Aberfeldy-Grandtully Footpath Completed

We all hope you have a good time and ask you to spare a thought for the McDiarmids of Murthly who farm the land over which the first part of the Riverside Path runs (Aberfeldy end) and then over the Culltulich Burn. The Burn is now straddled by a splendid foot bridge (horses have a ford) constructed and put in place by WB Grieve, Contractor, who was also the contractor on the path alongside the river, below the main road.

Old Garlic Wood
Now known as ‘Old Garlic Wood’, this stretch was support funded by the Forestry Commission and also contractor for the magnificent stretch of open path out along the field edge. Along this length of the route you will be aware that stock are grazing and silage is being grown, please respect this and keep to the path and the dogs along side you.

Leaving the River side and climbing up a small slope onto the Railway Line Path those of you who knew this stretch in the past will realise that the puddles are no more! This transformation was achieved by Norrie Campbell, contractor from Ardguarlich, Strath Tummel, who carried out the restoration of the original old Railway line, so that it is now much as it was twenty five years ago.

During this phase of the work every effort was made to make use of any engineering features left by the Victorians. The task was to follow their lead and work on their solid foundations. When one considers that all this work was carried out by navvies with a pick and shovel one can only admire and respect them. Little did they know that the work they carried out in the 19th century would be giving amenity to future generations in a way that they would never have dreamed of, so hard were their lives.

Responsible Access
Please enjoy the Route. Responsible Access is the key to success. As the Boy Scouts motto says: “Leave no trace”, we let you off with your foot prints. Watch that, that dear friend your dog leaves nothing sticky that can be trodden in on the path. Disgusting though it may seem stick and flick it, far into the undergrowth or better still take it home in a plastic bag. I do. Honest. Horses are forgiven, they are vegetarian and dung degrades....

If anyone would like to join the UTPG as a friendly member there are forms in the Watermill book shop. Joining us would mean that you will be kept in touch with our projects, and we will probably need some physical help in due course.

Liz Lines, Chair of the Upper Tay Paths Group