Adventure Blog Scotland | Land » 2009

Exploring Uist

January 31, 2009 on 1:50 pm | In Hillwalking | No Comments

I find it is only when you spend time to get under the skin of a place do you start to discover all its querks and fobals. I have spent time here in Uist but usually I am working and squash the exploring round the work. This time I am down working but I have some time for me.

I went to a great lecture this week from Tracey Begg from Scottish Natural Heritage about the insects of the Outer Hebrides. It was facinating and I was interested in the Great Yellow Bumble Bee (bombus distinuendus). It lives in adapted mouse nests in colinies of 20 - 50 bee. It only has a small foothold left and amazingly I realised they visit our back garden.

I have been exploring the machair near Borve Guest House by just walking out of the front door. The slow undulations bring unexpected corners, where you discover small flocks of birds sheltering from the wind. On the beach there are huge piles of seaweed and I was suprised to see flies even in the middle of the winter. I would be doing you a dis-service if I didn’t mention the smell but won’t linger on it.

I am off to walk the coast of Eriskay when the rain stops and tommorrow I am hoping to walk into the back of Hecla to the lighthouse.

Tim Pickering
http://www.canoehebrides.com
Living in the world's biggest adventure playground - The Outer Hebrides CanoeHebrides.com - Sea kayaking Expeditions BikeHebrides.com -Quality Mountain Bike Hire

A Winter Drive Through the Highlands

January 17, 2009 on 10:13 pm | In Uncategorized | No Comments

We drove off the ferry in Uig on to Skye just as the sun was coming up. The purr of the Jaguar’s engine pulling the car quickly and effortlessly over the island. The light dusting of snow on the Black Cullin as we hurled passed.

Over the beautiful curve of the Skye Bridge and on past Eilean Donan Castle. Etched from the battle scene in Highlander. Prompting poor Sean Connery impersonations.

Up Glen Sheil the outside temperature falling fast; minus 6, minus 8 and the turn to head over to Glen Garry, here minus 11.

As we crested the hill the vista burst upon us and we were forced to stop to marvel in the view.

View West

As the journey headed down into Glen Garry we fell into the Scotch Mist and the world became white with haw frost on all the trees. Almost a the dam we were drawn to a halt as the sun burned through and it was like a scene from an Autherial painting.

Loch Garry

Glen Coe was amazing, and the White Corries majestic but it willhas to be hard to beat the descent through the mist to see the ‘Lady of the Lake’.