At last, our first break away from home in two years.
We stopped off at the viewpoint on the A81 below the Black Mount for a coffee while en route to a week away in remote Ardnamurchan.
The views back to Loch Tulla and the surrounding mountains of Beinn an Dothaid and Beinn Inverveigh are always breath taking.
The joys of spring in Jo’s and Martin’s delightful garden.
COVID19 has firmly taught us that we don’t have to go far from home to admire nature and stunning views. Tonight was another prime example, with the late evening sun lighting up the trees in our garden followed by a absolute stunning sunset.
Saturday was our first spring day and warm enough to sit outside in the glorious sunshine reading a book with a coffee in the afternoon. In fact it was warm enough to even sit outside and have a couple of glasses of Cava before dinner while enjoying the last rays of sunshine.
The warmth of the spring sun brought out the peacock butterflies with several regularly darting across the lawn. Hope they survive the predicted night frost and cold weather in the days to come.
The warmth of the spring sun has also brought a lot of flowers to bloom in the magnolia shrub (magnolia stellata) that stands in the shelter of the house where the heat of the sun is reflecting of the South facing walls. It is well ahead of the magnolia tree on the lawn that is more exposed and still not showing any signs of buds coming out.
Campsie Glen has become even more of a hot spot for walkers due to Covid lockdown with parked cars backed up all the way to the main road at Haughead. But on an early morning or a late afternoon, it can still, at times, be reasonably quiet.
Our late Sunday afternoon wander along the Kirk Burn and some scrambling along the rocks along the burn allowed us to explore the Campsie fault line. This is one os several very interesting geological features dating from the Glacial and Post-Glacial period in the area.
The Campsie fault line or scarp is the effect of a normal fault crossing the gorge that displaces lava intersecting with another plane of movement. Landslips and the torrent of the Kirk Burn over time have exposed large sections of the fault line along the burn.
The crocuses are starting to come out early this year.
A month after the first snowfall, we got more.
As always Lola goes bonkers as she simply loves being out in the snow.
A wander around Buchanan Castle on a cold, crisp Sunday afternoon.
Exploring Blaquhidder’s Old Kirk and graveyard.
It’s not just Rob Roy’s grave that’s interesting.
Just after starting our walk along the shores of Loch Lomond from Milarrochy Bay, we could see an ominous snow cloud coming our way across the loch. Less than ten minutes into our walk we decided not to take a gamble and swiftly head back for the car. It was a good choice to have our tea/coffee with shortbread from the comfort of our warm car while the snow and wind whirled around.
About forty minutes later, the snow had cleared and we were back out for our walk and to enjoy the never tiring views.
I couldn’t resit taking yet another picture of the famous oak tree against the backdrop of the passing storm clouds and the slowly re-emerging winter sun.
At the end of our refreshing walk we even got to see yet another memorable sunset at Milarrochy Bay.
A wander round the High Kirk of Campsie and graveyard in Lennoxtown.
A magnificent sunrise after we got our first real snowfall of the year.
