Walk Report

There were 4 LDWA members on this walk and the actual length of the walk was 17.4 miles, when measured with a GPS device. As planned, we started at the Orchard Road car park at 9am and walked to the Rafford Village Hall, off road as far as possible, via Sanquhar Woods, the Flood Alleviation Scheme, Quarry Wood, Templestones, Knock Wood and the Granary Farm track. There were some sharp showers, so the shelter of the Rafford Village Hall Cafe came in handy and we all enjoyed the bacon rolls, teas and a scone. After Rafford we headed for our lunch break at Blairs Loch via the Rafford Woods, the Dava Way, the Gallows Wood and the Altyre Estate tracks. Again, there were some short showers on the way, but nothing much to dampen our spirts. From Blairs Loch we headed for the Findhorn river via forestry tracks and then headed downstream towards Mundole and along some of the old WW2 airfield concrete taxiways. From Mundole, we crossed the Findhorn Bridge and walked on the NW bank to the Bridge of Moy where we crossed back over the Findhorn and onto the NC1 cycle path towards Forres. The last section of the walk was via the Forres railway station footbridge, the path that runs between the A96 and the railway and then paths and tracks past the Steiner School and finally up Nelson Tower on Cluny Hill for a great view over Findhorn Bay and the mountains of Caithness beyond.

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