About 12 of us met up at Randolph’s leap car park to go up the River Divie to Dunphail House, cross the bridge and back down the other side, a morning’s walk and fairly straightforward, one might think!

However, that would be a bit too easy and a much more difficult detour was found, involving climbing over and under trees, crashing through undergrowth, climbing over barbed wire fences and slithering down muddy banks, great fun!

After a lunch break at the bridge, we went for a visit to the historic ruin of Dunphail Castle, where Dave Galloway regaled us with a gruesome tale of beheadings, 5 heads being thrown over the wall with a cry of “Here’s some beef for your bannocks!” Look it up on Google for the full story, but there are meant to be 5 headless ghosts haunting the place.

A civilised walk back to start point, still early, so I suggested going on to Logie Steading. Most folk agreed, but promptly jumped in their cars, when I really meant an extended River walk. However, Dianne and Brent joined me in the walk, but because the coffee shop was shut, most of the others, bar Derrick and George, had gone.

It was great to get our first outing as a group this year.

Words by Babs kizewski. Photos by Dianne McLeish