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

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

Loch Hoil
Posted by Graham Lumsden (highlandp) on Aug 04 2008 at 4:08 PM
Highland Travelogue >>

I have thought about walking to Loch Hoil for some time.
It always looks a daunting hike on paper, with approaches through dense forest, and it's sister Loch, Loch Fender does not seem to have any approach paths at all.
The Trailhead for Loch Hoil is at grid reference NN 886 451 - just across the road from the Griffen car park.

The weather has been great lately, and I booked friday off work in anticipation, but the day proved to be overcast, the sun being elusive.
The usual good 4 x 4 track leads off to the South West.
The forest here is lighter and less foreboding than the Griffen and mountains and sky can be clearly seen.

The first part of the walk, a mile or so, is quite flat.
Later it climbs to the North and passes through heavy conifer.
You will come to a fork in the path - take the left fork.

A small pond on the right offered a welcome break from the monotonous forest.

Eventually, you will come to a deer fence with a high stile.

The landscape suddenly changes to heather moorland.
The left track heads South and upwards towards Loch Fender and Loch Freuchie - a hike for later!
Take the right track up the hill and Loch Hoil soon comes into view on the left.

Hoil is a very small Loch - I would suggest it might be better classified as a Lochan.
It sports both a Boathouse and Bothy, both on the North West shore.





A strong gusting wind was blowing off the Loch and I sought shelter in the lee of the wind by walking to the South shore and setting up camp.
There followed a delicious cooked lunch of beef sausages, collar of bacon, and beans, washed down with several cups of hot sweet tea.

The weather was closing in and cloud cover was increasing, which made good photography almost impossible - so - I decided to have some shut-eye for half an hour to the soft cry of the nearby Tern colony.

Which reminds me - I saw Tern, Red Grouse, a  huge bird with grey wings with a black border - a Grey Heron?,
A small bird like a robin, but larger -  a Bullfinch?  I also clearly heard a Cuckoo.
I cleared up camp and did a "no trace", then headed back down the track as some raindrops began to fall.
I toyed with climbing up to Fender, but the rain was coming, so I headed back down to the car.
A nice day out, maybe I will return when the weather is better.
Please leave your comments!

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