Meall Clachach from Killin
Having arrived on Sunday afternoon, we decided to do a walk from the door of our Airbnb on Monday and chose an obvious one from the Cicerone guide that Rachel had given us at Christmas. David, as ever, was on the lookout for a potential bakery and there was the rather delipidated "Wee Bake Shop" opposite our base up for sale.
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| The Wee Bake Shop |
Putting the temptation to call the mobile number displayed in the window, we walked down to the start of the walk- flat, and along the shore of Loch Tay. Many of the trees along the shore had rather exposed roots, suggesting that the level of the loch varied quite a bit.
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| Lochside trees, exposed roots |
We made our way up to the cemetery of Killin and walked up to the Moirlanich Longhouse- an historic dwelling, which was an ideal spot to sit and have a snick of David's pretzel blondies before the steep climb that awaited us.
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| Jacinta at the Moirlanich Longhouse |
The path up the hillside zigzagged fairly steeply through heather and moss, with the views widening all the time.
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| Taking in the views (and a well-earned breather) |
We reached the summit of Meall Clachach and dropped down from the cairn to shelter from the wind, have lunch, and drink in the views.
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| Loch Tay and the Ben Lawers range from Meall Clachach |
After our lunch we made the steep decent from the summit and followed the line of old fence posts, until making the ascent to the lopsided cairn of Sron a' Chlachain.
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| On the way to Sron a' Chlachain, Meall Clachach on the near skyline |
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| The cairn of Sron a' Chlachain, Loch Tay in the background |
The descent back to Killin was very steep at times and it was a relief to get to the oakwood with its mossy branches before the final short walk back to the main street through the village and a very welcome cup of tea.
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| Mossy branches in the oakwood |
A good first walk in Highland Perthshire- we saw a hare and managed the steep climbs (and descents) without too much difficulty.
10⅓ miles with 650m ascent, 6h22.
