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.