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!

Mill Dam
Posted by Graham Lumsden (highlandp) on Jan 24 2009 at 8:33 AM
Highland Travelogue >>

Firstly - welcome to all you new readers - I am now happy to say that I am getting over 300 hits per week on this little Travelogue of mine! - Thank you all SO much! We are becoming a little community - why not leave me a message (below) ?
Anyway - The Mill Dam is on the back road between Dunkeld and Aberfeldy.
You turn off at the new(ish) bridge after Dunkeld and drive for 2.5 miles until you come to Kinnaird House.
There is a VERY sharp left and uphill turn at Peroch Castle (my wife calls it Fairy Castle!)
A 4 x 4 would be handy here, but my little Clio took it in its stride.
I parked at a little grassy knoll and marched uphill past two gates (check out my trip to Loch Skiach below)
A ways up the hill, you come to a fork.
Take the right track here.

A nice track walk takes around 1/2 hour from here.

The Loch appears ahead of you

Its boggy and reedy at the South end, with a boat and Boathouse at the East end.







There is a stone and earth dam at the North end and I crossed here to a wooded area at the far end, where I set up camp.
I had decided to bring the tent today, so I could practice for my Wild Camping coming up soon.
I erected the tent and used the Tarp as an awning.


The Copse of trees around me was of Silver Birch, so firelighting was easy-peasy!
Todays gourmet delicacy was Irish Stew -  cubed beef, potato, onion, mushroom - fried in butter, then water added, and an Oxo cube near the end of cooking - wonderful! - and a slice of bread to mop up the yummy gravy!
A cup of tea, then I scrambled down to the waters edge to clean up.
I stretched out a while and listened to - nothing!
Its strange - when there is nothing and you are used to it, you can sometimes sense people.
And so I had the feeling I wasnt alone, and sure enough, I could see a bright orange anorak wandering down the far side.
Isnt it strange how your senses adapt and intensify when interacting with nature?
I dont think it would take we humans long to get back to using our redundant senses as animals do, if we had to.
I read for a while, then broke camp and wandered back to the car.
Mill Dam is lovely and peaceful, and quite easy to reach.
I hope you enjoyed my trip with me.
My camera is still not diplaying images, so photo exposures are again guesswork


Please leave me a comment - anything at all!
And please come back again.
If there is anywhere you would like me to visit - if you are not mobile - let me know and I will do my best to find it, or if there is anything you would like me to focus on - plants, trees, mountains, etc., let me know and I will try to do it for you   - I dont bite!
Why not drop me a line in the comment box?

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