Wednesday 25 March - Holl Reservoir to Bishop Hill, 7.5 miles

There was a good attendance at Holl Reservoir as William McPadden led the group out into a stiff, cold wind towards West Lomond.

The walk continued on to Bishop Hill, with great all round views, before descending to West Feal and following the minor road back to the start.

Wednesday 18 March - Water of Leith from Dean Village to Colinton, 7.2 miles

Eleven walkers met in Queensferry Road in the West End of Edinburgh, most having come on the Citylink bus from Perth but we were joined by 2 locals and another who had travelled by train.  Jim Pirie introduced everyone and outlined the route of the walk and we set off towards Dean Bridge.  Just before the bridge we descended Bell's Brae to Dean Path.

We crossed the Water of Leith and climbed Dean Path to pass through Dean Cemetery and onward to the grounds of the Museum of Modern Art.  Unfortunately the planned exit back to the Water of Leith walkway was closed, so we had to backtrack a little to regain the Walkway at Bell's Mills.

We followed the Walkway  to Roseburn Park, where we stopped for a coffee break in warm sunshine opposite Murrayfield Stadium.  We skirted the stadium and crossed the Water again to pass through Saughton Park gardens and continue upstream, following what is now part of the John Muir Way.  We passed under the Slateford Aqueduct, carrying the Forth & Clyde Union Canal and stopped at the Water of Leith Visitor Centre for our lunch break.  After our lunch we continued into less urban surroundings, through Craiglockhart Dell and then entering the Colinton Tunnel with its colourful murals.

Emerging from the tunnel, we left the Walkway to climb up to Colinton Bridge which we crossed and awaited the local bus to take us back to the centre of the city to undertake our various journeys back home.

Wednesday 11 March - Around Culross, 8 miles

There was a strong onshore wind blowing as 20 walkers met at Culross, for a circuit around the historic town and the nearby Torry Bay nature reserve, led by William McPadden.  From the centre of the town we crossed the railway line and followed the Fife Coastal path around the perimeter of the reclaimed ash pits from Longannet power station, now mellowing as the vegetation cover increases.

Having had a coffee stop on the eastern side of the reserve, we completed the circuit of the reserve to return to Culross by Lower Valleyfield.  Recrossing the railway line, we climbed through the town to visit the ruins of the Abbey. Founded in the 13th century as the birthplace of St. Mungo, the later adjoining parish chuch is still in use today.

Leaving the Abbey ruins, we skirted to the north of the town, through woodland and open country and partly on the West Fife Woodlands Way, to the ruins of West Kirk.  This medieval church was the town's parish church until replaced by the one that we had seen earlier next to the Abbey.  We had lunch here in warm sunshine and sheltered from the wind by the ancient stones.

After lunch we continued westwards to the edge of Waas Plantation before turning south to pass Blair Mains and descend back to the Fife Coastal Path, which we followed back to the start.  The majority of the walkers went to enjoy refreshments in Culross after a very enjoyable and varied walk.

Photos by Pete Trant, Marjory Watson & Cathy Creedican

Saturday 7 March - Upper Glenalmond, 8.5 miles

16 walkers met at Newton Bridge in the Sma' Glen on a fine but chilly spring morning for a there-and-back walk beside the upper reaches of the River Almond. Pete & Anne Trant led us across the bridge and into Upper Glenalmond, where we followed the flat, firm path beside the river towards Conichan and Auchnafree against a fresh headwind.

After a coffee stop among some riverside trees that afforded a little shelter from the wind, we continued westwards passing the steep path that climbed off to our right up to the prow of the so-called Conichan Castle, an outlier of Sron Bealaidh and the Fiona of Beinn na Gainimh.

We continued our progress up the valley, paying a brief visit to the old Auchnafree School building, to reach the remains of the Bronze age chambered cairn of Clach na Tiompan, where we (somewhat sacrilegiously) perched on the stones to eat our lunch.  After lunch we turned around and followed our outward path back to Newton Bridge.

The walk afforded a great opportunity to visit some wild countryside with very little effort and during the course of our walk we saw many noisy oystercatchers, along with curlew, red kite and dipper.

Photos by Pete Trant & Marjory Watson

Wednesday 4 March - River Tay, Luncarty & Bertha Loch loop, 8.5 miles

Starting at Inveralmond, Tom Reid led the group across the River Almond to the Tay, which we followed to Luncarty.  From Luncarty the route led away from the river to Redgorton and Pitmurthly. We returned via Bertha Loch and Bertha Park.

Photos by Marjory Watson