Forfar loch

You won't believe it, but we had yet another weather-perfect day for our walk!  We had fairly loose arrangements around the travelling, yet they all worked out very well indeed.

This is another circular walk, but deffo on level ground, and just under the three miles.

We stopped to take pictures of some of the flowers,

and, even found a sign for us that said 'Forfar Witches'!  Hmm, someone suggested this might refer to us - cheek!

One of us was going away the next day and needed to get organised, so they sped off into the distance.  The laggers wandered behind and caught them sitting on a bench, overlooking the lovely, water - it looked so inviting ...  until we saw the green stuff floating about on it, that is!

Have you ever seen so many swans?

After the walk we decided that as we are so near to Letham Crafts we ought to make the short drive over there.  Also, as it was lunchtime, a call into Trumptington Forge Tea Room to eat. We do love it here, the service is polite, swift and friendly, and the food is gorgeous - especially the home baking!  They also have a mini farm there, with ducks, geese, horses and this handsome chap - who seemed to make such a racket whenever Jean D was nearby!

Then some of us made the drive over to the craft shop, and didn't spend too much money ..... but, we all said we will be back!

** NEXT WEEK**

We thought we might re-visit the Knockie and Cargill's Leap at Blairgowrie - it rained so much last time that we didn't go to the top and, if the weather holds out, we should be able to.

One suggestion has been that we start at the car park and walk up through the town, then after viewing the Knockie, we return this way - it's shorter for those with 'knees' and 'backs'!

Meet at the shop at 9.30 am, and the 'glenners' will make their own way 

Please let Jeanette or Jean D know if you're coming from Kirkmichael,

and Karen know if you're in the Glen

The Hermitage 18 June 2010

This must have been the hottest day yet for one of our walks, this week at the stunning Hermitage, along the A9 north.

As Perthshire is known as Big Tree Country, we were not surprised to come across this one, which at 61.3 meters, is a contender for Britain's tallest tree, no less.

I crouched as low as I could, with Jean D's camera, and still couldn't get in all the height of this Douglas fir!

It was a gentle, circular walk, by the river and through the woods, and so pretty.

Can't remember what the joke was here, except my pals were worried I would need to make several 'calls' to the bushes if I continued to gulp down the water.

After looking at the waterfall we climbed up to the bridge, which crosses the Black Linn Waterfall, just enjoying the lovely sunshine, and laughing along with Jean D.  To stunned silence she told us she is a nobody.

Then quipped 'And, nobody's perfect!'  You are, Jean, you are!

The sign says to go in, to push this door and slide the next ..........

Ooh, the views from the Ossian's Hall are spectacular

An early lunch at the picnic table in the car park, and then we went over to Birnam.  After taking a look at the Beatrix Potter exhibition there, and the garden.  We then walked along the River Tay.

We found the great Birnam Oak from Shakespeare's Scottish Play.  We had left the cameras in the car so didn't take any pictures.  Suffice it to say that the five of us linked our hands around it and didn't meet!  It just would have needed one more person, and we might have done it.

** Next Week **

We are off to Forfar, to walk around the Forfar Loch.  We shall meet at the Forfar Leisure Centre at 10.30, so should meet up earlier at the shop, and those in the Glen will go straight there - watch your emails for further details.

Dunkeld - Friday 11 June

Well, what a beautiful, hot day we had at a town I had never really explored before.  We started out at the car park, and waited for those who had a longer journey, to arrive.

Then we set off, and then Rhoda realised she had not put a parking ticket on her car!  This was after she had realised she only had one sock with her, but luckily found a pop-sock to put on the other foot.

Faye, Jean D's friend who was visiting from Australia, was super-equipped, as she had just walked England's coast to coast walk, on an organised trip with her Australian friends.

Very soon along the path we reached the Cathedral, which is beautifully kept and , is set alongside the river, so is very peaceful.  After some explored the inside of the Cathedral we meandered along the pathway, stopping briefly to watch some sheep shearers at work.  We assumed they are a travelling group of shearers, as the pens which led the sheep up to the shearing platform were on wheels.  The fleeces were rather large and the sacks they were put into were huge blocks of plastic.

We found the famous Parent Larch which is said to have produced the seeds for larches on landed estates, for centuries.

Eventually, we found ourselves at the Dunkeld Hilton where we decided to stop for a 'morning coffee.'  Well, the size of the coffee cups - they were as big as soup bowls!  And, all served on the patio, overlooking a rolling lawn, leading down to the river again.  We hopefully didn't disturb the fishermen there - they looked so peaceful. We were provided with a map by a young man who, we all agreed, we would be quite happy for our daughter to bring home - he was really pleasant and helpful.  When we left there, several of us were waiting for others who, we thought, had gone to look at the marquee, however, a mobile phone call revealed they were in fact up the hill, and waiting for us!

But, the maps didn't do us much good.  As we climbed up to see the King's View, we couldn't find it, or which way we should be headed - what a laugh, we were lost!  But common sense prevailed and we just made our way downwards, back toward the hotel, and re-traced our steps back to the path.  This time we walked on the lower path, next to the river and just enjoyed the sun, peace and good company.  Thanks ladies!

I didn't take my camera, and others have been busy or unwell, but I'll add pictures as they reach me.

** FRIDAY 18 JUNE's walk **

Slight change in timings - we are going to The Hermitage, MAP here and we'll meet in the 

HERMITAGE CAR PARK at 10 o'clock.

However, there will be a meeting place at The Shop at 9.30 am for the usual transport

There is nowhere for coffee, cakes or lunch, so please bring some with you.

Right Ladies (and gentlemen) I tend to tell some lies so must apologise for that first and foremost.

Only 4 of us turned up today for the best ever walk so far. 

Susan, Gillian, Jean I and me, Jean D, had a wonderful time in the Bluebell Woods walk.

 

We parked the car in the Dalmore Hotel car park and crossed the road to the path into the Bluebell Woods. Spotted some Comfrey and Honeysuckle as we walked to the White Loch where a pair of swan were swanning around some coots and we think some moorhens. Bogbean, Irises, Parsleys and grasses were at the edge of the loch. 

We met lots of dogs taking their owners for a walk and trying to persuade them into the water where they said it was lovely but none of the owners took up the offer.Cowards - the lot of them!! 

At the bridge we saw Mr & Mrs Mallard showing off their little babies and maybe looking for some tasty nibbles but we had forgotten the breadcrumbs. "Sorry, ducks!"

 

It was a beautiful day as we sauntered past Loch Fingask - only one boat out today and no sign of any Ospreys. Up and on through the field where we spotted lots of wild flowers - White Campion (Not Corn cockles as I said. Lie no 1), fumitory,gorse, forget-me-nots, speedwell, hacquetia, epipactus and lots more.

 

And then we entered the Darroch Woods. Darroch meaning Oak so there were lots of Oak,Elder, Hawthorn in full bloom, Rowans just coming out in flower and Willow and Beech. 

And Wow!! All you folks who did not come along you missed so much - Bluebells by the thousands and Blinks and Ferns and Stitchwort (Not snow in summer - lie no 2). We saw Blackbirds, Chaffinches and Tits and there were birds singing their hearts out to us galore! ( Martin we needed you)

 

We decided not to go out onto the road and break the wonderful ambience so we just continued round the woods and back to the start and back the way we came in by the two lochs.

Went for lunch at the Dalmore and had a lovely chat about all we had seen.

** NEXT WEEK **

 

Decided that next week we shall go to Dunkeld and do the Larch Walk.meeting at 9.30 outside the Kirkmichael Village shop. Hope this is okay with everyone and hope for a bigger turnout next week with the same weather as today.

MacMillan Walk - a success!

Wow! Isn't Jeanette clever? She took these pictures while we were on our MacMillan walk, last Friday, then made a collage in Picasa.  As you can see, the weather held out for us, though it was not sunny, the rain more or less stayed away.

Some sheep, looking at us, looking at them

There were about twelve of us who started off, then, Kate arrived by car.  Not unusual, you might think, but then she unloaded the pushchair and her grandson, and proceeded to take part in the walk!  There's no
stopping us, is there!

You can just see Kate sans pushchair in the middle of the group

We were joined on this walk by Martin Robinson, a local man who is renowned for his knowledge of plants and birds.  Martin was kind enough to stop and show us lots of plants, that we might otherwise have missed.

Above is one he showed us, that is a carnivorous plant, and I can't remember the name of!  I'm sure someone will let me know in the comments box below - please!

The scenery was simply stunning

Jean D gave me a list of the birds we heard on our way, that included the Willow Warbler, Redstart, Tree Pipit, Crossbills, Coal Tit, Great Spotted Woodpecker and a Cuckoo.  Wow, what a list!

As you'll see from the sidebar, we smashed our £100 target, and then some.  Everyone was encouraged to email the Jusgiving page to their friends and family, and I know I have more people intending to sponsor us (one of my cousins is currently taking part a sponsored walk around Spain, and will donate on his return!)

On our return to the village, we enjoyed some cakes which a couple of us provided, and had a welcome cup of tea or coffee.  We have to thank Martin for adding so much to our walk, and the people from the Kirkmichael Village shop, for allowing us to use them as a base, especially Sally, Marie and Hannah.

** Next week's walk **

... is around Ardblair again, and this time, hopefully the bluebells will still be out.  Meet at the shop at 10.00 am and at Bridge of Cally at 10.15 am.

We will be parking at Dalmore car park, and return there for our lunch.