A BIT of get up and go is required for a walk – just ask Tom Morton, one of a number of walk guides for this year’s Cowalfest. The walking festival is making a welcome return in September (12th to 16th) after a four-year hiatus due to the pandemic …and some rotten weather last October!
“A good walk isn’t just about the physical and mental benefits,” explained Tom. “It satisfies our thirst for knowledge and adventure. Getting out into nature and experiencing the wildlife and history of Scotland up close and personal can be inspiring.
Tom, based in Dunoon, knows more than most about adventure having previously served on board a destroyer in the Royal Navy as a weapons officer. He now heads up pioneering digital health firm Archangel headquartered in Glasgow.
“Life is a learning curve and you always learn something new on a hike. There’s new views to be had around every corner and it can be especially inspiring when it involves the wonderful scenery of Cowal in Argyll.
“This is where the Highlands start with landscapes that take your breath away and, whilst we may not have the munros of further north, there’s many an exciting walk to be had on this peninsula,” added Tom who will be guiding ramblers around the intriguingly titled ‘Clans, Victorians, Massacres and Regeneration” walk on day one of Cowalfest.
Tom explained: “We start out at the ruins of the original Toward Castle, scene of some vicious clan rivalry and gruesome goings on in the dim and distant past.
“A steep woodland walk unveils a Victorian keep and ornamental Chinese lakes before taking in the flora, fauna and spectacular vistas around the Firth of Clyde across from Bute, Arran and the Ayrshire coastline.
“The final descent takes in the Bullwood Forest and Bishops Glen reservoir overlooking Dunoon. This is where the regeneration comes in and the establishment of the town as a hub for outdoor sports.
“It’s a nine mile, five hour, grade 3 trek that really is an education and you can’t ask for much more from a walk!” added Tom who has surmounted many peaks in his time including Mount Tumbledown on the Falkland Islands in 2019.
With special interest walks and talks covering geology, art, nature and foraging and a range of guided walks to suit all abilities, Cowalfest is a learning curve in every way.
Tom concluded: “It promises to be a fantastic festival and a great way to explore what Cowal has to offer.”
For more details and to book places on any of the planned walks and events visit www.wildaboutargyll.co.uk/cowalfest.
