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!

Loch Fender
Posted by Graham Lumsden (highlandp) on Jan 24 2009 at 8:19 AM
Highland Travelogue >>

Back to the bread and butter this week, and a Loch that has intrigued me for months.
Loch Fender sits at the head of Glen Fender, which runs South East - North West from Amulree in the Sma' Glen.
Intrigued, because Loch Fender does not appear to be a traditional fishing loch - there are no real 4 x 4 tracks - only a nearby track from The Griffin Car Park to Loch Freuchie.
The first part of my walk is decribed earlier under LOCH HOIL as the approach is identical.
Apologies for the contrasty photos - the light was very poor!
At the Deer Stile, I turned left and struggled up the mighty hill, climbing to around 2000 feet.




The views from up there are magnificent, including Loch Hoil, and The Mighty "S" - Schiehallion.

At the top of the climb, their are wonderful views across Glen Quaich - with Loch Freuchie and Lochan A Mhullion in the background (see earlier travelogue)

Here the track meanders down into Glen Quaich, and to reach Loch Fender, I had to head South East across the heather, as there is not much of a track.

There are many tiny Lochans up here, many are dry mud Wadis and great care must be taken when placing your feet.

I set up camp overlooking the loch and immediately got to work on the Tarp as the flies were swarming.
The problem with Loch walks is that there are often no trees to stretch my tarp or to light a fire, so rocks and ground ties are required - not ideal, but enough to deter the worst of the flies, and I soon got the Trangia going.

Todays meal was a speciality of mine - Sausage and Tomato Casserole.
Here is the recipé:
1 large potato;
2 butchers pork or beef sausages;
4 small tomatoes;
1 onion;
1 satchet tomato ketchup;
pinch of pepper;
1/2 beef stock cube.
Put some water on to boil and dice the potato into smallish cubes.
Finely chop the onion.
When the water boils, add the sausage, potato, tomatoes, onion.
Simmer for 20 minutes, then add the stock cube and ketchup.
Allow to reduce for 10 minutes add pepper and serve.

Quickly followed by Watermellon and some tea - pure luxury!
A  20 minute snooze then I broke camp.

At this point I discovered I had lost my mobile phone - oops!

Then it was back across the heather and down the track to the Deer Stile, then back through the forest to the car.



Total mileage was around 8 - 9 miles and height gain around 2000 feet.

The climb from the Deer Stile is hard and a degree of fitness is required.
So Loch number 41 under my belt, and delightful it was too!
As usual, PLEASE leave some sort of comment

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