My Highland Travelogue

Welcome to my Highland Travelogue Page.   My passion is to explore the Scottish Highland Upland Lochs. When time permits, I will drive to a remote location, park the car, fasten on my backpack and trusty camera, and trek a few miles to discover a hidden Loch or Lochan. My pleasure is to explore the smaller, hidden Lochs and Lochans, rather than the larger, well known ones that are already well documented. 

I think that certain places are "healing" , and I begin to understand why when I sit by a lonely stretch of water, with nobody and nothing around for miles. So far, most of my expeditions have been in Highland Perthshire, for logistical and economic reasons, but I hope to travel further as time passes. I think that maybe I am frightened that my Highlands are threatened and that they may vanish. Perhaps to record them on photograph is my mission? When I stumble unexpectedley on one of those jaw-dropping views, I have mixed thoughts - firstly, I want to share it with the world, then, when I think on, I selfishly want to keep it all to myself.  Often I just stand a while in wonderment.

I am no scientist, but many of our small inland Lochs and Lochans are in decline.
Each has its own mini eco system, and it is the decay of this that is the problem.
Each eco system is made up of many interactive and interdependent parts - water,sediment,fish,insects,animals,weather. Eutrophication (chemical and acid pollution) is causing serious problems to our smaller Lochs and Lochans that do not get the same level of monitoring and protection as those larger and better known examples adopted by S.E.P.A.
The decline of insect life affects the fish life, which affects the Lochan itself, which affects the bird and animal life.
This then causes (some) of the Lochans to be affected by Algae and Reed cover, which then affects light penetration, photosynthesis and the general "life" of the Lochan goes into a rapid decline.
This is happening now. Already, some of the large Raptors are coming down to road level to find food.

I dont know how long they will be there for us, but I have to record them as they are now.
I hope I am wrong.

Above all, I feel priviledged to be allowed the honour to walk on this sacred land - I am finite, my footsteps will soon vanish, but this wonderful place will stand for millions of years.

I will try to describe my adventures as best as I can and I hope that I can share my wonderful Highlands with you.

"Enjoy Life's Journey, But Leave No Tracks" (Cherokee Wolf Clan, with thanks to Sue)

"Your travelogue helped to influence our choice of destination as your pictures and details are superb and really do give that `get away from it all feeling`- Martin Rutherford

Like a large Highland Loch on your wall?  - click here!

If you have any questions about the places I visit, please e-mail me and I will do my best to help!

Glen Quaich to Aberfeldy
Posted by Graham Lumsden (highlandp) on Apr 22 2009 at 5:39 AM
Highland Travelogue >>

Warm Spring Sundays and Sunshine - it brings them all out - 4 x 4 's, 100 mph Motorbikes, and all things Winged. And so it was today.  This was less of a hike and more of a test for my new GPS. Yes, technology has caught up with me in the form of a Magellan GPS. I wanted wide open spaces to try it out, and I decided on the old cattle drover's trail between Glen Quaich and Aberfeldy. I also wanted to avoid the dreadful traffic snarls at Bankfoot on the A9. So it was West to Crieff and up through the Sma' Glen, turning left at Amulree. Past Loch Freuchie, the road becomes very narrow and climbs at a VERY steep gradient, with deadly elbow bends and ilka cattle grids.  The view from the top is breathtaking, but I didnt stop - onwards and upwards to the little Loch by the side of the road that has no name but is beautifully framed by the Mighty "S" and its supporters.

I parked up off the road (just) and vaulted the stile and moved on up the path and past the Loch on my left. 

The path is great and is mostly flat or downhill.  Its bleak but beautiful heather moorland all the way.

Much of the heather has been burnt off and blackened and the smell of it permeates the air as you walk. 

I found the largest slab of Gneiss I have ever seen. 

Far below,Aberfeldy and the hills behind soon come into view, with Faragon on the extreme left.

The path joins with a burn and I dropped down and had lunch by a bend in it.  I can reliably state that the dreaded midge is out!  A combination of the gentle babbling of the burn and the warm sun let me drift off for a while. 

After lunch I played with my new toy until I was happy with it (even though it tried to convince me I was in Middle England.)  Once I got it to recognise Ordnance Survey Datum I was off and running!  I could easily have trekked all the way to Aberfeldy, but getting back to the car would have posed a problem, so I tested the GPS "Backtrack" feature and it worked perfectly. I dont think I'll ever get lost again (famous last words)

This is a very easy trek - ideal if its your first walk away from civilisation or with a disability that precludes more rugged walks. The scenery on the walk is unremarkable but is spectacular at the Loch end.  I was more than happy with my little toy!

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