Sunday 6 May 2012

On the level

We have some friends coming to stay in July. She is very happy to walk, but would rather walk on the level.     
We go in search of level, which isn't so easy here in the highlands
We decide  here would be good.  The river Gruinard is just six miles long and is a salmon fishing river.
Salmon do swim uphill and jump up waterfalls, but I think they'll be able to just cruise along here - so will our friends, hopefully
The path undulates with only little ups and downs.
The Salmon have lots of bends and corners to swim round
At times we leave the river behind, but we stay on the level, more or less
Streams criss cross the track on their way to join the river
It is so beautiful and big and empty - not a soul (nor salmon)  in sight.
Flowers I can't identify. It looks like a sort of eye bright with lettuce leaves. I've searched the wild flower books but can't find anything like it. It's very tiny and I have to lie on the track to photograph it.
I hear my first cuckoo somewhere in those trees
Just us and the river
It rushes and gurgles. It's crystal clear. 
At times the track turns into a pond
 and I'm glad I wore my walking boots.
Just round the next bend and we must come to the loch
One or two rowing boats - for the fishermen we think.
completely deserted
The river flows out from Loch na Sealga
This is so incredibly beautiful and peaceful
I can see a common sandpiper feeding on the opposite shore through binoculars.
This is stunning. Every view point is magical
and nobody here
I realise later I've seen this loch before from a different vantage point. Two years ago I took this photo looking down on Loch na Sealga from Cadha Goghlach on An Teallach. We won't bring our friends up here - it's quite a lot of  uphill from what I remember!
On the way back to the car, I feed a crumb of my shortbread biscuit to some very tiny tadpoles in a puddle. They would probably rather have had a chicken leg or something, but they gathered  round in a sort of feeding frenzy. They really were very little and I wondered their chances of survival should the puddle start to dry up
My dear husband has learnt to deal with the time it takes while he waits for me to feed tadpoles, roll around on the path with my camera and generally faff about.
This was a lovely walk. Level, beautiful, sunny, interesting and a little step into what  remains a wilderness area. Maybe not so much with the rowing boats!  but once beyond loch na Sealga it really does become very remote.
We are taking a journey down south this coming week, to see friends and family. We have a birthday party to go to, and I'm determined to spend a day in Brighton - just for the contrast!

11 comments:

A Garden of Threads said...

Thank you for taking us along on your walk. Gorgeous and stunning views. You live in a beautiful country. Hope you have a wonderful time on your trip.

http://jackieinsurrey.blogspot.co.uk/ said...

Hi Ann, wow it looks more beautiful than ever. Have a good trip down and we would love to see you if you have anytime.
Friends have recommended the Yellowave cafe in Brighton,
http://www.yellowave.co.uk/ especially if you fancy a game of beach volleyball and a glass of California wine!! Love Jackie.

Linda said...

I'm getting itchy feet for the West coast!
It can be difficult to find a walk on the flat. Where I come from on Speyside we have one regular walk on the level, but apart from that there's elevation involved.
So funny to see your husband prepared for your faffing around with his Kindle!
Enjoy your trip to the deep South.

ju-north said...

Beautiful! We're adding it to our list of walks!

Mac n' Janet said...

What a lovely walk, and I'm with your friends, I can walk forever, but it has to be fairly level, I don't "hill" well at all.

Anonymous said...

Thank you so much for taking us along this gorgeous walk. The water and the air are both so very clear.

Have a great time down south. I hope you don't suffer too much from culture shock! It may seem a tad crowded to you?

Lucille said...

How thoughtful or you to rehearse the walk for your friend. And how lucky for us to be able to go along too!

Lesley said...

Your friend should like that very much!!

Diane said...

Happy Birthday Ann! Hope you are having a wonderful time. Lots of love, Di xx

S. Etole said...

So much beauty everywhere you look.

Anonymous said...

I've just stumbled upon your blog - you seem to live in the most beautiful place on earth. :)

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