Short Walk
Duncan Ban Monument, Dalmally

Hey! Visited the man with the big knife and most of my old hip last week and got the all clear I could restart my hill walking activities as long as I started off gently. I decide not to tell him that I've been back training at the gym for the past 2 months - what he doesn't know . . . . .

By pure chance that same day I bumped into Auld Archie, a long time family friend who suggested that we go for a walk in the Dalmally, Loch Awe area. Such a long time since I'd been out that way I immediately jumped at the chance.

Day off yesterday so up with the birds - well the late ones - and headed off to meet my partner in crime for the day. Archies is probably the fittest 78 year old ever! Best part of 30 years on me and could always leave me standing.

He's always been up for laugh and constantly poking fun so assuming the "attack is the best form of defence" stance I told him from the get go that I was only going along with him because I didn't have the dog anymore.

Apart from a disagreement over which CD was on - my Nickelback or Scottish chooky stuff on Gaelic radio - we had a fairly uneventful 20 mile drive from Oban, along Lochawe side, absolutely stunning with mist starting to rise as the morning sun poked through the cloud. "Creepy Castle" looked particularily picturesque standing guard as it has done every day for all these years in her turbulent past.

As we drove, Archie considered various walks we could attempt and hit upon the ideal short walk from Dalmally village down towards the Duncan Ban MacIntyre monument.

In all around 7 very easy miles (or 3.5 if you only go as far the monument) with hopefully some wildlife along the way and a panoramic vista from the top. The vast majority of this short walk is on a quiet tarred road. We met two vehicles on the outward leg - the postie going up and coming back!

We set off at a gentle pace with Archie twittering away like a budgie on speed. I've always been a solitary walker and this would have been irritating if he wasn't so extremly knowledgable about the area and the country matters in general.

He told me many a funny, and a good few sad stories of the history of the area and estate. Despite his continued blethering he was first to spot the deer . . . all around them was lush green grass but they were eating the bark off the trees. Something I've heard about but never actually seen done.

On our return leg we found ourselves at the Duncan Ban monument and decided it was time for refeshments.
As Archie unscrewed the lid of his flask the pungent aroma of alcohol and hot coffee wafted my way - just the thing to keep the chill out in temperatures reaching down to minus 7.

An excellent short walk easily completed in a couple of hours. If you give it a try, let me know how it goes.