Tuesday 18 July 2017

The price you pay

So finally the skies over NW Scotland cleared, and on Sunday Gail and I went for a most agreeable stroll along from Incheril to the banks of Loch Maree, at the foot of that fine mountain, Slioch. (We decided not to climb up Slioch as it is a steep and rocky ascent and Gail thought that after all the rain on the previous day it would be too slippery underfoot).

Gosh the views of the surrounding landscape were stunning as we gaily trotted along together through the luxuriant bracken.

It does seem a bit unfair that the flattest bit of this glacial valley floor has been commandeered by sheep, and so the footpath along the edge is harder going than one might expect as it traverses the uneven surface of the lateral moraine. 

At one point Gail stumbled and fell into the bracken, and then had the cheek to criticise me for using the opportunity to try to run off up the hill rather than rush over to comfort her and lick her (very minor) wounds - fat lot of good that would have done...

Oh yes it was a glorious afternoon, and I must agree with Gail that if downpours such as we endured  the previous day are a necessary condition for having such lovely soft meadows and heathland, all delicately spattered with tormentil, buttercups, self heal, heath spotted orchids, bog asphodel, cotton grass, heather and sundew, then it is a price worth paying.

14 comments:

  1. Crikey Bertie ..... it's a price worth paying alright!! Your countryside is so spectacular. What a pleasant walk you had, aye??

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  2. Bertie I'm sure that was one of this afternoons who will stay in our memories furever (sorry for the fall your gail had, hope she is well and nothing is damaged). And if that Bob Ross would see this, he would paint it immediately...

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  3. Wow, it's so pretty and green!

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  4. Definitely a small price to pay. (We would have run off, too. We have no 'Lassie' tendencies.)

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  5. What beautiful scenery Bertie, you're a lucky boy to be able to have walks in such a stunning place.

    Love,
    Inca xx

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  6. Hari OM
    Oh yes, I hear ya Bertie lad... but never mind all that... first the bike fiasco, now the the edge-teetering; do we need to get Gail to a balance clinic??? Hugs and wags, YAM-aunty xxx

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  7. Bertie, Lady dreams of going on a walk in a place like that.

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  8. Bertie - To say the skies cleared is a relative term ?

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  9. What a beautiful place. We suggest Gail start wearing body armor
    Lily & Edward

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  10. What a beautiful hike! You might want to remind Gail that is SHE did the sensible thing and was on all 4 paws while hiking she would not have fallen. Glad she was OK!

    Your Pals,

    Murphy & Stanley

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  11. That is beautiful! Hope Gail is OK now. Take care - nose licks and love from Moth xx

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  12. Stunning, the scenery is beautiful Bertie. And I'm always getting told off for licking the peeps so you can't win can you, wrong to licks, wrong to run off, just what are us pups to do????
    Loves and licky kisses
    Princess Leah xxx

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  13. Wowsers Bertie, you live in a most beautimous part of the world!!
    xoxo
    Jakey & Arty

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