A KIRK HILLWALK FOR ALL SEASONS.

A brilliant blue sky day in October was just the thing for our walk this month. Organised by Agnes, we were instructed to be at Kirkhill Community Centre for an 1100 start. Remarkably, Agnes was there waiting for us when we arrived, along with Hugh and Pam. So, it was a small, but perfectly formed group that was ready to stride out in the sunshine.

Now, you might think that Kirkhill was so called because it has a famous church - Wardlaw Mausoleum - and it is at the top of a hill. However, the mausoleum was always that and not a church at all. The Gaelic name for the village is Cnoc Mhoire, which simply means Big Hill. Now, the Mausoleum sits at the highest point on the shore side of the old A9 hereabouts. Having said that, we are only talking about 62 metres above sea level. Not exactly a big hill in the Highlands. The parish church also sits on the hill, just a bit to the south of the mausoleum. With the church on the hill you might expect the Gaelic name to reflect that - Cnoc na h-Eaglais - but it doesn't. I have been unable to find out why?

It is at times like this when I start a blog and then can't find anything useful, that I wish I had just got on with describing the walk. You're probably thinking the same thing!

Here we are ready to follow our leader wherever she may take us.

It being October, there are pumkins everywhere and here are some of them.

Kirkhill does seem a little confused as to the time of year as the Christmas decorations are hanging from the lamp posts. Now, either they are up really early, or they were never taken down from last year.

With the extent of blue sky, it could be Spring or summer. A walk for all seasons in prospect.

There was even Snow, well snowberry.

We were going downhill, some would say that has been going on for a while.

You can just about see the main group away in front of me.

This has nothing to do with my knees, but I spent ages taking photos of other berries, crows and contrails!

Hawthorn.

You must never take Hawthorn into your house! To do so meant that illness and death would soon follow. Indeed, people in Mediaeval times thought that Hawthorn smelled like The Plague. Scientists discovered that trimethylamine which forms in hawthorn blossom is one of the first chemicals that forms in decaying animal flesh - so it does smell like death. Just the thing for Halloween!

Twa craws sat on a wire. 

Although both of the birds' feet touch the wire, seeming to complete a circuit that would lead to electrocution, they are safe from frying. Electricity voltage is not dangerous, it is the flow of current through the body that makes it worth avoiding. You (or a bird) need to act as a bridge between two different voltages or between one voltage and the ground. That is why smaller birds are OK, but bigger birds and people are more at risk. They are more likely to touch a second live wire or a pole or pylon that is grounded.

Of course, you shouldn't be up that high on a wire in any event.

I liked the mirroring of the high voltage lines with the contrail of the aircraft going to who knows where? The other thing about contrails from jets is that these are a type of cloud; but they are a cloud that can only have been seen by people who have been alive in the last 80 years!

A trio of holly berries stuck on some rusty barbed wire. You will know all about barbed wire from previous blogs! However, did these berries really fall and get stuck on the wire, or did someone put them there? Does it matter?

There was another, single berry skewered by the barb. Unfortunately, the photo was not very sharp, but I struggle to believe this was not the result of some kind of intervention.

Looking to the mountains in the west. I do wish I was able to recognise mountains, but I haven't a clue which peak is which, or even what range of hills this is! I did try AI, but it turns out its intelligence was either artificial or it was too intelligent for me. I gave up before I had a complete meltdown!

We were now walking along beside the old A9 and much of the road verge was in shadow. So much so that there was still frost on the leaves.

Winter is coming, John Snow!

Winter might well be on the way, but there was plenty autumn colour about and signs of burning. Was it smoke signals, a bonfire, a sacrificial fire, a barbecue, charcoal making, or just someone burning leaves in the garden?

What can be so interesting over the gate?

A girl on a pony, is the answer. The pony seemed to find us interesting as well.

By a remarkable coincidence, Sharon used to have a horse, which was kept at a yard called Conkies, and just opposite the gate were conkers on the ground. A tenuous link, but, sometimes, needs must.

The photo reminded me that I still have some of these conkers in the pocket of the jacket I was wearing. I wonder if any of our grandchildren have ever played conkers?

Just beyond the stables, was this long abandoned bus stop. It looks like a long time since the pony express stopped here. Of course, it was once on the Trunk Road!

Continuing on the horsey theme, we came across this hitching rail, where Clint probably tied his horse before gunning down the baddies.

Alternatively, it was for tying the bins to to prevent them being blown away.

The stark ribs of the barn just caught my eye, standing stark against the lovely scene behind.

Our leader was taking us round in a circle to get us back up to Kirkhill. It turns out that she was also getting us a bit off our route. It was enough to send one berserk, like this Viking. He was at least the second berserker we have seen on walks!

If in doubt, consult a map, even if it is one on somebody else's phone.

It was easy to recognise this road. We had walked down it about 5 minutes ago!

Once we got off the road, we were going through some mixed woodland, which was nice.

We were beginning to feel a bit weak from hunger by now. Luckily, there was a castle nearby, which is just the sort of establishment we are accustomed to.

It turned out that we were not getting into the castle, we were having lunch in the woods.

Most people stood and ate their various sandwiches, but not Hugh and I. I do feel it is only good manners to sit for luncheon. Standing is quite acceptable for a cocktail party, but never luncheon.

As I sat there insouciantly feeling the peace of the woods soak into my soul, I noticed out of the corner of my eye, one of the trees blowing me a kiss!

How lovely was that?

How lovely was that?

Someone did walk past us. Slowly. Casting a suspicious eye towards us. Pam suggested that they might think we were a terrorist cell training in the woods. I feel that is the least likely conclusion they might have jumped to!

Had we been prepared to wait a few moments, we would have found some nice seats for us all to have a proper lunch.

Notwithstanding that we already had our lunch, some of us could not resist the urge to sit on the best seats in the woods.

Our first glimpse of Achnagairn Castle, which isn't really a castle.

Achnagairn House (not Castle) was owned by the Fraser family. This house dates from about 1800, although there is thought to have been a house here for at least 400 years. There is a date stone in side the house dating to 1663. The current house was significantly altered in the early 20th Century in the Arts and Crafts style.

 

It is nowadays used for functions and weddings and you can see the attractions.

Indeed, we should have paid more attention to the ballroom on the side elevation as we walked away. It was gifted by the owner to his daughter for her wedding in the early years of the 20th century. Not your average dinner service then.

Maureen entered into the spirit of the place and scattered confetti on the blushing dinosaurs.

These wickerwork animals were the only real (well, not really real) wildlife we saw on the walk.

It is a fairly short step up to the village. This is the fairly plain, but attractive parish church which was built in 1790 and refurbished in the 19th Century. The two doors are a little unusual. The whole building is said to have been adapted from the pans of another church - that at Dyke near Forres.

Just along the road, somebody had been drawing on the fence. Even douce little Kirkhill is not immune from graffiti!

That was us just about finished the walk and we were feted by these astonishingly bright and almost artificial looking leaves of Virginia Creeper. As you might expect this plant comes from North America and can be found in Virginia. That is not the whole story of the name, though. The Latin is Parthenocissus, meaning maiden or virgin. Having said that, it is a very rampant and invasive species.

Once at the cars, it was off to The Priory in Beauly for tea and cakes.

Luckily there was enough citrus drizzle cake left for me!

We really had an excellent walk with lots of interest, so, many thanks to Agnes for organising the walk and tea and cakes. 

The next walks will be during our away trip to Estate of Ord.

THE HOUSES OF THE HOLY OVER THE HILLS AND FAR AWAY

 Now, I know I've done this before, but, Hey, Hey, What can I do? I could not resist doing it again. Yes, I shall be sprinkling this blog with the titles of Led Zeppelin songs, because this walk involved a visit to Boleskine House, which was once owned by Jimmy Page, the Led Zeppelin guitarist. You will be relieved to know that I won't go into the dates of recording, album versions or other arcane details.

I could not attend the walk, so this may bear no relation to what happened, or indeed to the order it happened in. It is not a Communication Breakdown, just that I am Dazed and Confused. It is Nobody's Fault but Mine, so let's Rock and Roll.

This may or not be the group at the starting point of the walk by the Black Mountain Side. There are at least Four Sticks that I can see.

Off they go and the tarmac is Trampled Underfoot.

That's the Way.

Here they are, gathered behind the Sugar Mama , hoping for a sweetie.

Jimmy and Robin indulging in a bit of Misty Mountain Hop, or was it Dancing Days?

A nice view In the Light.

Don't overdo lunch, or you will be Sick Again.

What's a bit of Custard Pie or a Hot Dog between Friends?

C'mon Everybody, would you like Somethin' Else? If you really would, then I'm Gonna Crawl over and get it.

 You should finish luncheon with a Tangerine  and don't forget to say Thank You. I would have expected Hugh not to have a hat on whilst eating. Remember, Hats off to (Roy) Harper.

"Take another selfie."

"No! another one."

"You'll get a good one eventually!" 

"Oh! How Many More Times If only I hadn't been Out on The Tiles last night".

Dave off, singing some Travelling Riverside Blues.

Once the walk proper was over, they all went to visit the newly refurbished Boleskine House, which, of course, was once owned by the Led Zeppelin guitarist, Jimmy Page.

The house has had a bit of a chequered history. It was built for one of the Lovat Frasers, Archibald Campbell Fraser. His father was Simon Fraser, "The Fox" whom we have met a few times on our travels. The Fox was executed after the 1745 rebellion, not on the Gallows Pole, but he was offered No Quarter on the chopping block!

Sandra has a word about dust with the Living Loving Maid, before asking if she might have Tea for One.

Out on The Tiles and In the Light the hallway looks Like Somethin' Else. I wonder if that green thing is Robert Plant?

Sandra and Jacque say We're Gonna Groove, hopefully not to The Lemon Song, which is a bit naughty. Then again, I'm not sure what Sandra has in her hand!

The view from the window over Loch Ness is Somethin' Else!

Perhaps the most notorious owner of Boleskine House was not Moby Dick, Poor Tom or The Rover, but Aleister Crowley. Crowley bought the house in 1899 for £2000. He was a poet, mountaineer and an esotericist. It was the esotericism that earned him his reputation.

Basically. esotericism refers to owning a secret meaning accessible only to a select few. It is a concept that has been about for hundreds of years, but became more of a quasi religious phenomenon in the late 19th Century.

It is probably the secret and select nature of Crowley's beliefs and practices that gained him a reputation for Black Magic. In reality, he was more interested in following austere and rigorous devotion as a means of speaking directly to God. He was, in effect, looking for his own Stairway to Heaven! There is little doubt that he was a bit strange and the secrecy surrounding him and the Houses of the Holy only added to his reputation. 

The house as it now stands seems to be in direct opposition to this, but it looks to me, in fact, that it retains a quiet serenity and beauty that probably attracted Crowley in the first place - in essence, The Song Remains the Same.

Crowley had to sell the house when he ran into financial difficulties. 

The house was eventually owned by a Dutch couple and was badly damaged by fire in 2015. It was sold in 2019 after another fire and the charitable trust was instituted thereafter. Through the work of the charitable trust, the house re-opened to the public in April 2026.

Of course, Dinos don't live by historic houses alone, they need tea and buns. It was time to do the Candy Store Rock and Ramble On down to the Pier Café.

They were almost Down by The Seaside.

Agnes was there too. D'Yer Maker. No, she went of her own accord.

Well, it looks like they all had a good time. You could say it was a bit of a Celebration Day. 

Well done to Jim and Jacque for what looked like a really interesting day out. Thank You to everyone who took and sent photos, allowing me to do this blog.

Who knows How Many More Times we will do these walks, but it is certainly great to get out with Friends.