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!

Nature Ramble and The Curling Pond, Logierait
Posted by Graham Lumsden (highlandp) on Jan 24 2009 at 8:21 AM
Highland Travelogue >>

Didnt have a lot of time to spare for a walk today, so I wandered up Logierait Hill.
Just across the Ballinluig Bridge is the village of Logierait.
Logierait has a problem.
It is often underwater.
But today the water was low.
I turned up the steep road opposite the defunct Hotel and made my way into the well-laid-out Car Park, with its little individual Parking Bays!
I have to commend Atholl Estates again for their hard work in laying out these facilities and their endeavour in maintaining them to a very high standard, including great signage and notice boards.



I decided to make this very short walk a Nature Ramble and I photographed the plants and insects.

If anyone can identify the species for me, I would be very grateful!

Its a lovely woodland walk through beautiful trees with the occasional vista over Strathtay.

I soon came to the Pond on my left.
Again, I found it to be losing the battle to Reed Cover.
This is a very worrying trend that I am finding more and more.

I made my way round behind the Pond and set up camp, getting a quick fire going just as the flies and midges formed up for attack - just in time!

Lunch was Macaroni Cheese with fried mushrooms and tomato added - yum!
Peace perfect peace -  not a soul in sight, yet I could still hear the throb of traffic from the nearby A9!
An hours rest, then it was break camp and back down the track to the car.

This would be  a nice afternoon walk for a family - not too strenuous!





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