Tara Walker-Rose
General Manager
Latest articles
Tara’s Adventure on the West Highland Way
Last week I was out walking the West Highland Way with my husband Scott. It was a bit of a working holiday really with the aim being to gain further first-hand experience of both the route and some of the accommodation. We set off from Milngavie at the official start by the obelisk. For the first 6 miles or so we walked through park and woodland trails, with Allander Park and Mugdock Country Park leading us away from the urban areas and out into the countryside. Scott looking relaxed. We then passed Craigallian Loch and crossed the B821 from where we could enjoy the wonderful views of the Campsie Fells and Ben Lomond on the horizon. A pleasant glimpse of the hills that await us. The Way then goes to the valley bottom and picks up the old railway, providing a straight and easy walk through farmland. We passed the Glengoyne Distillery, seen here by the woodland, which we are told is great for a visit and of course a sample but they resisted and headed on along the road to Drymen. It’s quite a large village with plenty of walkers around. Our accommodation last night was a lovely lodge…
Happy Days on the Herriot Way
I recently spent 4 days walking the Herriot Way along with my husband Scott and our dog Molly. Keld to Reeth We started our walk full of cheese omelettes and toast and carrying packed lunches and a little package of sausages for Molly, all courtesy of our lovely hosts. Waterproof jackets were on within 2 minutes but it soon brightened up and we had a dry day with some sun. This section of the Way shares the Coast to Coast route but it was not at all busy. Soon after leaving Keld the path climbs firstly into the bracken and heather covered hillside above Swaledale to the path above Swinner Gill into the heather covered moorland. From here the path climbs further on to the bleak and barren landscape of Gunnerside Moor where there is much evidence of the lead mining industry which ranged across the area for decades. There are abandoned mines, smelting mills and peat stores making this a fascinating place. The Way soon returns to the valley through pretty meadows and lanes with the typical dry stone wall and barn landscape of the Yorkshire Dales to arrive at Reeth. By this time I was ready for tea…