Scotland Walking Weekend in Aviemore

Trefoil Guild Scotland hosted their second Walking Weekend from Friday, 19 May to Monday, 22 May, 2023.

23 members all with different levels of walking experience and from 11 different Trefoils travelled from almost all areas of Scotland to take part.

The Trefoil Scotland walking weekend started as soon as members arrived. We met at the hostel car park and were each issued a compostable bag so that we could collect a minimum of 3 pieces of rubbish. This was part of the 80th challenge.

Our first walk was in Craigellachie Nature Reserve, a short walk to Loch Puladdem, longer Buzzard Trail with views over to the mountains.

Saturday started with a walk from Aviemore to Inverdruie to then join the paths in Rothiemurchus woods via Lochan Mor to Loch an Eilein (Loch of the island). Some walked round Loch an Eilein. All walked back to Inverdruie and then returned to Aviemore.

Due to lack of public transport on Sundays, we had to hire minibuses to take us to Glenmore. A few members did the short walk in the woods at Loch Morlich. The more experienced ramblers walked along Old Logging Way to Lochan Uaine (the Green Lochan) and on to Ryvoan Bothy, picnic lunch inside bothy. Some returned the same way but 9 walkers took the harder path back from Lochan Uaine to Glenmore.

The choices for this day were varied and some walked along the beach at Loch Morlich while many others enjoyed visiting the Reindeer Centre. A £12 donation was given to the Reindeer Centre, the excess of what was collected for the minibuses. They then enjoyed cups of tea with a few members staying in Aviemore and had a nice chat and catch up before they returned home.

On our last day those of us left enjoyed solving the Aviemore Town Treasure trail and then a farewell snack at a local coffee shop before heading to home in all parts of Scotland.

The walks were well planned and allowed for more inexperienced walkers to participate while not holding back the rest when they would go on for the more challenging paths.  There were always options and choices and this is what made the weekend so successful.