2018 Reunion Hike Arrangements
Thank you all for getting back to me so quickly. These are the final arrangements for this year's reunion hike.
Tuesday 17th April We are aiming to meet up at the Applejacks Cafe in Callander High Street at around 12 noon. Following a light lunch Charlie Hood and Sandy Mackay are meeting up with the Trossachs Mobility organiser in order to get acquainted with the Terrain Hopper vehicle. The rest of the party can undertake an approximately five mile walk to the Bracklinn Falls on the the Keltie Water and return via the appropriately named Scout Pool. Skinny dipping is optional.
Accommodation We are split between The Crown Hotel and the Waverley Hotel on either side of the High Street. Currently I have 8 beds in four twin rooms at the Crown and 4 beds in two twin rooms at the Waverley. Charlie Hood, Sandy Mackay and I will be in the Waverley. Can you think about who you are happy to share with and which hotel you prefer(See their websites) and we will try and sort this out at lunchtime on the first day. Dinner will be at 7pm in the bar at the Crown Hotel and needs to be paid for on the night.
Wednesday 18th April Graham Russell's A team will get a lift out to their starting point at 9am from Sandy Mackay driving one of his brother's six seaters and another car as required. The A team are tackling Ben Ledi today and being picked up at the end of their walk by a private minibus. The two drivers return to join the rest of the B team who are getting the private minibus out to Brig o'Turk giving them a walk of around 8 miles back to Callander by the south side of Loch Vennacher. This walk is mainly on forestry tracks and minor roads. Dinner tonight will be in the bar at the Waverley Hotel at 7pm and needs to be paid for on the night.
Thursday 19th April We are all catching the C60 service bus at 8.45am with the A team being dropped off at Ardchullarie on Loch Lubnaig to climb Stuc a Chroin and the B team getting off at Strathyre to walk the 8 miles back to Callander by the former railway line now a cycleway. Scottish residents bring your bus passes. English residents will have to pay approx £3. Dinner tonight is in the Waverley Hotel's restaurant at 7pm and has to be paid for on the night.
Friday 20th April Based on last year's timetable, the trip on the Sir Walter Scott steamer will be at 1pm from Trossachs Pier for one hour at a cost of £12. I will collect in names on Tuesday 17th and we can sort out drivers based on the numbers that want to do the cruise and those that want to get back to Edinburgh. For those of us still able to walk on Friday morning, Ben A'an above the Trossachs makes a pleasant scramble while we are waiting for the cruise.
Overnight bags For the sake of the drivers from Edinburgh can you keep your overnight luggage to one bag.
Lunches On Tuesay we are meeting for lunch at Applejacks Cafe in Callander. I have not checked out the availability of pack lunches at the hotels but I am sure these can be ordered and paid for the night before if available. There is a large Co-op store in Callander at the north end of the High Street where we catch the bus on Thursday.
First Aid We will have the benefit of Dr Scott's expertise for Tuesday and Wednesday. I will have a basic first aid kit with me in the B team but please bring your favourite medications and potions for pain, blisters, hangovers etc.
Guests David Scott will be with us on Tuesday and Wednesday, Bruce Lumsden for Wednesday evening and Thursday's walk. Allan Masson may walk on Thursday and will be with us for dinner along with Donald Easton. Hamish Campbell is hoping to be with us throughout, and I have still to hear from Ian Burrell and Jimmy Brass.
At the time of writing the weather forecast is reasonably good for our days but do come prepared for all conditions and almost certainly wet underfoot as rain is forecast for most of the previous week.
I cannot believe how fast the last year has gone and look forward to seeing you all in Callander.