Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos, Report), Sue Davies
Starting from Golton Gorge Carpark at 9:10am, it was a short walk along Colton Creek with a gentle climb to the gorge. First through trees before becoming rockier underfoot. As the track reached the creek-side just below Golton Gorge the walk was completely on the bedrock of the creek. Today with very low water flow it was an easy and sure-footed climb up into the gorge. We proceeded as far as the first large waterhole.
Wednesday 11/10/2023 Mount Abrupt Carpark – Mount Abrupt Walking Track – Signal Peak Walking Track – Signal Peak – Mount Abrupt (825m) – Mud-Dadjug Hike-in Campground – C216
Grampians National Park, VICTORIA
Gariwerd Country
Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos, Report), Sue Davies
We departed the carpark at 9:00am, keen for the earlier start as a day reaching the high twenties was forecast. This walk commences climbing immediately from the trailhead and as we found yesterday, passes through a lot of different ecosystems in one day. These often came and went over short distances but the changes were much more noticeable than in many other places we have hiked. The tracks today were not new as they were for The Piccaninny and Mount Sturgeon sections yesterday but these are still high-quality tracks with many sections of steps formed from large flat boulders which have been positioned to make staircases on steeper sections.
Tuesday 10/10/2023 Bainggug (The Piccaninny) Carpark – The Piccaninny Walk – The Piccaninny (448m) – Mount Sturgeon Track – Wurgarri (Mount Sturgeon) (580m) – Grampians Peaks Trail – Wannon River – Dunkeld
Grampians National Park, VICTORIA
Gariwerd Country
Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos, Report), Sue Davies, Trish Law, Dave Whitelaw
As we drove heading north from Dunkeld there was a shroud of low cloud concealing the summit of Mount Abrupt. After parking at Bainggug (The Piccaninny) Carpark we headed off along The Piccaninny Walk towards The Piccaninny. The morning was cool enough to require a warm layer until near midday. We found all the tracks to be in excellent condition, it is apparent that there had been a lot of recent work done on them. Signage appeared new and there were several numbered emergency poles to let emergency services know exactly where you were. Traversing sections have stone walls on their lower side building them up to the horizontal, most having had sandy gravel added as the walking surface. There are cut sandstone block steps on several steeper sections and steel steps and a bridge to the southern side of Mount Sturgeon, all combining to make it easy underfoot.
Tuesday 23/05/2023 Sligachan Hotel – Glen Sligachan – River Sligachan – Allt nam Fraoch-choire – Loch na Creitheach
Isle of Skye, SCOTLAND
Participants: Caroline Davies, Peter Davies, Sophie Davies, Stephen Davies and Sue Davies
We headed off as a party of five from Sligachan. To access the track we crossed a lovely stone bridge, dodging the gauntlet of tourists grabbing their Instagram shot before returning to the Sligachan Hotel or their cars. Then we passed a statue of two old white men before leaving behind the vast majority of people.
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!
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.
