DEE-CIDERS WALKING GROUP
As Rebecca Lyrell- the features writer in the Sunday Telegraph says: "Days like these". (Ed. Hope I got the name right!)
It's "Days like these" -the Indian Summer we have just experienced - when the soft winds blow the ripe barley, which ripples across the fields, that. reminds me of a very memorable walk we had with the Dee- ciders.
We started off in the Pass of Ballater. We took a nearly obscure path, just past Balmenach and this led us through lush, green undergrowth, passing an old caravan, and then out we came into the open. That's when the climb begins -not too hard but a steady pace. With Balmenach Farm on the left, the well-defined path veers right towards Peter's Hill. Craig of Promy towers to the left and Creagan Riabhach to the right. Soon afterwards, the path divided again either to go to Morven Lodge or to Morven Hill.
It never fails to amaze me how the leaders of groups know when to turn off a path. Many of these paths, at one time, were well-defined but are now overgrown with heather but on we go down towards the Lary Bum which fortunately wasn't high so we were able to cross with just a steadying hand from freens.
Safely across, we look back towards Morven Lodge which stands in a green basin, sheltered by pine trees. The lodge was built by Alexander Keillor, 'the Dundee Jam King' , at the end of the 19th century. Some of the original buildings still stand although he did demolish the big lodge and built another one nearer Ballater. (This magnificent red granite building is the present Craigendarroch Country Club.)
From the higher ground at the back of Lary Hill we can see magnificent Lochnagar, the Coyles of Muick, Morven behind us and, away to the south, Mount Keen. Why was it called 'LARY'? Some say it may come from 'lorach' -a river while others suggest 'lairig' -a pass. At one time there was a pass taking travellers up by Laggan and on to Strathdon, so a pass seems more probable.
Going toward Bridge of Gairn, the road runs by woodlands and at this time of year the trees in their autumn colours is a glorious sight. Folks speak about going to the 'fall in America' but to me going up 'Lary' to Morven Lodge will suffice. It's a treasure stored in my memory.