Scotland meet-up
Felicity Martin reports on a recent members ’ walk in Perth
The day had a rather shaky start as only four of us connected at the planned meeting point . A few texts later and all eight eventually arrived at our chosen lunch destination , Breizh , a Breton restaurant specialising in galettes ( buckwheat pancakes ), pizzas and more traditional French cuisine .
We were a mix of members and partners : Alex and Hannah Roddie from Forfar , Chris Townsend from Grantown-on- Spey ( the furthest travelled via a scenic rail journey ), Terry Adby from Dunblane , Kevin Sene and Lindsay Martindale from Edinburgh , and Andrew Thompson and me from Perthshire .
After a pleasant couple of hours eating and chatting , we walked to the nearby balcony overlooking the River Tay for a group photo . Then we said goodbye to half the group , who were suffering various injuries and were not fit for a walk .
The walkers enjoyed a 5-mile circuit of Kinnoull Hill , starting through attractive riverside gardens . We ascended via a woodland path , climbing steeply in places , along the edge of crags . On reaching the hilltop , we suddenly gained a bird ’ s-eye view south over the Tay and east down its winding estuary . Sheer cliffs dropped to wooded scree then the Friarton Interchange , where the M90 crosses the river and branches for Perth or Dundee . The houses and fishing ponds below us looked like miniature models on a train set .
From the nearby trig pillar and viewpoint indicator we could see west and north over Perth to the southern Highlands , where we picked out familiar Munros . More selfies were shot at Kinnoull Tower , a folly resembling a Rhineland castle perched on the cliff edge , before a gentle descent through tall conifers . We recrossed the River Tay by a railway bridge
( L-R ) Andrew , Hannah , Alex , Chris , Lindsay , Terry and Kevin walkway , pausing for the classic prospect of Perth ’ s grand Victorian buildings lining the banks .
The walk was punctuated by many stops for photographs and a great deal of discussion about cameras . In fact , Alex and Chris were so absorbed that Hannah and I had to keep on waiting for them to catch up !
It was good to meet colleagues only previously seen at Big Weekends and to have relaxed , unscheduled time to talk . Everyone seemed to enjoy the meetup , so we ’ d encourage others to plan or join future gatherings , whether in Scotland or other regions .
24 outdoor focus / winter 2023