Walk Report

Tom’s 80th Birthday Celebratory Walk – Dulsie Bridge and beyond- 6th July 2025 A group of 15 keen walkers assembled at Dulsie Bridge. We sang Happy Birthday to Tom and then set o? south along the road and, after about 200m, turned right through a gateway and onto a track. We passed an old building which was once a school and then continued uphill. The track led up past the tree-covered Doune (fortified hill fort) and then through a gate and over fields. We walked around the ruined settlement of Lynemore and down over a small ford and then up to another old barn. Here we took the track south, up hill. At the top of the field we came o? the track and passed through a gate close to a group of trees. On the far side of the gate there was an old length of pipe, up-ended, on the ground. We attempted to trick everyone into believing that this was a wishing well... We joined a track which led to a much wider wind-farm track. There had been significant wildfires over the previous weekend and we could see the blackened landscape in the distance. The fire had just reached the edge of the track we were on. On the GPX file you can see a loop after about 2 miles. Here we descended through the heather to view some pretty waterfalls. Tom was asked to turn his back and everyone else donned white hats. Tom always wears a white hat so Sally had suggested that we do too! What a selection of headgear! Mo sported a knotted tea towel, Bea wore a knotted hankie and Sally and Alison had made white covers for their hats. Alison and Pete then produced bottles of ‘Nosecco’ and we sang Happy Birthday again and toasted Tom. Once back on the track we walked on to where the windfarm track crosses a bridge over the burn. Underneath the track there are seven large drainage pipes – in position to channel flood water. And so we had a tunnel race! Shionna won and was delighted with her prize – a handshake from Tom. We continued along the track then took a path on the right which led to a ford over the Rhilean Burn and the ruined settlement of Battanmaceachain. Here we had a break and ate’ pretend Chorley cakes’ – a delicacy from Lancashire in honour of Tom. Angela then presented Tom with a flask which bore two photographs of Tom and captions. Tom the Legend. Once refreshed we ascended Maol an Tailleir-. It was quite cloudy so the view wasn’t spectacular, but we could see the sea! At the summit we stood in a circle, donned our white hats again and then- led by Alison- boisterously sang ‘The Manchester Rambler’. Walkers had been sent a link to the song in advance and so the chorus was especially rousing. It was great! We descended the hill, through the heather in a westerly direction, to join the track which led down to the River Findhorn. Here the landscape was completely di?erent. Open moorland was replaced by green fields and woodland descending to the river plateau where sheep grazed. An almost Alpine vista (although I’ve never been!) Our next stop was for lunch at a fishing hut. Some sat outside and some inside then many played ‘Pin the Hat on Tom’; players had to close their eyes and attempt to blue tack a ‘hat’ onto a chalked outline of Tom. Bea was the winner and was, as anyone would be, delighted with her prize which was a handshake from Tom. We continued on to a magnificent bridge which crosses the river to Drynachan Lodge. Beside the bridge we were given two minutes to create depictions of Tom, on the ground, using natural materials- this is known as ‘Transient Art’. Tom was very impressed by the results. Mo’s depiction was especially flattering! Our endeavours were nearly ruined by a game keeper who appeared in his truck. Once over the bridge we walked east along a twisty, single-track, road -the views of the river were quite something. After three miles (spot height 213 on the OS map) we climbed a padlocked gate and walked down a short track to reach another fishing hut. This hut had benches and deck chairs so we gathered for a break and a ‘challenging’ true of false quiz, all about Tom. Following a tie-breaker Roger was declared the winner. His prize was, of course, a handshake with Tom. Next we took a narrow path to reach an elegant suspension bridge. The path was opposite the end of the track we had taken to reach the hut. Once over the bridge we turned right and then shortly afterwards left- to go uphill. The next mile led us over fields, past the ruins at Torgarrow and to another ford. The stepping stones weren’t quite as easy this time, but no-one fell in. The track climbed steeply to rejoin the main windfarm track that we had walked along in the morning. At this track we turned left and retraced our steps back to Dulsie Bridge. In perfect timing Elaine arrived – Tom’s lovely wife- with a wonderful afternoon tea of cakes and scones. We sang Happy Birthday again and cheerfully tucked in. I think it is safe to say that everyone had an enjoyable day and Tom had a memorable birthday. Although, now that he is eighty, he did warn us that he might not remember everything....

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