Although first and foremost a family holiday, Ive recently returned from Scotland and been absolutely bowled over by it! We decided to fly (from Stanstead) so that we could point out stuff to boys as we flew up England-It was cloudy-and after a few days in Edinburgh we travelled to a rented place near Fort William.
And what a site: Next to a Salmon river (the Lochy) , several peaks (including Ben Nevis) in the scenery and mixed woodland on three sides. We had three suitcases between four of us and I was a little worried about the punitive fees for exceeding the weight limit (at least Highwaymen had the decency to put a mask on before robbing you) and therefore I took only a little bushcrafty stuff.
Well we had Crossbills and Red Deer around the house, Goosanders and Mergansers flying down the river, and an Eagle roosting in the woods. I tried to find the elusive Otters and at the end of the holiday I was up at 5.15 in the morning and out again at 8.30 in the evening-No luck! It was a real privilage to be up and at one with mother nature at that time however and I often posted about it on Facebook whilst sitting comfortably on a rocky outcrop or similar. I asked a guy who lived by the river what time was best to see the Otters and he slowly shrugged his shoulders, smiled and said Its the luck of the draw. I felt this was a Private Pike You stupid boy moment on my part for asking that!
I did however get some print pics and noticed that the Toads breeding nearby where nearly all reduced to heads, limbs and entrails by the Otters. Come and go so to speak
Other notables where plenty of good Eagle sightings, seeing a Ravens nest and watching them feast on a Deer carcass, impressing my sons and nephew with a homemade fish trap, using my Honey stove by the river (the owner said Fill your boots when I asked about doing some bushcrafty bits) and seeing various flowers.
Our flight back was grounded by the ash and the drive south was interesting as we noticed the further south we got, the more advanced mother nature appeared to be. The most striking thing for me was coming back to hedgerows full of blossom. However, since being back weve less Martins and Swallows than in Scotland
I left with many things ticked off the must see list, and inevitably many that werent-Crested Tits, Otters and Jays (yes Jays, we saw every other member of the Crow family!)
I barely read the books Id taken (which included The natural Navigator and the latest Bushcraft magazine) as I was out and about so much. I also wish Id taken my planisphere as the stars where brilliant I also tried to breath in as much pure air as I could so I hope Ive left enough =D
I left the fish trap and a penny stove on the owners steps for her kids as I left, admittedly with a lump in my throat and a moist eye....Oh and fact that it didnt rain and we hardly saw a Midge helped.
A couple of asides: To me Scotland seemed to have a real sense of its own identity and for those that like military planes I saw Hawks, Tornados, a Sea King, Merlin and P3 Orion and theres a similar thread on Escouts Bushcraft and Nature Social Group (with a few different pics) for those that frequent it.
Some pics, please feel free to correct any id errors.
Im assuming these Daffs are wild as they were miles away from the nearest house.
Plenty of Wood Anemones
Not sure what the blue and white flowers pictured here are
A Parasol?
Found a lot of these-They look like Lupins (this was taken right by the River Lochy) but I cant find any reference to them occurring naturally.
A lot of these about
A LOT A LOT! Around twenty on this particular Birch.
I found the Old mans beard Lichen didnt burn for long using a ferro rod-It did work well when teamed with Birch bark
sourcing Birch bark really wasnt hard!
The River Lochy near us wasnt overly full and by and large had a gentle and relaxing babble. This uprooted tree bears testament to its potential.
This feather is in my hand for sizing. An eagles feather?
I realised on this holiday that this is the first time that Id actually seen Toad spawn.
Took this impressive formation at dawn whilst hunting for Otters.
Im assuming that these are prints. They were close to the ponds edge (actually a pond created by the rivers low water level) and I really had to lean over a sapling covered boulder to snap them so it wasnt a dog.
A different location but again, close to the water and no obvious dog tracks to or from the river.
This was on a sandy track about six feet from the water. Ive seen similar when Googling Otter prints but it looks more like a smilie! =)
Finally me, the honey stove, a homemade billy, a mug with a coffee plunger, the River Lochy and Ben Nevis behind the trees. It was a dirty job someone etc etc
And what a site: Next to a Salmon river (the Lochy) , several peaks (including Ben Nevis) in the scenery and mixed woodland on three sides. We had three suitcases between four of us and I was a little worried about the punitive fees for exceeding the weight limit (at least Highwaymen had the decency to put a mask on before robbing you) and therefore I took only a little bushcrafty stuff.
Well we had Crossbills and Red Deer around the house, Goosanders and Mergansers flying down the river, and an Eagle roosting in the woods. I tried to find the elusive Otters and at the end of the holiday I was up at 5.15 in the morning and out again at 8.30 in the evening-No luck! It was a real privilage to be up and at one with mother nature at that time however and I often posted about it on Facebook whilst sitting comfortably on a rocky outcrop or similar. I asked a guy who lived by the river what time was best to see the Otters and he slowly shrugged his shoulders, smiled and said Its the luck of the draw. I felt this was a Private Pike You stupid boy moment on my part for asking that!
I did however get some print pics and noticed that the Toads breeding nearby where nearly all reduced to heads, limbs and entrails by the Otters. Come and go so to speak
Other notables where plenty of good Eagle sightings, seeing a Ravens nest and watching them feast on a Deer carcass, impressing my sons and nephew with a homemade fish trap, using my Honey stove by the river (the owner said Fill your boots when I asked about doing some bushcrafty bits) and seeing various flowers.
Our flight back was grounded by the ash and the drive south was interesting as we noticed the further south we got, the more advanced mother nature appeared to be. The most striking thing for me was coming back to hedgerows full of blossom. However, since being back weve less Martins and Swallows than in Scotland
I left with many things ticked off the must see list, and inevitably many that werent-Crested Tits, Otters and Jays (yes Jays, we saw every other member of the Crow family!)
I barely read the books Id taken (which included The natural Navigator and the latest Bushcraft magazine) as I was out and about so much. I also wish Id taken my planisphere as the stars where brilliant I also tried to breath in as much pure air as I could so I hope Ive left enough =D
I left the fish trap and a penny stove on the owners steps for her kids as I left, admittedly with a lump in my throat and a moist eye....Oh and fact that it didnt rain and we hardly saw a Midge helped.
A couple of asides: To me Scotland seemed to have a real sense of its own identity and for those that like military planes I saw Hawks, Tornados, a Sea King, Merlin and P3 Orion and theres a similar thread on Escouts Bushcraft and Nature Social Group (with a few different pics) for those that frequent it.
Some pics, please feel free to correct any id errors.
Im assuming these Daffs are wild as they were miles away from the nearest house.
Plenty of Wood Anemones
Not sure what the blue and white flowers pictured here are
A Parasol?
Found a lot of these-They look like Lupins (this was taken right by the River Lochy) but I cant find any reference to them occurring naturally.
A lot of these about
A LOT A LOT! Around twenty on this particular Birch.
I found the Old mans beard Lichen didnt burn for long using a ferro rod-It did work well when teamed with Birch bark
sourcing Birch bark really wasnt hard!
The River Lochy near us wasnt overly full and by and large had a gentle and relaxing babble. This uprooted tree bears testament to its potential.
This feather is in my hand for sizing. An eagles feather?
I realised on this holiday that this is the first time that Id actually seen Toad spawn.
Took this impressive formation at dawn whilst hunting for Otters.
Im assuming that these are prints. They were close to the ponds edge (actually a pond created by the rivers low water level) and I really had to lean over a sapling covered boulder to snap them so it wasnt a dog.
A different location but again, close to the water and no obvious dog tracks to or from the river.
This was on a sandy track about six feet from the water. Ive seen similar when Googling Otter prints but it looks more like a smilie! =)
Finally me, the honey stove, a homemade billy, a mug with a coffee plunger, the River Lochy and Ben Nevis behind the trees. It was a dirty job someone etc etc
