Glenquey Reservoir.
Start. Tormaukin Inn, Glendevon.
Route. Tormaukin Inn - Burnfoot - Glenquey - Glenquey Reservoir - Glenquey House - Castlehill Reservoir - Blacklinn Bridge - Tormaukin Inn.
Notes. Sue decided a few nights in Scotland would be nice, a short stay in the Lowlands. Nestled in Glen Devon, standing in the shadow of the hill it takes it's name from, the Tormaukin Inn made an excellent base to explore the Ochil Hills. I moaned wishing we were heading for the Highlands, I needed to feel snow under my boot soles. My mother always said be careful what you wish for. The weather gods answered, my wish came true, we arrived in a blizzard. It was still snowing the next morning, and continued to snow all that day. Unable to leave the car park, we took advice from the inn receptionist, a short walk through Glenquey came well recommended, with a guarantee we wouldn't get lost.
Clad in gortex we set out, heads down against the tempest, this was going to be a snow in every crevice kind of day. Three hundred yards up the road (north) a finger post invited us to Dollar, we obliged descending a set of wooden steps before crossing the River Devon at a fine footbridge, this walk may follow way-marked paths but in virgin snow even way-marked paths present many problems, we’d only left tarmac a few seconds ago and already found the need to refer to map and compass. A short walk along river bank paths took us to Burnfoot, the start of the short sharp ascent into Glenquey. With an old drove route under foot we battled on, large gates guided us through dear fences, referring to the map rather more than usual we eventually reached Glenquey Reservoir.
From the reservoir we re-traced our steps to a finger post promising this was the path to Castlehill Reservoir, we fought our way across the glen, waist deep snow hampered our progress, once on the other side a narrow lane conveyed us out of the glen, the snow wasn't quite so deep on this side, the going was easy. We soon stepped onto the tarmac of the A823 the main road through Glen Devon, in fact the only road through Glen Devon. All that remained, a short walk over tarmac back to the public bar of the Tormaukin Inn.
The Tormaukin Inn, our home for a few nights, it maybe longer if the snow continues.
The road through the glen maybe open but it's closed at Glen Eagles, and the car's up to it's axles in the car park, so Sue hunts for a finger-post that should guide us to Glenquey.
Our way ahead.
It's a real winter wonderland today, the River Devon looking north.
Stunning conditions on the path to Burnfoot, with Glenquey Hill rising ahead.
Views over a snowy Glen Devon with Ben Thrush rising into a snow filled sky.
Sue pauses for breath, deep snow and short legs make the going tough.
Looking south over the snow covered Ochil Hills.
Through heavy snow views to the afforested Auchlinsky Hill rising from Glenquey.
Not a foot print in sight, it's wonderful ploughing your way through virgin snow.
These ladies thought it was feeding time, they didn't look so happy when we crossed into the next field.
It's difficult opening gates in deep snow, Sue battled on she wasn't for climbing over.
Glenquey Reservoir.
Who needs summer when winter brings scenes like this, the head of the glen guarded by Hillfoot Hill and Whitewisp Hill.
Auchlinsky Hill and a distant Commonedge Hill as seen over Glenquey Reservoir.
Looking north to Glen Devon.
We've been picking our way along an old drove route since we left Glen Devon, black cattle were walked from the highlands to the lowlands through this glen, to be sold at cattle trysts (markets) at Stirling and Falkirk, I believe over 60,000 animals a year went through the Falkirk market, these routes fell into disuse with the coming of the railways in the 1800s.
Easy walking on the east side of the glen.
Another view to the narrow head of the glen.
An icy wonderland across Glenquey Moss.
Our first view of Castlehill Reservoir.
Castlehill Reservoir.
The River Devon seen from Blacklinn Bridge.