Wednesday 3.5.2017

Liked it so much we did it twice today, went for a walk that is.......

Bennachie irresistible this afternoon, on the way home from Inverurie (well only a slight detour). The woods tranquil

with only the sound of the beck, or burn, tumbling down into the Gadie Burn, as in

"O gin I were whaur Gadie rins,
Whaur Gadie rins, whaur Gadie rins,
O gin I were whaur Gadie rins
At the back o’ Bennachie.
Aince mair to hear the wild birds’ sang,
To wander birks an’ braes amang
Wi’ friends and fav’rites left sae lang
At the back o’ Bennachie.
O gin I were whaur Gadie rins,
Whaur Gadie rins, whaur Gadie rins,
O gin I were whaur Gadie rins
At the Back o’ Bennachie.

How mony a day in blithe Springtime,
How mony a day in Summer’s prime
I’ve saunterin’ whiled awa the time
On the heights o’ Bennachie.
But fortune’s flowers wi’ thorns grow rife,
An’ wealth is won wi’ toil an’ strife;
Gie me ae day o’ youthfu’ life
At the back o’ Bennachie.
O gin I were whaur Gadie rins,
Whaur Gadie rins, whaur Gadie rins,
O gin I were whaur Gadie rins
At the Back o’ Bennachie."


Up above the tree line it was the perfect afternoon, warm sun, a cooling breeze and fantastic views from the top of Oxen Craig.




Not a soul about at the top: sometimes it can feel that Bennachie is there as a personal playground. Without the dogs it was possible to sit there for a little while and survey the scene without being pestered to keep going but then felt duty bound to have a quick trot round the woods with them once home and hey...the coos are `oot!