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!

Return to Oisineach Mor
Posted by Graham Lumsden (highlandp) on Dec 27 2008 at 9:35 PM
Highland Travelogue >>

I have visited before as you can read with my earlier 'logue.
I had wanted to go back for some time.
Its a beautiful walk and normally sparsley populated, which suits me fine.
Now, Oisineach is prononounced "Auchnashee" by the locals, and I was informed that there is a lesser Loch just behind the main one, and this was another reason for the trek
The walk is lengthy, and took me 6.75 hours beginning to end, with stops.
You turn into Ballinluig of the A9 at the new interchange and turn left through the village and head for Tulliemet.
Pass through Tulliemet until you come to a sign "Brown Street", where you turn sharp left, uphill.
This is a short track and you park before the gate:

The first thing you will hear is the sharp "Kee - Kee" of a Buzzard that makes its home amongst the trees here.
Follow the track uphill through several gates - some of these gates are "lifting" gates - they do not sit well on their hinges and need some strength to lift them free of their catches.
When you reach the top of the hill, the landscape and Flora change to that of heather moorland:

The climb is strenous to this point, but soon levels out.
As you walk, look over to your right until you see this ruined cottage in the far distance, next to a conifer tree:



You will reach the cottage after about 1 hours hike.
This makes a good aiming point, and is a good spot to have a break, which I did, and used the nearby stream to wash off some sweat of the walk so far.
Follow the track round the side of the hill, keeping left all the way as it starts to climb again.


At this point, there are some wonderful views off to your left


It becomes quite tricky walking on the track because its not quite wide enough for two feet and is a little awkward at times.

After walking for around 2 hours, the Loch appears around the side of a hill in front of you




I found a good site for a camp halfway along the West shore, paying attention to the the three "W's" -
Wood, Weather, and Widowmakers!
Another cup of tea here, but no fire or shelter yet.
I wanted to find the Lesser Lochan nearby, but I had a problem -
I didnt have a map.
Now, I hike on a very small budget, and maps are expensive, and although I add to my collection when I can, I dont yet have a proper map of the area.
When I got to the end of the loch, I was faced with two paths - left and right.
I climbed a nearby hill for a bearing, and I chose the left track - wrong!

The track climbs steeply and eventually opened out onto a gorgeous depression like a huge crater, with a far distant loch at the far end.



This was one of those seminal moments where beauty and awe conspire to make you stand in silence to take in what you are seeing - truly wonderful scenery.
The loch turned out to be Loch Broom, which I have already visited (see earlier blog).
I turned back at this point, not having the legs to search further.
I retraced my steps to my earlier chosen campsite and made a fire from pine branches.
Here I learned something new.
I learned that pine burns fiercely due to the resin it contains.
This resulted in my meal cooking far too quickly, and the water I used to cover my potatoes, sausage and tomato soon evaporated, causing me to use too much of my precious water supplies.
I had to resort to taking water from the loch and boiling it.
Hiking and camping is fascinating - I am always learning something new each time I go.


It was then back along the trail with some lovely views



It was at this point that I had a visit from a Jolly Green Giant!



Making my way back down the steep hill, I caught sight of a wonderful pair of deer - you can just see them in this picture



So, in spite of not finding the Lesser Lochan, I had a wonderful, if tiring, hike.
The overall time, with stops, was 6.75 hours.
I would LOVE you to leave me a comment!

Comments

Looking For Fishing? Just type the location in the box below: