The sun tried

The plan for the day was simple - get up early, drive for 70 miles, walk up a mountain and drive back again. Even though the rain was lashing down here, we optimistic souls carried on anyway with our sandwiches and thermoses, thinking that maybe in Perthshire it would be brighter. Today was supposed to be the day that young Ewan and his wee pal Hannah would walk up their first Munro. The downside would be that it would also be the day that I carried Ellen up her first Munro in her wee rucksack.

But, 'twas not to be. The rain was just as bad at the Schiehallion car park as it was at home and showed no sign of letting up. The collective opinion was that there was no fun to be had walking up a hill in the rain. For the kids, it would turn an achievement into a joyless forced march so we went back to Grandtully having spotted a chocolate shop with a cafe attached. That would be a grand place to make alternative plans.

In the end we drove back to The Hermitage just outside Dunkeld and had a walk around there. Nice it was too. Dull and overcast, with rain threathening but never materialising.

Back home for tea with the Moore's and it seems the clouds never lifted and the rain barely stopped so it was a smart move to go away for a walk. There were a few moments when the sun tried to break through but it never really had a chance. Not against these clouds.