Untitled - Beeldbibliotheek

62 CARAVAN DAYSa naked hillside to Killin, where we spent Mondaynight, and thereafter, by the fine forest road thatfollows the whole length ofLoch Tay, throughKenmore to Aberfeldy. These were days ofjoyous travel in perfect weather and with no greatdifficulties to meet. But when, at Ballinluig, weturned again to the North-West and, after passingthrough Pitlochry (where we spent a night) andBlair Atholl, advanced up the Grampian Pass toDalnaspidal, we had pretty heavy goingall theway. This is the one main road up the heart ofScotland to the North. It makes its way throughthe only gap in the great barrier of the Grampians,and it is a long and stiff ascent, with an indifferentsurface, rising, through bleak country, with sharplittle undulations for thirteen miles to the summit.And we were impeded by a strong head wind,which added much to the weight of the van. Wespent the night near Dalnaspidal, and an easyhalf-day on the Friday took us to comfortablequarters at Dalwhinnie.We were now of course travelling upon theEastern Slope, but at Dalwhinnie we made asensational plunge over to the West.I have neverbeen able to discover the gradient of the hill thatleads out of Dalwhinnie to the Spey Valley(which perhaps is just as well, as Imight have