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
If you have any questions about the places I visit, please e-mail me and I will do my best to help!
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Loch Cuaich |
| Posted by Graham Lumsden (highlandp) on Apr 13 2009 at 8:23 PM |
Glaur. A great Scots word. It means gloomy, foggy, misty, impenetrable. Thats what it looked like as I made my way once more up the A9. But things are not always what they seem, and the glaur lifted as I passed Pitlochry and a welcome sun beamed through. Its a near 60 mile run up to Dalwhinnie, through the village, past the Distillery, over the railway and a quick right turn onto General Wade's Miltary Road. 1.5 miles and I found what I was looking for. An easy parking spot and a track leading through the tiny Hamlet of Cuaich.
Under the A9 and on to Loch Cuaich. Once again, I had to cross a no-gated railway crossing with great care.
Once past the houses, you pass under a culvert under the main road.
There are two ways in. Turn right and you follow a 4 x 4 track beside an Aqueduct all the way in, straightforward, but hard on the feet. Straight on, as I did, and you make your careful way along the right (True Left) bank of the River Cuaich. I say careful, because the track is elusive in places.
When I studied the map, I thought OS had got it way wrong, as the track just vanishes in places, but, as usual, they have it spot-on. Now, if using this route, you need to choose a day when it hasnt been raining, as there are many water run-ins to the river and they are treacherous in places.
After a couple of miles you will approach this gate, which takes you onto the 4 x 4 track and past the Hydro Power Station.
You pass the huge Pipeline and Ben Cuaich is ahead of you.
Another mile or so and you come to another Dam and the Loch itself, with the mountain behind it.
It was blowing up strongly and I made a little shelter from the wind. Peace! Oh bliss!
There is a good path around the West side of the Loch, but I was fine on my little bluff.
I boiled up some soup and tea and lazed in the sun for a while.
I saw a very large Hawk (unknown), and a few Grouse. In some of the photos, you will see smoke. This is the heather being burned to allow new growth, and to kill off parasites, and generally get it ready for the shooting season later in the year. I took the easy route out, on the track beside the Aqueduct, all the way back down to the A9 and under the culvert. The drive home was a nightmare. The A9 sometimes reaches traffic saturation point, and this Bank Holiday, it did. The traffic crawled all the way from Ballinluig to Perth. Grrrrrrrrrrr!
Never mind, it was a lovely day out, well worth a visit. Please leave a comment!
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Comments
| Journey | By ANON on Apr 14 2009 at 2:32 PM |
| A beautiful journey. Thanks for taking us there! Sue |
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| Journey | By ANON on Apr 14 2009 at 8:43 PM |
| You are very welcome dear friend! | |
| By ANON on Sep 23 2011 at 11:24 PM | |
| Looks stunning. The Loch is on my coast to coast route for next summer, Im glad I did now. |
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