough to drive a C class estate.
Turns out my decision was right. The light was lifting. What I hadn't expected to see was snow, and I have winter tyres lying about that I need to put on. I didn't need them where I was, but higher ground was snowy.
![]()
DSC_0526 by stephentaylor4@hotmail.com, on Flickr
I'm still not in Perthsire here. Snow capped mountains, looked like I missed Autumn and walked straight into winter. Setting up the tripod and it felt like it, blooding thing was freezing to touch...
![]()
DSC_0221 by stephentaylor4@hotmail.com, on Flickr
Just at Stirlingshire. This is Loch Lubnair that runs parallel to the A85 that I would come off at Lix toll junction and head up the A827 to Killin and on to Kenmore later.
The run up the A827 takes you through Killin which is famous for its falls.
![]()
DSC_0527 by stephentaylor4@hotmail.com, on Flickr
it was bloody cold and I didn't hang about, turned the heating up and wafted up the road. One has to be careful, powerful RWD car, leaves on the road, light dusting of snow, (yes really) and thats a reciepe for an off. The road is narrow so there is no room really to correct any out of shape behaviour (not with my skills).
What is nice is the views you get down Loch Tay and as the light was getting stronger, so was my sense of relief that I hadn't made a bad decision, tenner or not...
I arrived at Kenmore, parked up as I knew I would be spending a bit of time here. Grabbed the Nikons and tripod and captured this
![]()
DSC_0540 by stephentaylor4@hotmail.com, on Flickr
Autumn colours were out.
And that Loch I was rabbiting on about
![]()
DSC_0242 by stephentaylor4@hotmail.com, on Flickr
And I ain't kidding about the snow.
![]()
DSC_0246 by stephentaylor4@hotmail.com, on Flickr
Light dusting, but its come early this year, I suspect its going to be a hard winter.
I took a walk as the air was nice and it warmed up a bit and I wanted to get down the other wise of the Loch to see if I could get a different view of it.
Well, more interestingly the Scottish Cranog centre is almost finished.
![]()
DSC_0256 by stephentaylor4@hotmail.com, on Flickr
Last time I was in the area I hired a boat, got sort of lost and got shouted at by the people who were working on it. Its pretty interesting thing, you can go in and see it, but you have to pay, remember what I said about that tenner.
From here, I followed the road up to Aberfeldy, and aimed the car for Logierate. Since the fall I've been advised to do more exercise to keep the muscells moving, and researched the area and there are woodland trails.
I parked up and went for a good hours treck to work up an appetite for lunch...
Remember those Autumn colours
![]()
DSC_0543 by stephentaylor4@hotmail.com, on Flickr
You don't get them quite like this in the bleaker west highlands.
I found developer215 a challenge, do up this old cottage.
![]()
DSC_0545 by stephentaylor4@hotmail.com, on Flickr
What really was good about the walk was the views once you cleared the woods, thats the A9 DCW in the distance and members of here who went on my tour, will know where I am, as they drove along that briefly before peeling off to dine at the East Haugh hotel.
![]()
DSC_0560 by stephentaylor4@hotmail.com, on Flickr
However, I was in a tracksuit and solo, so I didn't dine there, regrettably. I drove to Pitlochary, parked up (its a good bit smaller than my E and being an estate you can park easier as you can see where the back is - I am a crap parker) and found a deli.
This sandwich had locally sourced venison, with homemade rasperry chutney and fresh leaves
![]()
DSC_0564 by stephentaylor4@hotmail.com, on Flickr
And this one with smoked salmon, horseradish and leaves.
![]()
DSC_0565 by stephentaylor4@hotmail.com, on Flickr
For £6.90 all in. The place is called "The Scottish Deli" and its on the main street in Pitlochary and the service is polite, the food great and cheap, I really cannot recommend enough.
From here, I took the A924 to Killiecrankie, as I wanted to take some pictures here. The road is a nice fun one, but again, damp and I really just took this just to capture the colours, it really was this vibrant
![]()
DSC_0568 by stephentaylor4@hotmail.com, on Flickr
Its not a massive road, and whilst an S would glide over it serenely, the C was more effortless due to its lesser size.
You won't get great views for the road, as the road is really high up, and the River Falasky far beneath you, you merely see trees
![]()
DSC_0569 by stephentaylor4@hotmail.com, on Flickr
However, there is a set of trails you can follow that take you closer to the good stuff. So parked up, and worked off my healthy lunch.
There is a bridge over the river thats just for people, this gives an ok view
![]()
DSC_0574 by stephentaylor4@hotmail.com, on Flickr
But what you are better doing is walking up to the road bridge thats on the way to Tummel Bridge and take in the views there, but not if you are funny with heights
![]()
DSC_0583 by stephentaylor4@hotmail.com, on Flickr
A local company offers bungee jumping off here, would you do it. I wouldn't, not for the fear of heights but because the feeling of falling would disturb lunch....
The final site I wanted to see was Blair Castle. Athol Estates still own a lot of land in the area, and its a working estate as well as the ancestral home of the Duke of Athol.
Still. Now the skip knows what its like to be titled. A driveway fit for a Duke
![]()
DSC_0590 by stephentaylor4@hotmail.com, on Flickr
Gravel and Scaffolding, Toffs never had it so good. Shame about the C class, he'll have a rangie
![]()
DSC_0624 by stephentaylor4@hotmail.com, on Flickr
The Duke even has posh pets. Squalking peacocks
![]()
DSC_0597 by stephentaylor4@hotmail.com, on Flickr
Not a kebab in sight here
The cloud was getting thick and heavy against the castle, whilst this makes a good photo op, it also makes it a good chance to get back to your car and drive off....
![]()
DSC_0615 by stephentaylor4@hotmail.com, on Flickr
I didn't drive for economy, NSL most of the time and maybe a few overtakes...
![]()
DSC_0630 by stephentaylor4@hotmail.com, on Flickr
Ok but not remarkable.
But the car was splendid and made me realise, you can buy more expensive, but I'd struggle to buy better or be happier with anything else. A sun roof and seat heaters (even though its cloth would be nice) but otherwise, whats not to like...
I decided to focus my attentions on Perthshire, despite it being IMHO being a let down in scenery compared to the majestic west Highlands, as its well vegitated and I wanted to see the golden Autumnal colours.
I woke early and piloted the skip down the A82, and I forgot to charge my iPod. It died not that long into the journey, so I pulled over somewhere safe and convienient to find the charger and run it off the battery.
At this point, I wondered if I had made the right decision
DSC_0525 by stephentaylor4@hotmail.com, on Flickr
The weather was grim and looking to the East it wasn't much better. Still, it had half a tank of fuel in it so I thought, what the hell, if its a dud idea it's cost me a tenner in fuel.
From Tarbert to Ardlui the A82 is awful, and with the low light weather and standing water, hiding potholes as the surface is needing a bit of attention. This brought back feelings of contempt for the Olympics, 27million to waste on that rubbish but not enough to keep a major trunk route running, but never mind, I was in my C class estate and after this stretch the road opens up and can be savoured and enjoyed. One thing from the S class experience last weekend is I wouldn't want to take Dads car along here, its very broad, the road is very narrow and coaches take people on tour here as its magical. Not everyone is fortunate enough to drive a C class estate.
Turns out my decision was right. The light was lifting. What I hadn't expected to see was snow, and I have winter tyres lying about that I need to put on. I didn't need them where I was, but higher ground was snowy.
DSC_0526 by stephentaylor4@hotmail.com, on Flickr
I'm still not in Perthsire here. Snow capped mountains, looked like I missed Autumn and walked straight into winter. Setting up the tripod and it felt like it, blooding thing was freezing to touch...
DSC_0221 by stephentaylor4@hotmail.com, on Flickr
Just at Stirlingshire. This is Loch Lubnair that runs parallel to the A85 that I would come off at Lix toll junction and head up the A827 to Killin and on to Kenmore later.
The run up the A827 takes you through Killin which is famous for its falls.
DSC_0527 by stephentaylor4@hotmail.com, on Flickr
it was bloody cold and I didn't hang about, turned the heating up and wafted up the road. One has to be careful, powerful RWD car, leaves on the road, light dusting of snow, (yes really) and thats a reciepe for an off. The road is narrow so there is no room really to correct any out of shape behaviour (not with my skills).
What is nice is the views you get down Loch Tay and as the light was getting stronger, so was my sense of relief that I hadn't made a bad decision, tenner or not...
I arrived at Kenmore, parked up as I knew I would be spending a bit of time here. Grabbed the Nikons and tripod and captured this
DSC_0540 by stephentaylor4@hotmail.com, on Flickr
Autumn colours were out.
And that Loch I was rabbiting on about
DSC_0242 by stephentaylor4@hotmail.com, on Flickr
And I ain't kidding about the snow.
DSC_0246 by stephentaylor4@hotmail.com, on Flickr
Light dusting, but its come early this year, I suspect its going to be a hard winter.
I took a walk as the air was nice and it warmed up a bit and I wanted to get down the other wise of the Loch to see if I could get a different view of it.
Well, more interestingly the Scottish Cranog centre is almost finished.
DSC_0256 by stephentaylor4@hotmail.com, on Flickr
Last time I was in the area I hired a boat, got sort of lost and got shouted at by the people who were working on it. Its pretty interesting thing, you can go in and see it, but you have to pay, remember what I said about that tenner.
From here, I followed the road up to Aberfeldy, and aimed the car for Logierate. Since the fall I've been advised to do more exercise to keep the muscells moving, and researched the area and there are woodland trails.
I parked up and went for a good hours treck to work up an appetite for lunch...
Remember those Autumn colours
DSC_0543 by stephentaylor4@hotmail.com, on Flickr
You don't get them quite like this in the bleaker west highlands.
I found developer215 a challenge, do up this old cottage.
DSC_0545 by stephentaylor4@hotmail.com, on Flickr
What really was good about the walk was the views once you cleared the woods, thats the A9 DCW in the distance and members of here who went on my tour, will know where I am, as they drove along that briefly before peeling off to dine at the East Haugh hotel.
DSC_0560 by stephentaylor4@hotmail.com, on Flickr
However, I was in a tracksuit and solo, so I didn't dine there, regrettably. I drove to Pitlochary, parked up (its a good bit smaller than my E and being an estate you can park easier as you can see where the back is - I am a crap parker) and found a deli.
This sandwich had locally sourced venison, with homemade rasperry chutney and fresh leaves
DSC_0564 by stephentaylor4@hotmail.com, on Flickr
And this one with smoked salmon, horseradish and leaves.
DSC_0565 by stephentaylor4@hotmail.com, on Flickr
For £6.90 all in. The place is called "The Scottish Deli" and its on the main street in Pitlochary and the service is polite, the food great and cheap, I really cannot recommend enough.
From here, I took the A924 to Killiecrankie, as I wanted to take some pictures here. The road is a nice fun one, but again, damp and I really just took this just to capture the colours, it really was this vibrant
DSC_0568 by stephentaylor4@hotmail.com, on Flickr
Its not a massive road, and whilst an S would glide over it serenely, the C was more effortless due to its lesser size.
You won't get great views for the road, as the road is really high up, and the River Falasky far beneath you, you merely see trees
DSC_0569 by stephentaylor4@hotmail.com, on Flickr
However, there is a set of trails you can follow that take you closer to the good stuff. So parked up, and worked off my healthy lunch.
There is a bridge over the river thats just for people, this gives an ok view
DSC_0574 by stephentaylor4@hotmail.com, on Flickr
But what you are better doing is walking up to the road bridge thats on the way to Tummel Bridge and take in the views there, but not if you are funny with heights
DSC_0583 by stephentaylor4@hotmail.com, on Flickr
A local company offers bungee jumping off here, would you do it. I wouldn't, not for the fear of heights but because the feeling of falling would disturb lunch....
The final site I wanted to see was Blair Castle. Athol Estates still own a lot of land in the area, and its a working estate as well as the ancestral home of the Duke of Athol.
Still. Now the skip knows what its like to be titled. A driveway fit for a Duke
DSC_0590 by stephentaylor4@hotmail.com, on Flickr
Gravel and Scaffolding, Toffs never had it so good. Shame about the C class, he'll have a rangie
DSC_0624 by stephentaylor4@hotmail.com, on Flickr
The Duke even has posh pets. Squalking peacocks
DSC_0597 by stephentaylor4@hotmail.com, on Flickr
Not a kebab in sight here
The cloud was getting thick and heavy against the castle, whilst this makes a good photo op, it also makes it a good chance to get back to your car and drive off....
DSC_0615 by stephentaylor4@hotmail.com, on Flickr
I didn't drive for economy, NSL most of the time and maybe a few overtakes...
DSC_0630 by stephentaylor4@hotmail.com, on Flickr
Ok but not remarkable.
But the car was splendid and made me realise, you can buy more expensive, but I'd struggle to buy better or be happier with anything else. A sun roof and seat heaters (even though its cloth would be nice) but otherwise, whats not to like...