Friends of the Ochils Newsletter 17: Winter 2000Walk this wayFriends of the Ochils members can dramatically extend their horizons by acquiring two books of graded walks - totalling 53 outings, from short strolls to long hikes - in eastern and northern Perthshire. You may recall that in Newsletter 15 we reviewed a booklet in the series of pocket walking guides produced by Hallewell Publications. This gave descriptions of 22 walks in southern Perthshire and was compiled by FotO chairman, Alistair Lawson - a stalwart member of the Scottish Rights of Way and Access Society, which collaborated with the publishers in producing the series. Alistair has also compiled Walks East Perthshire (including Perth, Blairgowrie and Dunkeld), which this time details 27 walks. Meanwhile, Dunning-based Felicity Martin has been responsible for compiling Walks North Perthshire (including Pitlochry and Aberfeldy), which describes 26 walks. Alistair Lawson's eastern Perthshire selection includes the Wallace Road and Scott's View, as well as Birnam and Dunsinane hills of Macbeth fame. The Road to the Isles is one of the themes of Felicity Martin's northern Perthshire walks, where Kinloch Rannoch and Schiehallion vie with Strathtummel for beauty and grandeur. Her collection of walks is in what is known as Highland Perthshire - a mountainous land of deep valleys and heather moorland, home to grouse, deer, mountain hares and golden eagles. On offer here are Munro-bagging expeditions, short circular walks around waterfalls, and longer scenic routes following old drove roads. Each booklet costs £1.95. The walks are coded for difficulty, and Ordnance Survey sheet numbers appear above each route map. Safety advice is also given. David Robertson |