Pub walks in Scotland with good quality craft beers to round off the day would not have been easy in the past. Though Britain is rightly famous for its pub culture, but pub walks in Scotland are not a widely known phenomenon. We can probably attribute this to our Presbyterian heritage. The image of the Presbyterian minister breathing fire and brimstone and going on about the evils of drink and merriment have a lot to answer for.
10 years ago, beer aficionados moaned about the lack of craft beers. Fortunately all this has changed around completely now and we’re spoiled for choice, particularly in the Cairngorms. Those pubs which have maintained their traditional links with brewing and good food are doing very good business. Many of them are in fabulous walking country. We’ve picked out 5 of the best for you to explore on your way round Scotland. You’ll also be pleased to know that we’ve included some of these gems on our hiking tours, like the Highland Extravaganza.
On the banks of the river Spey, looking out over the Cairngorms, the Old Bridge Inn is one of the best pubs. They stock beer from the local brewery (Cairngorm Beers) many of which are on tap. They also have an amazing varied menu and serve both pub meals and restaurant fare. If you have a large group, booking is advised.
Recommended walks:
Check out our self-guided mountain biking holidays which include some of these routes.
Both the Winking Owl and the Cairngorm Hotel are in central Aviemore, on the main street. The Winking Owl is now owned by Cairngorm Brewery and its primary focus is on serving good quality food and beer. The menu is typical pub fare but is nicely presented and offered with a range of Cairngorm beers. The atmosphere is relaxed.
The Cairngorm Hotel is directly across the road from the railway station. It can get extremely busy, particularly when there are sporting events on. Don’t expect a quiet romantic meal.
Recommended walks: Craigellachie Nature Reserve
The Moulin Inn is a hotel but also a pub. It is extremely popular with walkers as it is at the bottom of the popular route suggested below. It is not be be missed if you are in the Pitlochry area as there is not much else in Pitlochry to write home about, apart from the tearoom. There is usually a comfortable, glowing open fire welcoming guests and the menu is quite comprehensive. We recommend the lamb shank and the raspberry crumble!
Recommended walks: Ben Vraikie
For other suggestions in the Pitlochry are try WalkHighlands.
Rightly famous for their seafood, the Applecross Inn is in a beautiful setting, surrounded by the stunning peaks of Wester Ross. The inn also offers great views across to Raasay and Skye, if it is possible to sit outside without being pestered by the midges. The Inn offers an award-winning menu, using high quality local produce like venison, alongside the seafood. It’s also a great destination for sea kayakers. Judith and her staff are also rightly proud of the Gold green tourism award and are open all year round.
Recommended walks:
An easy walk between two beautiful sandy bays with great views of Raasay, Skye and Rona. The walk can be done in either direction or as a return walk – the time and distance given are for one way.
A short hillwalk taking advantage of a start at over 2000 feet. Sgurr a Chaorachain is a Corbett summit, and though easy to reach has very dramatic mountain views.
is deservedly recognised as the home of Scottish mountaineering. The food is top quality and the welcome warm. You will almost always find walkers and climbers relaxing here. The Claichaig prides itself on its friendly atmosphere, its range of real ales and its live music. Check their website for details of whats on during your visit to the area.
Recommended walks:
Further reading:
https://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/getoutside/local/loch-achtriochtan-highland
https://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/getoutside/guides/top-5-short-hikes-in-scotland/
Another popular walking pub with an associated campsite like the Clachaig. Unfortunately the position of the Sligachan doesn’t really lend itself to gentle half-day circular walks (the Cuillin are in the way), but the situation is so fabulous that really even if you walk out and back along the same path, you’ll still get the most stunning views that Skye has to offer.
Recommended walks:
A gem of a pub with plenty of outdoor seating on the south shore of Loch Ness. You can even dabble a toe in the Loch if you want right from the car park. A traditional pub concentrating on serving food and drink. There is a good selection of beers and food. Sunset dining with a view over Loch Ness is recommended, but it is also a great lunch stop too.
Recommended walks:
Do you know of any great walks which start and finish at pubs in the Highlands? Please get in touch with your recommendations.
If you’d like to go guided on a walking holiday in Scotland please don’t hesitate to contact us for dates, prices and opportunities.
For a full list of all the trips available with Scot Mountain Holidays: cycling/biking, walking/hiking and family adventures – check out the home page
Description:
Self-guided walking in the Highlands is how a great number of our visitors choose to explore the area. On this route the paths are good all the way and are seldom muddy (boots advised, though). Dogs welcome (on the lead for a few metres at Docharn Farm). Ceps and chanterelles may be seen in season…
Refreshments and toilets at each end of the walk;and the Landmark Centre at Carrbridge and the Steam Railway operating at Boat of Garten provide interest for all ages. It’s also a great family day out…
The walk starts from Fraoch Lodge. At the end of our drive turn left and head up the road out of the village. On the edge of the village you will find the school path which runs parallel to the road up to the junction with the A95.
At the junction you will follow the cycle route no 7 signs across the A95 heading up the narrow road through the hamlet of Chapelton. Follow the road round a corner to a cattle grid which you will cross; at which point the tarmac ends and the road turns into a farm track leading to Docharn Farm.
The track leads you through the farm buildings of Docharn Farm where you will have spectacular views across the high peaks of the northern Cairngorms. The corries of Braeriach and Cairngorm will be clearly visible on a sunny day. Docharn Farm is not now lived in but used to be run as a smallholding and B&B by friends of ours who produced eggs, raspberries, strawberries, courgettes and tomatoes aplenty.
After the farm you will reach a gate, the path can be muddy here. You will go through this gate and the next two gates continuing straight ahead as the path descends into the woods.
As you follow the path down through the woods it will take you down to a junction near the B9153 which leads into Carrbridge.
Turn right at the junction, away from the road, and continue to the edge of the wood. Soon you will cross a little wooden bridge and re-enter the trees. Stay on this path for half a mile to reach a gate at the other end of the wood.
Go through the gate until you come to the tarmac road (Carr Road). Turn left onto the road and continue until you reach the main village. You’ll see the Landmark Forest Adventure centre up to your left, Carrbridge Kitchen and Carrbridge Bakery Tearoom are to your right close to the old bridge of Carr which spans the Dulnain river, an impressive sight at any time, but particularly when the river is in spate. The bridge is celebrating its 300th birthday in 2017. If you don’t have a picnic with you, you might want to consider stopping in Carrbridge for your lunch. Both Carrbridge Kitchen and The Bakery Tearoom do great food.
The 18th century packhorse bridge of Carrbridge
There is an altenative route into Carr woods to avoid too much road walking but if you’d like to go down to the bridge to take a look it probably makes sense to continue to follow the road next to the river, up to the station, under the railway and the A9 and on to the Sluggan Bridge footpath. The path is clearly indicated. This is also one of the prettiest sections of the route so do take this option if you can.
After your diversion to Sluggan Bridge, you will come back up to the main road, a little further along than you left it. Across the road you will see another path through a gate. Take this track which you will follow almost all the way back to Boat of Garten.
You will pass a path junction and a crossroads of paths but each time continue straight ahead until you reach a stream which you need to ford on stepping stones. Take care here. You may need to use a stick for stability.
After the stream the track continues a little to the left and then climbs steadily uphill. Again continue straight ahead and eventually you will pass over a cattle grid.
About 1km after the cattle grid there is a path to the left, after a crossroads. Take the path to the left, which is slightly more grassy and overgrown. This will lead to Kinveachy Estate cottages. Follow the GPS track and the map indicated carefully until you reach the tarmac track down to the A9.
At the tarmac track, turn left and descend to the A9. Be very careful here as this is a very busy main road. Cross the A9 and descend on the small road past a keeper’s cottage. Be careful to walk on the right hand side of the road so that you are facing any oncoming traffic.
At the bottom of the road you will cross another road and head towards the cycle track which is slightly to the right of where you reach the Carrbridge road.
Follow the cycle route towards Boat of Garten. This track will take you all the way back into the village past Big Husky Lodge and Deshar Primary School until you see Fraoch Lodge on your right.
Self-guided walking week in the Cairngorms National park
The Old Ways: General Wade’s Military road
In the heart of the Cairngorms National Park lies it’s namesake, the Cairngorms. The Cairngorms, a range of mountain peaks adorning the skyline, are rich with historical importance, and full of nature and wildlife. The soul of the Cairngorms, boast four of the five highest peaks in the United Kingdom. Conveniently, this is located just a short drive from Fraoch Lodge, home of Scot Mountain Holidays.
Ben Macdui, at 1309 metres was our destination. Departing Fraoch Lodge we set out for a full day of hiking with the group tour leader, Andy. As someone who hasn’t done much hiking I was in good hands. Scot Mountain Holidays offered plenty of advice, tips and tricks. I felt well equipped in handling the changing climate, the potential wet weather, and cool temperature ahead of us.
Andy is knowledgeable in not only the secrets of the mountain, but also fauna, wildlife and navigation. This became increasingly comforting as the heavy fog set in the higher we climbed. Transforming the landscape into a world of grey, it wasn’t long before the dips, plains and landmarks of the mountain became a sea of similarity for me.
But, with what appeared to be second nature to Andy, we headed away from the path ready to experience the Cairngorms, raw and untouched. Appreciating the full benefits of guided touring, it was as simple as follow the leader. It’s also advised to keep a camera at the ready for wildlife that Andy has a knack for spotting. We also had Andy’s storytelling keeping us company as we rose higher, with stories of history and legends wealthy with detail and fascinating to hear.
Before long, history came to life in the form of a plane crash memorial. Pieces of the aircraft littered the mountainside and somewhat eerily seemed almost untouched 70 years on from the impact. Andy’s knowledge of the Cairngorms secrets continued to be show cast during the ascent and decline. Continuing to hike away from the track we came across no one. Allowing us to appreciate the solidarity, and peacefulness of the mountainous environment. With gorgeous views, and amazing landscape treating us as the cloud cover ebbed and waned. The experience of hiking Ben MacDui was memorable and a great combination of challenging and rewarding.
After a full day of hiking we returned to the homely comforts of Fraoch Lodge. Arriving to a roaring fire and well-deserved coffee o’clock it was a warm and welcoming homecoming. Rebecca’s home cooked meal, delicious and restaurant quality was the perfect way to finish a great day. Scot Mountain Holidays is a perfect blend of leadership, knowledge and homely comforts resulting in an amazing experience for group tour hiking.
Even today, many walks in the Highlands of Scotland have a historical focus. Ruthven barracks stands abandoned on a hill surrounded by the nature reserve of Insh Marshes. It serves as a monument to the last major civil uprising and pitched battle on British soil. It witnessed both Jacobite success and Jacobite failure. This is where the last remnants of the Jacobite forces regrouped after the battle of Culloden, preparing the make a last stand – only to hear that they had been deserted by their commander in chief – Bonnie Prince Charlie.
The barracks were built after the 1715 rising to control the Highlanders but were attacked and taken by the Jacobite rebels led by Bonnie Prince Charlie in 1745. The site itself has a much longer history than this but there is not much evidence now of it’s previous history.
Park in the parking area for Ruthven Barracks. At the top of the car park there is a farm gate which you need to go through to access the track. Follow the track up and bear right behind a stone wall, following the grassy track upwards.
Continue ahead as the track heads upwards and passes between 2 small hills. When you see the track heading towards the right to a ruined house, continue straight ahead passing a tree on the right. At this point you’ll need to go through a wooden farm gate before heading onto the open moorland ahead. Follow a wee path, much less distinct than the previous track. The path will continue across grassy and heathery ground to a more distinct tract rising diagonally across the wee hill opposite. The ground here can sometimes be wet.
Cross a small stream here on the stepping stones and join a wider path heading up the hill and slightly to the right. The path climbs gently but doesn’t quite reach the summit of Beinn Bhuidhe (yellow mountain). You’ll get a good view of Kingussie behind you from this point.
For a relatively short distance here the path is very boggy and waterlogged. If you manage to bypass it without getting wet feet, you’ll be doing very well. The boggy ground seems to cover the whole area. You’ll also probably need to keep to the heather at the side of the path in places in order to keep your fft dry. After a while the path will more indistinct but is marked by a series of stone cairns. At this point you’ll pretty much be at the high point and will have views down the other side of the hill you’ve been climbing.
Just before you go into the Woods of Glentromie, you’ll have to climb a high stile over a deer fence.
Cross this stile and follow the path into the woodland, which makes a nice change from the moor and heather you’ve been walking through up until this point. The path weaves downhill and can be wet at times. You’ll also need to bypass a couple of fallen trees at points.
Eventually the path reaches a smaller stile and then goes left and crosses a larger stile to emerge onto a road. Turn left and follow the road past a house and over the River Tromie.
After the bridge turn left and follow the road down Glen Tromie eventually reaching the B970 at Tromie Bridge.
Turn left at the road and cross the bridge. Immediately turn right through a wooden gate into the RSPB reserve Tromie Bridge Meadow. This makes up part of the long distance route, the Badenoch Way. This section of the route follows markers with white circles. The route follows a grassy track through woods and then around the edge of the meadow next to the River Tromie.
Tromie Mills, a very well-kept distillery is visible on the other side of the river, but you never really get a good enough view from the path for a particularly good photo. Climb up a gentle bank and pass through a kissing gate marked nature trail. Follow the path next to a wall and then turn left uphill following the white markers.
You’ll cross some sparse birch woods with heather underfoot on a clear path along a small ridge. It’s a delightful section of the route. Keep following the white circular markers and pass through another kissing gate.
Turn right at a small marker post and then cross a vehicular track and go through a small gate. Continue on the path and pass through another gate and you soon reach a sign where you can make a diversion to a good viewpoint and picnic area.
To continue on the trail turn left at this sign and follow the path as it contours along the edge of the higher ground above the Insh Marshes. It passes through a gate and over a footbridge just after the diversion down to Invertromie Hide. Just before the carpark there is an information centre about the birdlife on the reserve. Continue down to the parking area and turn left and left again to emerge onto the B970.
If you are following this route as part of our self-guided itinerary (it is not currently one of the selected routes but is an optional extra), we will arrange to pick you up at this car park at the designated finish time and return you to Fraoch Lodge for tea and cake before relaxing and enjoying a lovely evening meal with us.
If you are walking this route independently you will still have a hike of 1km along the road back to the Ruthven Barracks car park.
http://www.castlesfortsbattles.co.uk/highland/ruthven_barracks.html
http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/kingussie/ruthvenbarracks/
https://www.historicenvironment.scot/visit-a-place/places/ruthven-barracks/
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/scottishhistory/union/trails_union_ruthven.shtml
When you go out for a hike on your own in a new area, you will almost certainly admire the views you see. You’ll probably stop to admire any pretty buildings you see and you may also see some of the local wildlife; but what you’ll probably miss are the local stories which make the area come alive to you. You might not see the wildlife and you might not be able to identify the carnivorous plants or useful herbs. (There are plenty of useful plants which grow wild on the mountainside, like thyme) If you pick a local guide with a lifetime’s interest in the outdoors, all this will be part of the story he can pass on to you during your excursion into the outdoors.
A guide who lives in the area you want to explore is likely to know wee titbits of information relating to local history, gossip, nature, geology, plants etc that you may well not know yourself. All this information helps to bring alive the walk.
From Tripadvisor:
“Our recent trip to the Scottish Highlands exceeded my expectations. Prior to our trip we contacted Scot Mountain Holidays to create a one day hike for our family based on the current weather conditions and our fitness level. Andy was a wealth of knowledge on so many topics which added interest to the hike – geography, history, botany, cuisine, etc. We foraged our way through the forests, heather fields, and mountains. It was truly the highlight of the trip. Andy and Rebecca are lovely people who shared a part of their world with us and I am grateful!!”
One of the most frequent comments, our guests make on their departure is: “Haven’t we been lucky with the weather!” Have they been lucky? Were their expectations very low to begin with? Or was the guide working hard to judge the weather conditions and relate them to his experience so that he could adjust the routes and plan the best day possible for his group?
Andy spends a huge amount of time analysing the forecasts. Check out his blog on how to predict snow, which is all part of his extensive collection of weather research.
We’ve been hiking in several different areas in different countries of Europe and the one thing they all seem to have in common, is the high level path waymarks and sign posts. Here in Scotland, however, history has dictated differently. In Europe, high land has not been greatly prized and has historically been used as common grazing in the summer months. As it has not been privately owned, it has been easy to develop a well marked system of walking routes throughout.
In Scotland, however, most land is privately owned even high in the hills therefore the bureaucracy involved with establishing paths and putting in signage has kept the signage to a minimum. Walkers and climbers are all expected to take suitable maps and a compass with them when they go out in the hills. Do not rely on being able to see the path on the ground or in seeing a sign to indicate how far you have to go.
The weather is a feature of many conversations in the UK, and particularly in Scotland. Many foreigners from continental climates can’t understand our fascination – but then they have relatively stable weather patterns and don’t tend to experience 4 seasons in one day. This is a phenomenon peculiar to maritime climates. It can happen anywhere here, but particularly in the mountains. This can mean that even though visibility is good when you begin your route this might not remain the case all day.
If you’re not confident about your navigational abilities this may mean that you don’t go across the high mountains. However, if you hire a guide, the navigation becomes their responsibility as it is also their choice of route (within your aspirations). They are better able to pick a walk which will make the most of the prevailing weather and safely take you to the higher peaks where the best views are to be had.
Most guides have an amateur interest in geology as well as their professional qualifications. They are all interested in their outdoor surroundings. Andy, our director and main inspiration behind the routes on our holidays, is particularly interested in geology. He can always find an explanation for the form of mountains; the make up of the rocks etc
Most hikers are confident about going out on clearly marked paths, which are more often than not in the more popular hiking areas. However, it is not so easy, particularly if you are not familiar with the area to pick the best routes for the limited time you have, unless you are particularly good at map reading. A guide will have intimate knowledge of the local surroundings and is probably able to find you a spectacular route where you are unlikely to see a single other hiker during your entire day out. We like to pick routes for our guests where they see unexpected views and have memorable and unique experiences: as is said, one never walks the same route twice, as the changes in weather, fauna, light, season etc all come together to produce a unique environment every time.
A guide is professionally qualified to cope with hazards outdoors. He or she undergoes first aid training which is renewed every 2 years to keep their knowledge current. Having a guide with you is like having a first aider, risk assessor and professional mountaineer with you all in one person
If your guide lives in the area you are intending to visit in winter, they are likely to have one the ground knowledge of snow conditions. This kind of local knowledge is difficult to convey even with today’s modern communications. With experience, guides who live in the area are able to pick the best spots for snow and ice conditions, even in lean periods. Winter 2017 was a very lean year but we still ran 4 snowhole expeditions and never had to retreat due to thin conditions. Admittedly Andy did make some reconnaissance walks to check the snow depth prior to going out, but he was still able to deliver all the booked trips.
Fraoch Lodge
We want to send a big thank you to everyone who participated in our latest contest and helped make it a success! In the end, we had over 300 entrants which was a fantastic result. We also received valuable feedback from the entrants which will be put to good use.
And a special congratulations to Diane Smith, the winner of our Gentle Giants Giveaway Contest. Congrats also go out to Claire Waugh and Clint Dillon for winning the runner up poster prize of the impressive panoramic view of the Cairngorms National Park.
The Gentle Giants Trip is a great opportunity for Diane Smith and their ‘plus one’ to bag a couple of Munro’s on their guided walking weekend with our very own Andy Bateman. Andy will safely lead the way, sharing his years of in depth knowledge of the area and its natural terrain. On this particular trip, the Munro’s ascended will be Ben Macdui and Cairn Gorm in Cairngorms National Park. Did you know that a mountain has to be at least 3000ft in order to qualify as a Munro? And did you know that Ben Macdui is the second highest mountain in the British Isles after Ben Nevis in Fort William?
Not only will Diane have a full weekend of walking, but they will take in some spectacular views on the way, such as Loch A’an as they ascend Ben Macdui…
Diane will have a delightful view of The Lairig Ghru (with the local pronunciation “Laarig Groo”). It is a spectacular mountain pass through the Cairngorms of Scotland. Historically used as a route between Deeside and Strathspey, in particular, a drove road for taking livestock on foot from one place to another.
And it doesn’t stop there. After an active day out on the hill, Diane and company get to put their feet up at Fraoch Lodge and enjoy a cuppa and cake o’clock which always goes down a treat. Tidying them over until it’s time for a delicious and hearty home cooked supper to set them up for the following days adventure.
All in all, the competition was such a success that we’ll be holding them more frequently. You’ll have a chance to enter to win our next giveaway coming soon 🙂 We look forward to welcoming …….. to the Scottish Highlands to enjoy their prize.
The Burma Road route is a fantastic way to see spectacular views of the Cairngorms and the picturesque countryside of the National Park. Graded hard and requiring a high fitness level to complete, this 26-mile cycling route is achievable in four to five hours.
Trekking over a mixture of tarmac, dirt, grass and rocky tracks makes sections of the trail challenging. And with a three mile extremely steep climb the initial part of the route can come across as particularly challenging. But, overall it is worth the initial exertion.
26 miles/41km
1800 kcal
allow around 4 or 5 hours cycling time.
2123ft/647m
The official start point of the cycle begins in Aviemore, an enjoyable and relatively easy 6-mile ride from Fraoch Lodge across the countryside. Once reaching Aviemore it’s as simple as following the main road through town, crossing the A9 and following a single tarmac road to the Scripture Union Centre at Alltnacriche. Having followed the route through a forest gate this is where things begin to get difficult.
The climb is very steep and walking is often quicker then riding at a gradient of this level. Certainly, you wouldn’t be alone in getting off your bike and pushing. The climb stretching over 3-miles levels out at points, but you will likely spend the uphill section hopping on and off your bike. Make sure to turn around regularly during the ascent as the view is well worth the exertion.
Once you have reached the top, the path down is quick and steep. The route in this section is made up of gravel and loose stones caused from water erosion. This will limit your speed, and you will need a fair amount of control and concentration to get down safely. The end of the descent can be celebrated once you reach a wide bridge. This also signifies the countryside section of the route having crossed the bridge.
From here it’s as simple as following the path alongside the left hand of the river. The path is overall a wide and good one. But, you will find small patches of boggy ground, grassy paths and several gates to go through. After a very enjoyable ride through the countryside the very end of the path is marked by a T intersection. Take the track leading right and you’ll pass over a bridge, up a small hill and you’ll find yourself back on tarmac.
Mostly downhill and with limited traffic the road to Carrbridge is one of the easiest sections of the day. About halfway along you’ll see a sign on the left hand side of the road to Sluggan bridge. This impressive structure is well worth the short 1-mile detour.
After continuing on and reaching Carrbridge, make sure you stop for the iconic pictures of the bridge. And perhaps even a well-deserved pint at the local pub.
Boat of Garten is only 5 miles further from Carrbridge and it’s as simple as following the ‘7’ bike route back to base.
External links:
More pictures and description of the route from Dave Banks
The route reviewed in The Herald newspaper
Walking is one of the best forms of exercise being gentle, easy and free. It’s something everyone can do, and extremely beneficial to your wellbeing. So, it’s no wonder masses of people are beginning to introduce walking to their daily lives. But to keep the habit up it’s important to ensure you’re not letting your walking become a chore. So to avoid this, try these easy steps to turn a walk into an adventure.
Walking has been proven to assist you in maintaining a healthy weight, prevent or manage various conditions including heart disease and high blood pressure and additionally, it strengthens your bones and muscles. Not only this, but it’s extremely positive to your mental wellbeing. And, it’s a great excuse to take some time for yourself.
Firstly, it’s time to get off the beaten path. Head away from the pavement and hit the trails. The Cairngorm National Park is full of gorgeous forest, river and mountain walking so you’re rich for choice.
Once you’re away from the roads, and traffic of the world, take some time away from technology. Leave your phone at home, turn the music off and appreciate the beauty of nature. This will not only be a refreshing break and an opportunity for you to restart. But, you will find yourself so much more connected to nature, and you’re much more likely to spot wildlife and fauna. This will add a level of appreciation, and excitement to your walks.
This goes hand in hand with switching off. If you have some sense of direction, try to avoid planning out your route prior to your walk. Follow your instinct, keep things fresh and go somewhere new each day. Making a split second decision at each fork you come to, will add a sense of exhilaration to your walking adventures.
These three easy to do steps will be just the thing to turn your walking into memorable adventures.
For me, the arrival of the false Morel is the first notable event in the fungal calendar. This is one fungi which can easily be overlooked. It might seem odd to include the fungi kingdom in a scottish wildlife feature but the fungi in the woodlands are a vital part of the ecosystem. Here in the Cairngorms they can’t be ignored.
At a glance the False Morel might appear as some nasty dog mess at the side of the hiking trail. However, with further investigation they are an interesting mushroom. Usually appearing sometime in April they often occur in pine woods, on sandy soil. Much of the Cairngorms National park is covered in woodland on sandy soil so they can be quite a common sight. Unlike other edible Morels with their honeycomb structure, the False Morel has a highly convoluted cap. This can vary from yellow brown to dark reddish brown with its stalk being an off white colour.
The False Morel has been described as the “puffer fish” of the fungal world and one most definitely to avoid, that is, unless you’re very brave. This is why. Gyromitrin, a chemical in the fungi, reacts with the stomach acid to form mono methyl-hydrazine, other wise known as rocket fuel! The symptoms of poisoning follow the same protracted path as those of ingesting the Death Cap, the most toxic of all fungi. The first stage is a 6 to 12 hour latent period. This is followed by up to 6 days of unpleasant “gastrointestinal disturbances” which can also be accompanied by seizures.
Next comes an apparent period of recovery but by this time liver damage has occurred. In serious cases this is followed by delirium, coma and possibly death. There are large variations in the way individuals react to the toxin which seem to be down to genetic makeup. Despite this, it is still regarded as a delicacy. In some European countries, especially Bulgaria, it is still collected in quantity. Repeated parboiling in fresh water is the tradition way of dealing with the toxins but this doesn’t completely do the job. Should you be preparing any quantity of them, beware of the vapours. Your kitchen could fill up with rocket fuel vapour! Not surprisingly an increased number of countries are banning its sale.
So as not to be confused, we’ve added below an example of an edible morel mushroom.
Fortunately the false morel fruits outside the main shrooming period in the Highlands. Most foragers come from July onwards. They search the woods of chanterelle and cep mushrooms. Bounty beyond belief can be found in the woods. You must always be aware of the Scottish Outdoor Access Code and pay close attention to the Scottish Wild Mushroom Code
For an introduction to safe and responsible foraging contact us for details of our Fruits of the Forest weekends (September and October).
Scotland is rich with history and the stories and legends passed down through the generations by campfire storytelling is a huge part of Scottish folklore. The Cairngorms, is abundant with it’s own tales and we take a look at our favourite stories and legends from the Cairngorms.
Ben Macdhui standing as the tallest mountain in Scotland has long been home to popular folklore stories. And one of the most famous, tells of The Big Grey Man of Ben Macdhui. A legendary being that has haunted the Cairngorms for centuries. The collection of stories from hikers tells of a supernatural presence often felt at the peak of Ben Macdhui. The most famous story dates back to 1891 and was told by accomplished mountaineer, the late Professor Norman Collie.
Following this account, experiences of The Big Grey Man describe the feeling of being watched, the crunch of snow as steps fall three times as long as the average man and the allusion of a tall grey figure in the winter mist. Each story while slightly different, has one thing in common. All accounts describe an overwhelming feeling of fear and the urge to flee the mountain. While eerie, we can take comfort that no real evidence of The Big Grey Man of Ben Macdhui exist. Scot Mountain Holidays offer guided tours on Ben Macdhui where you can learn more about the history and legends of the Cairngorms.
Boat of Garden home of Fraoch Lodge is also home to the legend of The Monster of Loch Garten. A large carnivorous water monster. Described as a mixture between a large bull and a stallion, with a jet black mane, big head and gleaming eyes. Furthermore, the monster only ever appeared at night and preyed on small children and lambs.
The story goes, that a local once tried to capture the beast. Hitching a rope around an enormous boulder he bated a gaff with a lamb and at dusk, tossed it into the centre of the loch. As the story goes, roaring, lightening and snarls were heard by the infuriated monster throughout the night. But, in the light of the day, the boulder was gone and only a deep rut heading into the loch remained of the boulder. It is said, the monster was never seen or heard off again.
Another legend that comes from the Boat of Garten region tells the tale of The Old Man or Spectre of Garten with a feeling of dread. Over one hundred years ago many people allegedly came forward testifying to the existence of this supernatural being. The legend describes a spirit roaming the countryside surrounding Loch Garten and Loch Mallachy giving warnings of impending death. Never seen but heard, stories describe being awaken for no apparent reason to the overwhelming sense of apprehension. This is quickly followed by the dreaded high-pitched scream of the spectre warning them of an approaching death.
There are many more legends and stories from the Cairngorms region that hold a place in folklore history. The stories, sure to delight children and adult alike tare an amazing addition to your Scotland holiday.
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Fraoch Lodge, Deshar Road,
Boat of Garten,
PH24 3BN
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