Day 7
Thursday 17th May - Loch Tummel Inn to Glen Tilt (Gilbert's Bridge)
photo © Jean Turner
After that marathon, I needed a shorter day - such as Brian and Eileen had planned. We walked together up to Loch Bhac and on over to Bruar, where the food is excellent though not cheap, and the soup was wonderful. Then the same scenario again: the Reids headed along the B road for a comfortable night in Blair Atholl, while I needed to put in more distance. Why, oh why, had I thought this "as long as possible" route was a good idea??
Forking up through the Castle grounds in light rain, I reached the historic St.Bride's Church, Old Blair, 16th century but on the site of a much earlier Church. Apparently Angus, son of the Lord of the Isles, had seized the land and imprisoned the owners, but repented during a scary storm as he sailed to Islay, released them and rebuilt the church in 1475. It's always a peaceful spot for a break, with the added attraction (noted on a previous Challenge) that it receives an excellent mobile phone signal, allowing me to book ahead for the Youth Hostel in Braemar.
Then, feeling weary despite the easy going, I proceeded up Glen Tilt for a short way, relieved to note that the military was not firing on its range just then, and camped shortly after Gilbert's Bridge. Nearby Auchgobhal disgorged a crowd of teenage boys, presumably on an outdoor holiday, down the track. After some brief sunshine the evening was grey, with Beinn a'Ghlo swathed in cloud. Usually I use my tiny long-wave radio (a real find, thanks to Ian Cotterill) only for early morning weather forecast and news, but now, snuggling down early, I found Radio 4 broadcasting a magnificent service for Ascension Day from St.Giles',Cripplegate in London, including Haydn's St.Nicholas Mass as liturgy. Bliss.
