Wednesday 26.6.2019

A peerless early summer evening. Warm sun in a clear blue sky particularly welcome after two or three days shrouded in mist and rain.
The woods positively glowing,

and the cow parsley shining, providing perfect stalking cover.

Luckily, the weather was similarly kind last week on Lewis, especially on our final day. Never as cold as it had been the week before round Lochinver, it was relatively calm as we sailed out of Ullapool on Wednesday evening,

arriving at a campsite quite late but in this part of the world at this time of year that doesn`t pose a problem.



Plenty to explore: an iron age village, a large Broch, a Norse mill, Black Houses,

an inspiring lighthouse (have a bit of a thing about lighthouses - magnificent)

and of course the famous Callanish stones.

All fascinating sites, with plenty of room to roam across the stony, sparse, largely treeless land softened by the many lochs and lochans

and surrounded by the most beautiful beaches. In fact spent most of that last day of brilliant sunshine, walking along a clifftop quite stunned by the beauty of it all though also quite aware that on a short, dark winter`s day it wouldn`t look so inviting - still wild and beautiful no doubt but less accessible!

Reluctant to leave on Saturday morning: will return!

Sunday 16.6.2019

A green and gentle June evening, warm sun, refreshing breeze, birds a-tweeting and carolling,scents of newly cut grass, blue and white sky. Quite perfect for walking and musing.

The general lushness of our woods just now was especially noticeable after three days away on the other side of the country. Mountains, moorland and the "cnocs and lochans" of Sutherland. It is the most extraordinary landscape, a geologists dream, described as
"a glacially-scoured lowland area which displays alternating roches moutonnées (cnoc: a small rock hill in Gaelic) and eroded hollows often containing small lakes (lochans)".
We`d thought to do some scrambling, possibly stopping at Stac Pollaidh but while the informative sign showed what it might look like on a good day

our view of it wasn`t quite so exciting.

Nevertheless we walked a little way up the midge-infested path, taking in a view or two as we emerged from the trees

but then scuttling back to the car and driving on.

So it was to be a low-level few days but none the worse for that: a beautifully situated campsite at Clachtoll*, a fascinating Broch to explore **,the long walk into Sandwood Bay *** (into the teeth of the freezing northerly wind which was a key feature of our stay),the discovery of the rather wonderful pies at Lochinver Larder **** and a visit to Highland Stoneware ***** which is a business with a sense of humour as well as some very collectable pottery.







* http://www.clachtollbeachcampsite.co.uk

** http://clachtoll.aocarchaeology.com

*** https://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/kinlochbervie/sandwoodbay/index.html

**** http://www.piesbypost.co.uk/lochlarder

***** https://www.highlandstoneware.com

And next week, gluttons for punishment, we`re due to get the tent out again. :)

Sunday 02.06.2019

Late Spring seems to have segued into early summer pretty seamlessly if this evening`s conditions were anything to go by. This morning`s rain eventually dispersed leaving a warm quite humid atmosphere heavy with scents.
Dramatic skies, a symphony of bird song and a gentle breeze stirring everything into the perfect summer`s evening. June appears to have arrived.

Sunday 19.05.2019

A really beautiful late Spring day once the mist and low grey cloud dispersed. Sun riding high and warm,trees in their Sunday best,

birds, butterflies, bees, ..........and yet,and yet.........have just finished an extraordinary book* and suffice to say it certainly put a different perspective on our surroundings and gave pause for thought as we walked round.
Not that the dogs paused for anything, even old dog no.1 was doing a little frolicking and a pheasant and a squirrel kitten had very narrow escapes.

*Wilding by Isabella Tree
(www.thebookgourmand.blogspot.com)

Wednesday 15.05.2019

A spur of the moment climb up to Oxen Crag yesterday evening after supper,inspired by the lovely weather we`ve been getting (it did get warmer)
Not quite such a still clear evening as we have been having but we were climbing up as the sun set which made for bonny views.
Bennachie is just such a handy little mountain!

Saturday 11.05.2019

Deceptively bright, sunny days, deceptive because of a demon wind that bites your ears and snaps at your nose.
Looks glorious though - fresh green foliage, deep yellow coconut-scented gorse,woolly clouds,heaped up, suggesting their own stories.....and the birds! Four buzzards at the top of the hill just now, wheeling over freshly seeded fields, lapwings rolling and diving,the ubiquitous skylark overhead - it`s all a heady mix called Spring.
But just a tad warmer would be nice. :)