Scotland's perfect point-to-point hike

I do like an elegant walk. Meaning a hike with a bit of structure to it, rather than a stroll with a silver-topped cane and poodle. So point-to-point, rather than out and back or a round trip, is always preferred. Ideally, each end of the walk should be interesting, getting from one to the other should present a bit of a challenge and overall the walk should have, well, a point.

Add to that departing from Corrour (Britain's highest railway station and so remote it doesn't even have a road) and arriving at Dalwhinnie (Britain's highest whisky distillery, with its own obvious attractions) and you have a very classy route indeed. I enlisted my walking group of three friends, plus a spaniel called Flash, to accompany me. And for a final baroque touch, I decided to take Otto, our mountain-hardened miniature poodle.

If there's one thing our group has discovered over a decade of these little annual expeditions, it's that an elegant plan doesn't always count for much. Altitude sickness and howling furies had prevented us from putting theory into practice on our last two walks in the Moroccan High Atlas and the supposedly gentle uplands of the Italian Monti Sibillini. Would we achieve our objective this time?

One of the beauties of a point-to-point route is that it's about completing the walk rather than the attainment of, say, a given summit. And it would be hard to imagine Fat Bill, who is not only our mountain chef but something of an authority on whisky (and most kinds of intoxicating liquor), failing to reach Dalwhinnie.

Everything began remarkably well. Compared with the purgatorial suspension of civilisation that moderately priced air travel often entails, Euston station is a delight. No security or queuing and our two dogs – the highly trained Flash and the much-ridiculed Otto – were positively welcomed. Not being in a rush – sleeper there and back meant less time off work and felt like two days gained – we were even able to enjoy a drink in the agreeable lounge.

We'd expected the train itself to be just about tolerable, but it's much better than that – the beds are comfortable and big enough, the cabins clean and the service excellent. We fell asleep near Crewe, soothed by a glass or two of anticipatory whisky and the gentle motion of the sleeping car which soon brought manly dreams of Buchan and Bond.

Fort Knox repairs closing 2 hiking trails - WAVE 3 News ...

ELIZABETHTOWN, KY (AP) - Two hiking trail systems near Fort Knox have closed and could remain closed for years at the installation makes repairs and upgrades to its rail network.

Criss Helmkamp, cultural resources manager at Fort Knox, said the Bridges to the Past and the Tioga Falls trail system were closed last week as timber clearing began in the area, which could be a safety hazard to hikers.

He told The News-Enterprise that construction could take as long as 36 months and the trails could be closed the entire time.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved.