The Sidlaws, Northballo to Newtyle, Sunday 5th January 2025

The group of 21 members left the coach at the car park to the SW of Northballo Hill and began their walk that eventually took them to Newtyle and the Commercial Hotel where they enjoyed a bowl of warming soup and sandwiches.

The weather forecast had suggested mixed weather – sleet and rain. In the event light snow fell for part of the way, there was little wind so the conditions were ideal for tramping the hills, what were normally boggy sections were mainly frozen, a bonus.

The majority followed the selected route, a circuitous route to Lairds Loch, across its damn and on to the Tullybaccart car park, across the A923 and then on through Pitcur Wood towards Ledcrieff Loch. Here the main group crossed the damn and took the main path that led them to to the top of Lundie Crags and the its views south and east.

A smaller group took a narrow, steep and often iced path through trees to the top of the crags, this was a more exposed route towards the top but enjoyed by the four who walked it.

Another group missed out the crags and struck north earlier to meet the winding path just to the south of Keiller Hill.

Eventually the entire party met up again at the well known Privvy’s Prap monument, the group photo was taken at this point.

Leaving the monument the party made its way towards Newtyle, at the point where the path met the old railway line the party spilt into two, one walking the railway path in a northerly direction and the other the opposite.

All walkers were soon enjoying a drink and their chosen soup and sandwich combos at the Commercial Hotel, the staff went out of their way to make the group feel welcome and both the food and service were excellent.