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 Tullybelton
Posted by Graham Lumsden (highlandp) on Aug 24 2008 at 7:47 AM
Highland Travelogue >>

Back to Little Glenshee this week.
The snow has had a real knock-back and there is much more green than last week.
As last week, I drove to the little Ford, but this time I crossed it.
I parked up a little way down the Bankfoot Road and crossed the metal gate.
The path leads up past a disused slate quarry - take the path on the right here.
This is an easy walk, probably the easiest I have ever attempted.
There is only one dip/climb on the path.
The Loch very soon comes into view.

Its a medium-sized Loch, with moor bog on three sides, and a conifer wood on the North edge.
It has the obligatory boat house on the North shore.

A short break for a cup of tea on the West shore was followed by a quick walk around the Loch.

Its very boggy after the snows melted, so take care where you put your boots!
I was going to sit on the East shore and have lunch, but the wind came up and it got bitterly cold, so I turned and made camp at the East end of the wood on the North shore.


I had decided to try my survival skills, so I tried to make a fire using my trusty fire steel, but my tinder was way too wet.
I ended up using the Primus, and soon had some hot soup inside me.
Another cuppa, a good clean and tidy, and it was back down the trail.

I turned off to take some waterfall shots and tried out my Neutral Density ND8 Filter with some promising results.
Then it was back to the car and home.
A nice short walk if you are short of time.
See you next time - let me know what you think!

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