Today was the turn of Glen Ogle. Ailsa Snaith and I both went, so photos are a joint effort. It was both soggy and sunny. A real Scottish weather day!

The name Glen Ogle may come from the Gaelic gleann-eagal, ‘valley of dread’. The Glen was once a Highlands Drover’s road and the route of one of General Wade’s military roads – built to allow easier passage for the British Army into and around physically and politically hostile terrain around the Highlands – the remains of which are still discernible (I think we have a photo of one of the tiny little bridges perhaps built around 1750 but not sure – Ailsa is looking it up!). If it was as wet as today, I think the soldiers would all end up with trench foot! The Callander & Oban Railway company was formed in 1864 with the objective of linking Callander to the west coast port of Oban over challenging terrain, particularly at Glen Ogle.

At one stage it was necessary to construct two viaducts, the first of only three arches, the second of twelve (we got a sunny photo of that!), which are in rock-faced stone. Some time after, a land-slip closed the line and it was decided not to re-open it. The viaducts were undamaged and are still in decent condition to the non-expert eye, although no trains just walkers and bikers now! Few buildings but I have included a link to the old map from the National Libraries site. Looks like the old Military Road used to be far more prominent then! https://maps.nls.uk/view/74428171 Plenty of wildlife. We harassed a newt, a beetle and a frog.