Castle Tioram

During our stay at Acharacle we had to fit in some sea kayaking days for Mr.and Miss S. So Sunday was spent around Castle Tioram. The idea was that I would enjoy quiet relaxing days pottering around the coast taking photos and looking after our dog, having waved off the kayakers. You know what people say about great plans...

We arrived at the castle car park which was already filling up with cars, not what I wanted to see, call me naive if you like, but when I go to quiet remote areas of Scotland at the end of October I don't expect to share beaches with other people! and dogs!!!

So having put our dog on a lead we left the kayakers to get sorted and I walked out of car park to photograph views across the bay.

All of a sudden I was pulled around and dragged across the path. My dog had spotted another dog off the lead and decided to go and say hello, as I had been in the middle of taking a photograph I was not prepared for this, it wasn't long before I was being dragged along the grass, on the other side of the path, on my stomach. When I finally came to a halt, the family of the other dog had got to me with the woman offering to help me up. I very ungraciously chose to remain sat firmly on the grass, and tried to staighten my hat, which had fallen across my face, declaring that I was ok, just extremely cross.

I had in fact been very fortunate as there was only a thin strip of grass on either side of a gravelled path, so my slightly bruised chin and muddied camera could have been a lot worse off!
It wasn't the ideal start to the day and then after composing myself I put my camera safely away in my rucksack and marched my dog into the centre of the beach and sat perched on a small boulder as far away from everyone else and their dogs as I could get! There I remained for a good hour after the kayakers had paddled off for the day.
It turned out to be a very noisy place to sit as people discovered that the hills which framed the whole bay echoed their screams, so for most of the day children and the occasional adult would, on reaching the shoreline, turn to face the hills and then they would scream or shout or whoop and wait for the returning echo.
Eventually I decided to allow my dog some freedom and we walked to the shoreline where I let her off so she could enjoy the sea!
We then walked back up the beach with the intention of walking along a small path along the coast, but as my confidence had taken a huge battering earlier on the day I only walked a few metres along the wooded path before deciding it would be best if I stayed around the castle, so I found a large fallen log with lots of branches onto which I could slip the lead, I chose to sit there and eat my lunch, and then when it quietened down I ventured up to the castle and waited for the return of the sea kayakers.
On their return they made my day complete by enthusing about the fantastic view they had enjoyed of a sea eagle mobbing a gull, which in turn was being mobbed back by another gull, all this happening directly above their heads!
Once the kayaks had been carried back to the car, I handed our dog over to my two intrepid explorers and took my camera for a walk along the beach, it was much quieter by now, although there still were a few people enjoying the views.

Well we had been there all day, it seemed only right that we should stay to watch the sun set!

Acharacle, First impressions

What a beautiful area to visit,
After a 10 hour drive with stops for dog to exercise and to stock up with supplies at Fort William, we finally arrived at Acharacle, unpacked and then had a chance to stop and look out of the window to see this stunning moon rise.

oh yes this was going to be a good week!
Not much light left to see anything else outside, we had to wait for Sunday before we could get out and explore the area a bit more.
Half past seven the following morning dog woke me up time for breakfast, although I ignored the clock that had told me it was that time and decided that the one that read four thirty was in fact the correct time, as it was still dark, not like at home when I would have been outside photographing the sunrise! So back to bed having let the dog out unfed, she wouldn't let me settle and the birds were just starting to call too, so back out of bed I got, fed dog and bleary eyed opened the door again to let her outside, this time the light was just starting to break through, so I grabbed my camera and put on some shoes and outside I went to enjoy sunrise in Acharacle.

It was a beautiful crisp cold misty morning, so as I was still in my dressing gown I returned to the comfort of the house and waited for the mist to lift!
And it did so back outside I went..

As I was still wearing my dressing gown at this time I didn't think I should venture any further than the garden. One thing had become evident, it may be a quiet remote area of Scotland, but it was much busier than my home, cars passed by the house regularly and I had to time the photographs between the traffic and the pedestrians who were also enjoying the wonderful weather, I had several people apologise when they saw me there waiting for them to walk by, and did I mention I was still in my dressing gown! The light was constantly changing and I wasn't going to miss the chance to capture the views while I got dressed, It's a holiday after all!

Beresford, Wolfscote and Biggin Dale

We don't get to Derbyshire as often as we would like, these busy lives we lead! so as we had a free day yesterday we made the most of it and headed out to the glorious Derbyshire Dales.
We started our walk from the popular village of Hartington.
Walking through a couple of fields with grazing cattle, the path leads down to the picturesque Beresford Dale,

One of a few small weirs to be found along the dale

The first half of Beresford Dale is a rocky and enclosed dale with the pretty River Dove flowing through it, but after crossing this bridge the dale widens allowing more light in so the occasional splash of colour creeps in too such as this Meadow Cranesbill

walking past another bridge, which crosses over the River Dove, we passed through a small gate way into Wolfscote Dale.

 looking back



 kestrel

 goosander

 Herb Robert

 scabious

dipper

We walked along Wolfscote Dale, a steep sided valley with the pretty River Dove flowing through with it's series of small weirs, until arrived at the meeting of three dales, choice of continuing along the River to Dove Dale, a definite no as Dove Dale is far too busy, so we opted for the round route a much quieter walk along the picturesque Biggin Dale.

then along this green lane to the road. 

 There was absolutely no way our dog would get up these so it was then down the road back to Hartington

More Common Views

I just can't resist the walking on the common now, and unlike last year the ground isn't churned up by the cattle as it was a much drier summer, so much easier to walk!
I went for a 'quick' walk across the common again yesterday well that was the plan, it ended up being a walk all the way round the common, a wonderful hour totally absorbed!
During that hour I watched, dragonflies basking in the sun and dancing butterflies. Pipits, snipe and pheasant lifted startled into the air, and I caught a wonderful glimpse of a fox furtively moving away through the trees.
Here are some of my captured memories!

         this believe it or not is the brook, can't see any water in it but dog goes for a dip in it every time

                                                                       startled pheasant!

all of this on my doorstep

This morning I posted a photo on my garden gate blog declaring what a lovely start to the day!
Well the day just kept getting better!
We have enjoyed the company of a herd of cows which have been happily grazing the common in front of our house since the Spring. I am not a great fan of cattle and although I am quite happy to see them when they are the other side of a fence I would not consider going on the common to walk my dog by myself.
This morning the farmer took all the cattle away, so this afternoon I made the most of the beautiful weather and a cattle free common.
It was wonderful to get back there!

Common Darter ( I think)

Southern Hawker

Comma

Small Coppers

The Common  - anything could be hiding in there, and indeed a little later I startled a hare, and it in turn startled me so I didn't get a photo of it, sorry!

This grey squirrel, I wouldn't have noticed it if it wasn't being so noisy

                                                                           buzzard

Welcome to the land of fairy folk

Well it would be lovely wouldn't it?