Wednesday 19/05/2023 Clachan Trail – Allean Forest
Loch Tummel, SCOTLAND
Participants: Caroline Davies, Paul Davies, Peter Davies, Sophie Davies, Stephen Davies, Sue Davies
This was an exciting day as it was the first time in seven years since our last trip to Scotland that we had the chance to walk with my brother and his family. Although a very short, easy walk on wide open tracks today it offered pleasant, cool walking conditions through the forest.
Wednesday 24/05/2023 The Prison – The Needle – The Table – Quiraing
Trotternish Ridge, Isle of Skye, SCOTLAND
Participants: Caroline Davies, Paul Davies, Peter Davies, Sophie Davies, Stephen Davies (Report, Photos), Sue Davies
Today’s walk began with very cold windy conditions. The first challenge of the day for many people was to chase their parking receipt the parking meters were spitting out directly into the breeze before most people could get a hand on it! We watched half a dozen people running along the road as their tickets blew away. I wonder how many people needed to buy a second ticket because of a poorly designed ticket machine.
Monday 22/05/2023 Coral Beaches, Claigan near Dunvegan
Isle of Skye, SCOTLAND
Participants: Caroline Davies, Paul Davies, Peter Davies, Sophie Davies, Stephen Davies (Report, Photos), Sue Davies
Only a very short hike from the carpark at Glen Claigan but very worthwhile. The first challenge here is negotiating the drive from Dunvegan. Here, as elsewhere on the Isle of Skye, the road is single carriage with multiple short pullovers placed to enable vehicles can pass each other. Today was no different to the other days we had driven similar roads, lots of stopping and waiting with the occasional very large campervan’s rear view mirror passing above your vehicle!
Friday 21/05/2023 Old Man of Storr
Isle of Skye, SCOTLAND
Participants: Caroline Davies, Paul Davies, Peter Davies, Sophie Davies, Stephen Davies (Report, Photos), Sue Davies
From our base at Portree, we drove north along the east coast of Skye to Lock Leather. The road is single-lane bitumen with frequent short wider areas for passing. Being mid-Sunday morning there was a lot of traffic around, much of it aiming for the carpark at the start of Old Man of Storr walk. This a paid carpark (5 pounds with a 6-hour limit) and the largest carpark north of Portree.
Thursday 23/03/2023 Mallacoota Coastal Walk – Betka Road – Quarry Beach – Geology Point – Fishermans Track – Betka River – Betka River Estuary – Betka Surf Beach – Betka South Beach – Beach 8
Betka River Tourist Reserve & Mallacoota Coastal Reserve
VICTORIA
Bidawal Country
Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos, Report), Sue Davies
After a 6km morning run from our Bemm River campsite, we had our minds set on a relaxing day as we started to make our way home. As we drove towards our destination of Mallacoota, we were pleased to see the forests that were burned so badly during the 2019/20 bushfires showing plenty of new growth. During lunch, overlooking Bottom Lake, we reflected on our 2013 Nadgee-Howe Wilderness Walk and observed the small ferry that had taken us across Bottom Lake to Lake View Jetty for our start.
Wednesday 22/03/2023 Pearl Point Track – Pearl Point – Binn Beach
Cape Conran Coastal Park, VICTORIA
Brabuwooloong Country
Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos, Report), Sue Davies
Undeterred by our morning walk to Yerung “Gorge” we decided to check out the “spectacular sedimentary formations” at Pearl Point. This had been listed as a 25km return hike from East Cape and one we had seriously considered doing until Sue checked out the “All Trails” site for reviews. She could only find two, the main comment being “I hate sand!”
Wednesday 22/03/2023 Old Coast Road – East Yeerung Track – Yeerung River East Branch – Yeerung Gorge
Cape Conran Coastal Park, VICTORIA
Brabuwooloong Country
Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos, Report), Sue Davies
Yeerung Gorge sounded like a good walk to do on the parks information flier so we determined that we would. As there is a lot of storm damage around the area, that eliminated the suggested starting which involved crossing the Yeerung River bridge which is now closed to vehicular use. Instead, we found ourselves driving around via the Old Coast Road and East Yeerung Track to the start, from where it would be a very short walk
Tuesday 21/03/2023 Marlo Western Boundary Track – Marlo Wetland Track – Marlo Centre Track – Marlo South Boundary Track – Marlo-Conran Road – French’s Narrows Carpark – French’s Narrows – West Cape Road – Salmon Rocks Boat Ramp – Salmon Rocks Track – Salmon Rocks – Cape Conran Road – Sailors Grave – Cape Conran Nature Trail – Cowrie Bay – Yeerung River Road – Yeerung River Walking Track – Estuary View Trail – Pearl Point Track
Marlo Coastal Reserve & Cape Conran Coastal Park, VICTORIA
Brabuwooloong Country
Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos, Report), Sue Davies
Today we completed five short walks between Marlo and Conran Coastal Park. Early in the day, we checked out a small section of Marlo State Forest next to our campsite. Then after a very short drive, we walked across French’s Narrows at the mouth of the Snowy River. Soon after another short drive to West Cape in Cape Conran Coastal Park, we walked across the Cape to Salmon Rocks with great views along the coast and half a dozen surfers enjoying some waves.
After lunch and another short drive, we walked through burnt-out country along the Cape Conran Nature Trail and finally after yet another short drive we circumnavigated the Yeerung River estuary through healthy, unburnt bushland.
Thursday 16/03/2023 Echo Bend Campsite – Echo Bend Campsite Walking Track – Bluff Lookout – Deadcock Den – Mitchell River Walking Track – Amphitheatre – Billy Goat Bend Lookout – Billy Goat Bend Road – Park Road – Woolshed Creek – Wallers Road
Mitchell River National Park, VICTORIA
Brayakoolong Country
Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos, Report), Sue Davies
With a local forecast for 30-degrees today we aimed for an early start, our intention being to walk far enough along the Mitchell River to get a good feel for it and its surroundings. We were underway at 7:05am, not long after the first flicker of daylight. The air was still cool and we had walked the first part of this walk yesterday we made good progress. After a brief stop at Bluff Lookout we proceeded down through Deadcock Den and on the Mitchell River Walking Track. The Mitchell River is the last remaining wild river in Victoria.
Wednesday 22/02/2023 McKillops Bridge Campground
Snowy River National Park, VICTORIA
Bidawal, Gunaikurnai, Monaro Ngarigo, and Nindi-Ngudjam Ngarigu Monero Country
Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos, Report), Sue Davies
It is a serious drive down to McKillops Bridge Campground from Little River Falls. Although this gravel road is not particularly steep it is hazardous due to the long unprotected drop-off that runs along its side and the fact it is very narrow. The signage at the top suggests you check for the presence of any other vehicles via UHF radio, which works only if both you and any other vehicle has one. We don’t, so our fingers were crossed as we proceeded along the road. Sue was on high alert for any sign on other vehicles, whilst I kept my eyes on the road ahead.
Wednesday 15/03/2023 Echo Bend Campsite – Echo Bend Campsite Walking Track – Nargun Carpark – Woolshed Creek – Den of Nargun – Deadcock Den – Mitchell River – Bluff Lookout
Mitchell River National Park, VICTORIA
Brayakoolong Country
Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos, Report), Sue Davies
Having taken our time on the drive in we didn’t head out on this walk until about 3:00pm?? So it was a hot, sunny afternoon as walked out of Echo Bend Campsite along the Echo Bend Campsite Walking Track. This track connects the privately owned campsite to the National Parks tracks. The track itself being lined with melaleuca we saw a goanna and rabbit on the way through and had a kookaburra laughing at us for being so silly to be out walking in the hot afternoon sun.
Thursday 23/02/2023 Tulloch Ard Lookout Walk – Snowy River Lookout
Snowy River National Park, VICTORIA
Gunaikurnai Country
Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos, Report), Sue Davies
The purpose of our multi-day adventure along the Barry Way was to explore the area and complete a few interesting walks if we could find them. On this occasion, it was a signpost on the main road to Tulloch Ard Lookout Walk. We took the turn, finding ourselves driving through some local farms to gain access to Snowy Mountains National Park. Once in the national park the grasslands of the farms gave way to forest and the road became narrower before we reached the start of the walk.