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This walk
of some 17 km takes in three hills and circumnavigates, at altitude, Loch
Turret. The approach is up the beautiful Glen Turret, which begins at
Glenturret Distillery just north of Crieff. The road ends at Loch Turret
dam where there is ample parking. If time is short, you may wish to descend
to the loch after the ascent of Auchnafree Hill, otherwise a satisfying
fuller day out can be enjoyed.
From the
car park walk north up the track on the east side of the loch. After about
2 km, a burn cuts up the south slope of Ton Eich. Take to the hill on
the north of the burn, and climb by faint paths on to the west spur of
Ton Eich. Go east along the flat ridge, gradually bending north to follow
a track for a short distance and so gain the south slope of Auchnafree
Hill. In thick mist careful navigation will be needed to find the smaller
of two cairns which is the summit of this Corbett at 789m. This flat,
grassy hill is a paradise for hares!
If returning
to the car park, descend WNW to the track along the loch and return by
this. To continue the round, descend NW to go over A'Chairidh then cross
the peaty Moine Bheag. Ahead are craggy slopes belonging to Biorach a'Mheannain;
either avoid them on the right to gain point 755m, or contour left under
them then up to the col WSW of that point.
From this
col, at the head of Glen Turret, continue SW to Ben Chonzie (931m), the
Munro of the day. A horseshoe-shaped wall protects from all but an east
wind. The
final hill of the day is visible to the SSE, with a broad, flat grassy
ridge to traverse. Go a little way SW then descend to the ridge which
may be walked anywhere, eventually crossing the head of the Allt nan Columan
just east of the intermediary top of Meall na Seide. Again, in poor visibility
careful navigation must be done to avoid costly errors.
The final
summit is the fine triangular peak of Carn Chois (786m), a Corbett top.
Looking over to the unassuming Auchnafree Hill, you may be excused for
wondering why subjectivity is disallowed with the definition of Corbetts.
A fine walled-in trig point allows a rest here before the final descent.
Avoid craggy slopes to the east and head further south to skirt these
and descend easy ground to pick up the track on the west bank of the loch
and so back to the dam.
As a final
temptation, if early enough you may take in a tour of one of Scotland's
smallest, finest, oldest and most popular distilleries, Glenturret. Its
malt whisky range is one of the best. Tel. 01764 656565 or see the website
www.glenturret.com
for info. Failing that, Crieff has all the usual answers to your needs
after a thirsty day on the hills!
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