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!
Checkout My Guided Photography Walks By Clicking Here
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Loch Glassie |
| Posted by Graham Lumsden (highlandp) on May 24 2009 at 4:41 PM |
I love weather - really, I do. Watching is a passion of mine. Take this week for example - forecasts changed by day from sun, to rain, to gales, to cloudy, back to sun. It turned out to be a combination of all, so I suppose they did get it right. Let me state something here - I dont enjoy conifer forest walks. I find them claustrophobic and monotonous. I have been putting off bagging Loch Glassie for those reasons, but I knew one day I would have to bite the bullet, and today was the day. When I looked out this morning and saw the heavy cloud, I almost called it off, but The Call was too strong. I set off up the A9 again as far as Ballinluig and headed West to Aberfeldy. I turned right and went through Pitnacree and followed the infant Upper Tay, past the White Water Rafters and the Canoeists (?), through Strathtay, and then turned right at the Glassie Bunkhouse sign. Unless you have a 4 x 4, I wouldnt recommend this track. I dont and it was first gear all the way. I parked at the Bunkhouse junction, took a GPS reading, a peer at the map, a squint at the compass, and then up the steep track.
Ahead of me was an elderly lady making her steady way up the slope. She waved me on and I made decent progress until I came to the first PADLOCKED gate. Here she caught up with me, and as I peched and puggled over the gate, she shinned over and away like a gazelle! She must have 25 years on me and she looked wee and frail but she was fit! I caught up with her and we shared a pleasant mile or 3.
Panicking about her map reading, I managed to calm her fears, and soon enough, the Loch came into view. It was there that we parted (cue a song?) and she plonked herself down for coffee.
I made my way down to the Lochside and built a shelter from the wind. Glassie is not the most beautiful Loch, but remote enough to be quiet and peaceful, with only a few Gulls and a shewing wind for company. Taking photos was a matter of waiting for the sun now and again, but mostly it was overcast - so more contrasty photos I'm afraid!
In the photo below, you can clearly see the presence of Green Algae in the middle of the Loch. I'm no scientist, but I know enough that this stuff is bad news. It forms because of chemical leakage into the Loch. It restricts Photosynthesis and if it gets as far as heavy coverage, can drastically affect the vital miniature eco-system of the immediate area.
I had Lunch with Ainsley Harriott (actually his Tomato Soup) and some savoury bread rolls followed by fruit jelly. I lay under the shelter out of the wind and I'm afraid I dropped off for a wee while. When I woke, the wind had shifted and I could smell the rain coming from the West.
I washed my dishes using the heather and sphagnum moss, packed up and made my happy way back down the track, maybe 2.5 miles or so. It takes about an hour to reach the Loch, a little less on the way back.
There are some great views across to the West and down over Aberfeldy
I never saw my companion again and I hope she found her way back home.
I hope you enjoyed my wee trek and that you leave me a message or a small story if you like.
BackComments
| Hi Graham | By ANON on May 24 2009 at 7:02 PM |
| Well done Graham! I especially like the picture with the bridge in the distance. Too bad about the sunshine! I'm glad you got a chance to get out, though! Sue |
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| Bridge | By Graham Lumsden on May 24 2009 at 8:50 PM |
| Thanks Sue! Thats General Wade's Bridge at Aberfeldy. It's single track and controlled by traffic lights. It has very beautiful stonework. | |
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