A sunny 5°C this morning as we set off from Tamdhu Distillery, near Knockando, to walk the 6.5 miles to Tormore distillery (Chivas Brothers) further up the Spey valley towards Grantown. Most of the route is along an old railway track. What is surprising is the number of old stations, which were shut down by the Beeching cuts more than fifty years ago, being maintained in excellent condition. We met less than a handful of other people in the whole stretch. Part of the route crossing a boggy moor just north of Tormore, included a long stretch of huge old stepping stones, which looked as if they had been in use for hundreds of years. The oddest sight was an American Turkey Cock strutting his stuff to his girlfriend - where on earth did he come from?! Jet spent most of his walk raising pheasants from the undergrowth, and must have done at least twenty miles to our 6.5. Lunch was at the Delnashaugh Inn at Ballindalloch - a dog-friendly establishment which provided good fare to very hungry walkers. After lunch we routed back via Inveravon Church with its collection of now well-protected Pictish stones, with their enigmatic symbolism...
A sunny 5°C this morning as we set off from Tamdhu Distillery, near Knockando, to walk the 6.5 miles to Tormore distillery (Chivas Brothers) further up the Spey valley towards Grantown. Most of the route is along an old railway track. What is surprising is the number of old stations, which were shut down by the Beeching cuts more than fifty years ago, being maintained in excellent condition. We me…
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