Decent amounts of snow finally arrived with the new year. There was no need to travel further than Perthshire to enjoy it, so this winter wander started from the train at Blair Atholl.
A light covering of snow made for a pretty walk north through the woods of Glen Tilt and for beautiful views to Carn a'Chlamian where the trees opened up. Tornadoes of spindrift raced across the higher slopes and though we didn't realise it then, this was a portent of the afternoon to come.
We peeled off from Glen Tilt and in deeper snow trekked out through the forest to follow the Allt Slanaidh north. Where the trail climbed and left the trees, the world around us was wild. A bitter wind scoured the moors, clearing the trail of snow and though a late afternoon sun sent some rays our way, there was not a drop of warmth in them.
We reached our intended camp for the night at a lonely, wooden hut but failed to find a place where we could get tent pegs into the permafrost that the ground had become. It would have been a miserable night up there anyway in those winds. So in failing light, we turned around and descended back to the woods, finding a lovely spot for the tents among tall pines.
But it was the second day that provided a walk through a winter wonderland. Fresh snow had fallen overnight. It filled in the woodland trails and plastered the tree branches. A weak winter sun pulled itself above the hills and brought the whole place alive in low angled light and shadows.
We wandered for hours, enjoying the beauty of the snow-covered landscape and listening to our footsteps squeak in the powdery snow. A stream choked with icicles tumbled gently down from the hill above into a frozen pond. A little way further on our trail crossed an open field. Here the wind barreled through and the snow had drifted onto the path, giving the place a wild, boreal feel to it. Behind us, the graceful arc of Carn Liath appeared briefly from snow clouds.
Then our view opened up more widely and a landscape of winter farms was laid out before us with Ben Vrackie rising above. There are few things more lovely I think than rolling, snow-covered fields.
The failing light of a short, winter day caught us again as we dropped back into Blair Atholl. The charm of the village Christmas tree in the snow softened the blow of a wonderful day coming to an end. We didn't know then that there would be an equally wonderful sequel.
More photos on Flickr
Public transport: Glasgow/Edinburgh to Inverness train
My route: Out of the station turned right along the main road and picked up the Glen Tilt path just before the road bridge over the river. Left the main track up the glen to ascend to the Jubilee Range then joined the track northwest along the Allt Slanaidh, turning back at the hut. Next day, followed the tracks through Blairuachdar Wood, Glen Banvie and the Whim.
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