A day in Perthshire

As Thibault was the reluctant owner of a new car, we decided to take a road trip together into the southernmost bit of the highlands, and do a hike. We duly found one taking us halfway up Ben Vraken (a mountain I had never heard of. Well it isn't a big one). The walk took us round a loch, across a golf course and then up the wooded slopes. Only a 450 metre ascent. Thibault's hiking app said it would take us three and a quarter hours. We actually did it in two and a half. Thibault was pretty pleased that he could beat the hikers predicted time by so much even dragging around a 62 year old!

From there we raced into Dunkeld for our booked lunch at a wine bar. Which was my choice and I was very pleased with it. Probably the best meal of the holiday. And as we were doing a walk after lunch, Thibault was able to have a drink (ironically for a wine bar, a nice German import beer) to wash down our charcuterie and things. All very tasty.

Then obviously we had to have a walk around the very small but historically important town, including Dunkeld Cathedral. A very small place for a surprisingly large church, but it was semi-derelict. Only the front part is a working church and even then the lower parts (which I have obscured in my photos) were shrouded in hoardings. Major renovation underway.

But the cathedral is set in wonderful grounds reaching down to the river.

From Dunkeld we went on a somewhat unattractive walk along the A9 and a caravan site (Thibault was not impressed) to a Scottish National Trust site - the Hermitage. This did offer the largest waterfall I had seen in the British Isles. Thibault was more impressed by that, but not the crowds. Stark contrast to our morning hike.

And finally back to Edinburgh over the Firth bridge, with the older ones behind. Now known as the three bridges

Overall, a really nice day out with Thibault. Just like old times on our various overseas road trips. I was just a bit concerned how stiff I would be after that hike. My concern was justified. Took my legs about 4 days afterwards to fully recover. Apparently walking up the up escalator at Moorgate once a week is not preparation for a two and a half hour climb up a mountain.