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!

Meall Breac
Posted by Graham Lumsden (highlandp) on Jan 03 2009 at 6:47 PM
Highland Travelogue >>

At last! - Real sunshine and perfect walking weather!  Happy New Year to all my readers. I hope you all had a rare time - we did! Today was an ideal time to start the new walking year and to get rid of a howling hangover from last night's party. I wanted to find Duntanlich Loch high above the Southern shore of Loch Tummel. So, it was back up a busy A9 where everyone seemed to be heading home after the Festering Season. Just after Pitlochry, I turned right across the carriageway for Foss. The road is very narrow and was icy, so it was 2nd or 3rd gear all the way.  I soon came to the South shore of Tummel and the light was just magnificent. I stopped a while and indulged myself with the camera - some of you will know how infrequently I get decent light!  Here are some of the shots for you.

Back into the car and along the single track road. I crossed a small bridge and a cattle grid, then I came to a parking area on the left at Netherton, directly opposite the Queens View.

The track rises very steeply most of the way and the going is hard. Its amazing how even just a few weeks of inactivity leaves you unfit. I felt like a footballer at his first day of training.  The track is sometimes mingled with a burn which was frozen solid today.

It was treacherous underfoot as the burn was iced over - I had to take great care and trek very slowly here.  Eventually I came to a fence with access to the high ground. In the distance I could see a large herd of deer - you can just see some of them on the hilltop in the background.  I also saw Black Grouse.

This part of the path is DEADLY! - pure ice, and a slip here could be serious.

The path splits here - one part heads to the right and will take you to Duntanlich, and the other will take you up Meall Breac at around 1500 feet.  I wanted to find Duntanlich, but the sun was already getting low on this short day. I decided that if I reached the Loch, I wouldnt have time to do anything other than turn right back, otherwise I would be walking over the ice in semi-darkness, so safety first, and I decided that climbing Meall Breac was more sensible, so I set off through the heather. I soon reached the summit, and the views all around are magnificent. If you look carefully, you can just see the Big "S" on the extreme left at the far end of Tummel in one of my photos.

The temperature dropped by several degrees at the summit and I soon got the stove going and some hot soup and tea in me.

It was getting noticeably colder as the sun receded, so I didnt hang around long. I made my way back down. It was hard, because the path is elusive. I had to make several lateral traverses when I kept losing the faint path.  The car soon came into sight, then it was off back down the A9 by the reverse route. A lovely day's walking and climbing in gorgeous Scottish Winter light, and home to a dram to warm me!  Thanks for stopping by - and a special thanks to those of you who keep coming back - it makes me very happy to have regulars! As usual, please leave your comments for me!

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