CHRISTMAS FOR THE BUN CREW

So to the last walk of 2014.

 As it was December, it was time for Christmas Lunch and a short walk. As with last year we went to Reelig Glen and then on to the Bunchrew House Hotel on the shores of  the Beauly Firth. However, instead of doing the same walk as last year we went up the hill. 

Here we are kicking through the fallen leaves like little children.                        

 There were some strange sights in the woods - apart from us, that is.

There was this bridge or seat, or perhaps it was a raft washed up from the river. Who knows?

Well, perhaps the people living in the gingerbread house knew. We couldn't find them, so we couldn't ask.

If Hansel and Gretel were involved, it was little wonder that they had lost their way. The signposts were not exactly the most helpful! 

Just to prove it was winter, there was a little snow lying about. although this was only in a small area - perhaps around the Ice Queen's lair!

You can see a theme beginning to develop here can't you?

You can't!

Oh yes you can!!

There was supposed to be a viewpoint according to the map we saw. This was the best view we could get. Perhaps the forest was enchanted.

 Certainly Maureen, Sue and Sharon seemed to be in a dreamworld.

Soon everybody was posing.

 On we wandered through the trees, until we got to a bridge that wasn't there. There must have been a troll living underneath it or perhaps too many Billy Goats had trip-trapped across it causing it to fall. In any event we had to turn back. For some that was more awkward than others.

However, we made it back to the cars despite having left a trail of bread that the birds had eaten. We were soon at the Fairy Castle.

Inside, the fairies had set out a sumptuous feast for us all.

 It wasn't long before we were digging in as if we hadn't seen food since breakfast.

 Despite driving and so having no drink, Hugh still managed to look like Old King Cole.

 Janet, meanwhile, looks as if she was still trying to digest the Brussels Sprouts.

Fe Fi Fo Fum Jimmy was used to giant sized portions and soon took to eating the table decorations.

 Literally,roses between two thorns.

Sandra managed to turn down more demon drink with her eyes closed.

Charlie gets more than he bargained for after he pulled his cracker.

After lunch it was time to retire to the lounge and sit in front of the fire while Secret Santa dished out all sorts of goodies.

Susan looks delighted with her presents.

Hugh and Maureen look on in awe as the waitress really gets into the spirit of things to tell a ghost story.

 I get involved in a bit of rocking around the Christmas Tree.

 Sandra is not sure how she managed to get Humpty Dumpty in her stocking. 

Charlie is convinced it was Sue that got him the nice socks!

 Meanwhile Dave has had enough ho ho ho for one year.

That was Christmas and that was the year that was. 2014 saw some great walks and good times.

Let's hope that 2015 is just as good for our walking and camaraderie. 

Happy New Year one and all.  

DINOSAURS IN THE MIST

As is our wont, we went away for the weekend in November. This time we stayed at the Tomich Hotel, west of Beauly and not too far from home. 

Before we got to the Hotel on the Friday, some of us played 9 holes of golf at Aigas. Jimmy kept some of the scores and eventually decided that he had won. He got some chocolate for that but I don't recall seeing any of it shared out.

Sharon said I had to say well done to Jimmy for winning.

After a pleasant soup, sandwich and cake lunch it was off to the hotel.

 We were soon into our cosy rooms, except for Susan and Robin who had to wait for the plumber to get their toilet to work and at our age that is probably the most important facility.

We had a fine bar supper that evening, which everyone seemed to enjoy - even those sitting next to me. After drinks and games it was off to bed to prepare for the first walk of the weekend.

Saturday started very mistily. Even the bulls were fading away in the field.

Tomich is what is known as a Conservation Village. That means the likes of Jim Smith have left the old stuff and put in some pretend old lamps; viz below.

It has some very quaint old stuff and here is Maureen outside the Post Office.

Here is the Hotel. The main entrance faces the street as you would expect, but the west elevation is quite grand - probably a schizophrenic architect.

 There were some signs appearing before we left that the mist might lift leaving us with a stunning day and, indeed, that is the way it turned out. 

We were soon off, and found our way to the Dog Falls car park in Glen Affric, which must be one of the most scenic glens in the country.

After milling around looking at signs we were on our way.

 It is not far to the Falls and that little walk brought the first of endless opportunities to take photos of trees and cobwebs. 

And,of course, the falls.

 Some of us explored a second viewpoint, whilst Hugh seemed content to stay with the ladies - well he is the youngest of us males. 

There was also a bridge and so a bridge photo.

There was a lot of mist and tree photo opportunities too and I make no apologies for shoving them in at random. It was a stunning day. 

We stopped here for a little while as the views were superb and there was space for us all to get a good look and to stand and stare.

 Here are Sandra, Susan and Maureen doing just that. 

And more staring.

 And some wistful staring.

Some staring at wood.

 More mist, trees and water. 

We soon got up to higher ground and a wider track.

 

 The Angel of the North.

The view down Glen Affric to the west.

 Us at the viewpoint looking down the Glen.

From this stunning spot it was a short walk back to the cars and lunch, which was a bit like watching vultures rather than an elegant picnic in the woods.

After our lunch, we set off for another walk! Yes, twice in one day. It has been some time since that has happened!

We went further up Glen Affric to the end of the tarred road to walk to the little viewpoint and then along the riverside. Not too far and very pleasant.

First uphill to the viewpoint.

And, what a view there was.

Then it was down the hill to the side of the river.

Dave tried to hold up the trees.

Another group photo.

From the river to the cars and thence to the hotel after a fine day's walking in some wonderful weather among some great scenery.

Once we got to the hotel, it was time for tea and birthday cake for Dave and Mac, who were or are soon to be 70!

As you can see the number of candles was so great that the camera could hardly cope with the brightness.

There was even a photo of the old timers on the cake.

Poor Hugh got Mac's face to lick. History does not record how Mac felt about that.

Later, when the boys and Mac and Dave (and Janet) watched the rugby in the bar, the other ladies played beetle in the lounge.

Then it was time for more food.

After dinner and some highly competitive quiz games it was time for bed.

Sunday dawned (well I assume it did, but I didn't see the sun actually rise) dry and still a bit misty. 

We had time to do a bit of exploring of the village whilst bills were paid and cars packed.

Astonishingly, Tomich is famous for being a place where a dog was invented.

It is not quite so famous for what must be the smallest library in Scotland.

Then some poor old guy, lonely and forlorn and carrying a balloon which seemed to represent happier times gone by, was spied in  the street. Well actually it was only Dave who along with Mac gave their balloons to some passing children. Luckily their parents were with them and it was quite alright.

Finally it was into the cars then heading west for the Plodda Falls car park.

Here, we gathered round....

....for a lecture from our leader for the weekend.

I can't actually remember anything that he said before we set off into the great forest.

The forest was great, indeed. The Douglas Firs, which are among the tallest in the UK, were planted by Lord Tweedmouth in the 1850's. They are quite magnificent and a testimony to the breathtaking vision and to some extent, arrogance of landowners such as Lord Tweedmouth. Tomich exists as a village because Lord Tweedmouth felt the scattered cottages of his tenants spoiled the countryside around his new home -Guisachan House. So he built the village and moved the tenants there whether they liked it or not.

However, back to the trees for now.

They are tall.

ome had fallen to spectacular effect.

When they did fall, they fell a long way!

And they left a bit of a punk hairdo behind.

From the forest, we walked past some cottages, down an avenue of Douglas Fir towards Guisachan House.

The garden furniture at the cottage was not well used.

The washing line was, though.

Guisachan House is now a ruin. For a grand house set near such a landscape of fir trees, it is a bit ironic that Guisachan is Gaelic for "place of the pines".

The House was once magnificent and it is still possible to discern that from what remains today. The fate of the House was determined in 1939 when the owner of nearby Hilton Lodge, Lady Islington (a good local name) bought it. She didn't like Guisachan being used for training for the National Fitness Campaign so she took everything out of Guisachan and removed the roof. The house was doomed from then on. People still wonder why there is such a thirst for reform of large land holdings in Scotland!

No matter what you might think about landownership on such a scale, it is a tragedy to see such a fine and interesting house fall further and further into ruin as nature slowly, but surely reclaims the site.

I did say I would find out what the building arrangement was in the following photo, but unfortunately I failed. The long curve is a chimney flue, but the two brick curves seem too close together to be separate fireplaces. Perhaps one post-dates the other as the use and configuration of a room was changed over time. If I ever get the chance, I will find out and let you know.

From the house we walked back down the avenue towards the Plodda Falls.

We got to a point near at the bottom of the gorge which contains the falls. Hugh clearly felt unhappy at the prospect of having to climb up to the falls.

However, up was where we went.

Very soon we were well off the valley floor,but still beneath the height of the tallest trees sitting next to the river below us.

Eventually we got to the first viewpoint, from where you can see the full height of the falls. It is worth noting that Lord Tweedmouth had the further breathtaking arrogance to believe that he could improve upon nature and he had the course of the river altered to make the falls more pleasing. We cannot know if he was right in his assertion, but it does give you pause for thought.

A long exposure makes the falls seem altogether more sedate than they really are.

Onward and upwards to the top observation platform.

Just to prove I carried on up after taking the photo.

More, smaller, falls at the top.

From there it was a short walk to the cars and then on to Beauly for soup, tea and cakes at the Priory Hotel.

They had laid on a fabulous spread for us at one very large table.

These were the sandwiches and cakes!

And this is Hugh eating one!

That was the end of another outstanding weekend away. Many thanks to Susan and Robin for arranging the whole thing. Thanks also to Mac for sorting out who owed how much to whom.

Finally thanks to all the rest of the Dinosaurs for such a great weekend. 

Christmas lunch is next!