ITN had set off an hour ahead of the rest of us because he wanting to climb the 1373ft up Dumyat Hill to raise the Highland March flag. We met up later on the road to Sheriff Muir.
Our route out of Stirling took us out towards the Wallace Monument and the B998 road before heading off along an unclassified road to Sheriff Muir. This was another steep climb of about 1100ft causing much puffing and panting which had Mrs G struggling once again. The bus came to the rescue. A view across Stirling would have been nice but the mist got in the way, the ghostly outline of the Wallace Monument could be seen as we left the town behind us.
The desolate outlook of Sheriff Muir was made all the more eerie as the mist clouds came even lower producing some great photographic moments. The road was little used by the motorcar fraternity but an attractive blonde asked us in a 4x4 if we’d like a lift. We explained what we were up to and politely declined the offer.
A breather was taken at the Sheriff Muir Inn but we declined the temptation of booze. It was little early really but at least it was open. We also had our picture taken here by an elderly couple who’d heard about our venture and they had driven out from their home in Dunblane to catch a glimpse of us nutters.
Greenloaning was the destination for our lunchtime stop but we had to wait for the Alanbank Inn to open its doors. It was nice to sit in the sunshine and catch up on the Sunday papers and read all about ICT’s great victory of yesterday.
The pub opened on time and we scoffed away on beef burgers and washed it all down with various varieties of drinks. Ice cold Irn Bru is hard to beat. An ornamental dog was crowned with an ICT cap whilst overseeing our act of ganetry.
Back on the road again and Mrs G re-joins the trail. The afternoon stroll was the most boring of the week in my view. It was all road walking and many of these were featureless and dead straight. Yawn yawn yawn….the A822 was, in fact, once the old military road. We yawn through Braco and trudge this wretched road all the way to our destination of Crieff. The town itself can be seen from quite a few miles away but, as you walk, it never seems to get any closer.
Crieff is reached shortly after 4.30 p.m. and in enough time to find a pub with a TV so we can watch Scotsport.
Another 22 miles are now on the clock.
Our accommodation for the night is the Braincroft Lodge which is situated just out of town. What a difference this place was to that of Stirling. More stairs to climb though but a least it was only two flights. The bedrooms were all en-suite too, which was very welcome. Dinner was of the fish and chip variety that involved a trip out to Comrie on the bus. Our scoff was taken back to the bunkhouse where the first session of the Really Nasty Horse Racing game got under way to the sound of opening beer cans and the HMII farting quartet. A torrential downpour broke the dry day whilst we tucked in to a well-deserved dinner.
Ped reading was 20.81miles 40738 steps.