So Long Tulloch......Day 12

 Our last morning waking up at Tulloch Farm. It was so good to be back and we had absolutely amazing time.It really is a magical place to stay, with the most wonderful hosts.The perfect base from which to explore the Highlands with all it's splendour and magnificent Wildlife.

We couldn't leave without saying a last goodbye to Shadow, Neville and Georgie and of course to those wonderful hosts(friends) Margo & Robert.

If you want to know more about the farm, their website link is below.Just don't all book it at once so I can't get back in 😉

https://www.tullochfarm.co.uk/

 Last photo of Tulloch Farm before we left.

 We weren't driving all 7 hours back to Lincolnshire today as we were going to 'overnight it' in Stirling. It meant we could take our time and stop along the way to admire the scenery, especially as our route home took us through Glencoe to Crianlarich and Callander.

 We continued on to Callander as it is always a nice place to stretch your legs and browse the shops. Little did we know that there was a race on and the place was busier than we've ever seen it.The main car park was full, mainly of runner's and stewards so we had to park along the river. At least it meant that it wasn't far to look for birds.

 A Robin sang for us and a couple of Jackdaws looked at us in anticipation of food and on the water there were Mute Swans, Mallards and Goosanders.

 Goosanders on the River Teith.

 Arriving at our final stop, Stirling Travelodge we settled in for the night and thought of the fantastic wildlife we had seen during our last 11 days in the Highlands. Tomorrow we would be back in Lincolnshire.

Photos by Stuart Pike & Majella Fox 

Thank you to everyone who took the time to read any of my latest blogs about our Scotland trip. I really hope you enjoyed the photos and stories, and a look around the Scottish Highlands with us,

Hopefully it won't be in the too distant future when I do the next blogpost.

Thanks for reading.Stay safe and get out to connect with Nature.

 

 

Cascades & Serenades..........Day 8

 After yesterday's exciting adventure we decided to have a more relaxed day today, so it is going to be a shorter, more wildlife free blogpost than previous ones. If you're concerned about the title, don't worry as it's not me doing the serenading 😂

 We had a little lie in and planned to spend the afternoon travelling just South of Fort William to Kinlochleven. While Majella was getting ready I had time to go out and have another chat with Georgie, Shadow & Neville.

 It's less than an hour from Roybridge down through Fort William to Kinlochleven and the last 15 minutes involves driving along the shore of Loch Leven to get to the East end of the loch where the village is.

 We parked up at the Ice Climbing centre and popped over the road where we had an enjoyable meal at the Highland Getaway Tavern and the headed for the Grey Mare's Tail Waterfall to walk it off.

Photo in Kinlochleven

 From the car park, it's only a short walk but does include a few steps. Grey Mare's Tail Waterfall can be seen through the trees as you follow the path down.

 About half way along the trail you reach the bridge over the brook, modelled here by Majella. From here the track turns left and just round the corner to the falls.

 The falls drop around 40 feet into an Alpine like gorge. You can see the cascading water well enough from the path but if you want a closer look at the abyss it requires some plank walking along the edge of the river. If you see the 4th photo of this sequence, you will see me stuck between a plank and a hard place(a rock). With my lessened mobility I couldn't reach the rock and then I couldn't turn around to come back up the plank. I felt a bit like a cat that had got himself stuck up in a tree, but Fire Brigade Marshall Majella came to my rescue and pulled me back 😂

Slow-mo video clip of the falls.

 On the way back, a separate trail heads right from the bridge and up the steep side of the hill to the top of the falls. We managed to get quite a way up the path but regretted every step lol For more adventurous people you can join the via ferrata climbing challenge up the waterfall.

View looking down on Kinlochleven.

 My knees had definitely had enough by now so we headed back down to the car. On the way back we were serenaded by a Robin. 

 A much shorter blog as promised 😉 and unfortunately no trail cam out tonight as it poured with rain all night.Tomorrow though will be back to searching for Scotland's amazing wildlife as we head to the windy wet West coast.

Photos by Stuart Pike & Majella Fox

Thank you to everyone who takes time out of their busy lives to have a quick browse of my blogs. I hope you find some of it interesting and maybe useful for your own trips.

 

Scotland 2020 - Day 6 - Farewell

  Sadly our last day in the Highlands and so with a 10hr drive back South the next day we stayed fairly close to the farm.We had a short drive along Glen Spean and then up the Great Glen.

  A86 Glen Spean views

  We headed back and up to Fort Augustus to look for Red Grouse on the moors.We saw a couple fly by as well as a hunting Kestrel.

  No matter what the weather or time of year it is there is always a beautiful light in Scotland unlike anywhere else we've been.

  Loch Lochy

  We stopped at the Commando Memorial monument at Spean Bridge to take in our last views of the Nevis range.

  The Commando memorial dedicated to the British Commandos of WW2 

  We returned to the far to pack things for our departure the next morning but still put out the trail cam for one last session.The Pine Marten must've been watching and waiting in the shadows as less than 5 minutes after setting up the camera and going indoors the Marten appeared.It's earliest arrival time so far, 7.30pm so we were able to watch from the kitchen window.

  Some more trail cam footage of this wonderful elusive mammal.

  I also finally recorded proof of our apple thief lol 

                              

  The trail cam was still set up in the morning while we finished packing and picked up some of the garden birds.

  The Blackbirds
                              

  The Robins

  With a heavy heart we left to head back down to Lincolnshire.Hopefully we will get the chance to return again.

   

  Since returning home we have received the devastating news from Margo & Robert that my favourite boy Tug had to be put to sleep.We are so thankful we got to share part of our lives with him and spend one last time with him again.He was such a beautiful and gentle soul who will be sadly missed. RIP Tug  😪     

                                                                                      

  Thank you to all who have read any of my blogposts and watched the clips.I hope you have enjoyed the journey with us.

  Bye til next time, Beannachd Leat 🙏

  

Scotland 2020 - Day 4 - Eagles, Martens & Potter

  For day 4 we headed to the stunning West coast along the A830, "The Road To The Isles". Our first stop was Loch Shiel and the Glenfinnan Monument and Viaduct.

  Glenfinnan viaduct made more famous from been used as the route to Hogwarts in Harry Potter.

  The Glenfinnan Monument, a memorial to the people who fought in the Jacobite risings in 1745.

  Loch Shiel with a handy bench to view the scenery(if you have wellies)

 

  To the left of the monument entrance there is a boardwalk that takes you around a marsh and woodland area so we had a quick stroll along it til the boardwalk became part of the Loch.

  Spring was most certainly in the Highlands as Common Frogs were everywhere along with clusters of frog spawn.

  Back in the Monument car park we had the pleasure of this Robin's company.

  We continued West til we reached the scenic Loch Eilt with it's small islands including Eilean Na Moine which was used as Dumbledore's grave (yes this post does seem to becoming a Harry Potter location tour) 

  I tried to get a photo quickly as a hail storm began and hurt like hell lol 

  Loch nan Uamh was always worthy of a stop in the layby as we had spotted numerous Great Northern Divers here before.Today we had Cormorants and a few Seals on the distant rocks. While scanning the water for life this Song Thrush appeared out of the scrub nearby.

  The next place worth exploring is one of our favourite places.As you turn off the A830 to Arisaig there is a single track road to Rhu.A fabulous little road that takes in all the inlets letting you scan for waders and ending with a stunning view across to Rum and Eigg.

  It's an amazing place to stop and sit in the car having lunch while watching the wildlife around the West coast.A Curlew foraged among the seaweed, a Grey Heron fished from the rocks and a Hooded Crow using it's high intelligence to hover in the wind with a shellfish, dropping it on to the rocky beach below to be rewarded with a small meal.

  Grey Heron fishing the bay.

  A pair of glorious Stonechats flew from the field behind to land in the scrub before us.

  Male Stonechat

  I usually look for Raptors along this road too as there are usually Buzzards and Kestrels nearby but I didn't expect the flying barn door to appear from over the hill and glide calmly by us.

  White-tailed Eagle near Arisaig.

  What a spectacular sight :) 

  We made it into Mallaig just as the wind had blown a snowstorm in from the sea, obscuring the view over to Rum.

                             

  Staying in the car we watched the waves crashing into the shore and waited for the Snow to die down before walking into the harbour.

  Herring and Black-backed Gulls filled the air and Eiders and a solitary Black Guillemot drifted on the undulating sea.

  Black Guillemot

  Fishermen were working on their boats anchored to the harbour walls which had interested the local Grey Seal popuation.
  Photo by Majella Fox

  As more snow was forecast to hit the West coast we decided it was time to head back and beat the coming storm.
  Tug and Shadow were waiting on our arrival back to the farm.
Tug who we sadly lost this week.

  Shadow

  The trail camera was not surprisingly put out again but placed further up the lawn and nearer the cabin in hope of getting views from the kitchen.
  The Pine Marten didn't disappoint.

  Later during the night you can see the Snow arrived, though the Rabbits didn't seem too bothered as they made off with all the apples lol 

                             

  Thanks again for joining us on our trip in Scotland.I hope you are enjoying me sharing about Scotland's amazing wildlife and scenery.

Day 5 is all about the Snow and a train. See you then :)