Walks Blog – Jul 2020

Feathered Friends Feeder Fun …!
Robin’s returned, Blue’s having a bad hair day and young Goldy wants to be a woodpecker when she grows up ..! 😁💙
Alison’s Facebook post: https://tinyurl.com/y6n3d7ws , 31st July, 2020

Walk (122) Finzean Water Mills-Feughside Ramble (Aberdeenshire)
This is a very pleasant walk in the valley of the Water of Feugh at Finzean. The first part of the route is gently uphill in open pine forest at Perciemuir Wood, with naturally seeded silver birch and other native trees complementing the agreeable woodland environment. Descending to the valley floor again, the second part of the walk is in open countryside and broad-leafed woodland along both banks of the tumbling Water of Feugh. The walk starts and finishes at the fascinating Finzean Water Mills … 😀
John’s Facebook post: https://bit.ly/39EVWik , 29th July, 2020

Favourite Finzean …
It was lovely to be back in the Finzean area yesterday, walking by the water of Feugh and visiting the old sawmills once again. This one’s a favourite … 😊💙
Alison’s Facebook post: https://tinyurl.com/y36z8rd5 , 29th July, 2020

Walk (121) Torphins Wood-Craigmyle Circuit (Aberdeenshire)
This is an enjoyable rural walk in the scenic countryside around Torphins where there are great views up to the Hill of Fare, to the distinctive tor of Clachnaben, and sweeping vistas over mid-Deeside in general. … 😀
John’s Facebook post: https://t.ly/p4HD , 26th, July, 2020

Wet, Wet, Wet …
This wet July, it’s not been unusual to get caught in rain when out walking. This afternoon took the top spot, though – humid and hot with thunder and torrential rain for the most part …💦😁
Alison’s Facebook post: https://t.ly/cFOV , 25th July, 2020

Bandits at 12 O’Clock …!
I was delighted to get a snap of the yellow hammers this week. They arrive every evening but are very wary and quick to fly off. Definitely not up for a photo shoot. The goldfinch gang, on the other hand, dive in like a squadron of spitfires and positively pose for the camera …! 😊
Alison’s Facebook post: https://bit.ly/2WUhqCA , 25th July, 2020

Summer Shades …
Over by Tarland yesterday. What great walking paths they have there – thanks, maybe, to the Macrobert Trust. The landscape turning yellow again as we head towards “hairst” (harvest) time … 😊💙
Alison’s Facebook post: https://t.ly/8zmY , 22nd July, 2020

Walk (120) Tarland-Tomnaverie-Sun Seat Trail (Aberdeenshire)
This is a gentle rural ramble in fine scenery, with local points of interest visited along the way. The Tomnaverie recumbent stone circle is on a low hill that enables wonderful all-around views, framing Lochanagar over the recumbent stone in a striking fashion. The mid-point on the walk is the impressive modern stone construction known as the Sun Seat, both for the sunny position of the viewpoint, and the representation of the sun built into the wall behind the seating area. … 😀
John’s Facebook post: https://t.ly/Vn0M , 22nd July, 2020

Walk (119) New Aberdour Beach-Pennan Path Ramble (Aberdeenshire)
This coastal walk visits the unusual pink rock arch tunnel at the attractive shingle beach at New Aberdour before a continuous ascent between fields on the old right of way path to Pennan to reach a high vantage point where there is a fine view down to Pennan Bay and Troup Head. On the return leg there are good views back along the rugged North Aberdeenshire coast toward Rosehearty. Along the way, there is historical interest associated with Celtic missionary, St. Drostan … 😀
John’s Facebook post: https://bit.ly/39dDlt7 , 19th July, 2020

Go Pink …!
New Aberdour Beach with its distinctive rock arch, pink stone and (today) sunny skies … 😊
Alison’s Facebook post: https://t.ly/YeYE , 18th July, 2020

New Aberdour To Pennan Path …
Walking by Aberdeenshire’s distinctive north coast today … 😊
Alison’s Facebook post: https://bit.ly/3eDVodb , 18th July, 2020

Busy Birds …
No slow down in bird feeder activity this week. It was good to see a young coal tit join the regulars … 💙😊
Alison’s Facebook post: https://bit.ly/2WrDowf , 17th July, 2020

Cushnie Country …
Today, Kirk Hill, Cushnie … 💙 #walking #hiking #RediscoverABDN @visitabdn #Aberdeenshire
Alison’s Tweet: https://bit.ly/2DJwDQ0 , 16th July, 2010

Walk (118) Lumphanan Rural Ramble (Aberdeenshire)
This gentle little ramble around the rural outskirts of Lumphanan offers some lovely countryside views. At the mid-point, where a bench overlooks the village, there is a fine view over the rolling Deeside farmland and forests towards Mount Keen. On the return leg, the walk follows a path through mixed woodland, which was once part of the Old Military Road from Fochabers to Fettercairn … 😀
John’s Facebook post: https://t.ly/JcFk , 16th July, 2020

40 Shades Of Green …!
Walking locally earlier in the week, it’s green, green, green every way we turn … 😊
Alison’s Facebook post: https://bit.ly/2WpGlh7 , 15th July, 2020

Wild Flower Extravaganza …
Heading west this morning, down to the riverbank and a riot of wild flowers, colours and scents … 😊💙
Alison’s Facebook post: https://bit.ly/2WoOUZr , 15th July, 2020

Our Somewhat Damp Scottish Summer …
Enjoying the scenery between the showers this week. We have Dess, Corse and, here in Alford, a cheeky chap down by the Don … 😊
Alison’s Facebook post: https://bit.ly/3gRO4Mq , 11th July, 2020

Blooming Beautiful …!
Flowering round two for this beauty … 😊💙
Alison’s Facebook post: https://bit.ly/306yYwa , 11th July, 2020

Our Avian Amigos …
Some of this week’s colourful garden visitors … 💚😊
Alison’s Facebook post: https://t.ly/Pjnv , 9th July, 2010

Walk (117) Coiliochbhar Hill – from the Kildrummy side (Aberdeenshire)
This is a fairly straightforward “there and back” hill walk over a relatively short distance. The ascent to the summit at 533 m above sea level is on good tracks but is quite steep at times. As you start to gain height in the early stages of the walk there are wonderful views over farmland and the Don valley. In the final section, the views looking back to the southern and western perspective are increasingly wide-ranging, with the Cairngorm peaks prominent in the distance. Arriving at the summit cairn there are tremendous views in all directions … 😀
John’s Facebook post: https://bit.ly/2OlZYSV , 9th July, 2020

A Stiff Climb Up Coiliochbhar/Coillebharr/Callievar …!
Coiliochbhar Hill dominates the Don valley west of the Howe of Alford and we’ve been planning to climb it for some time now. This afternoon we got there. A good choice for the first of the post-lockdown Mack Walks … 😊
Alison’s Facebook post: https://bit.ly/31TQuWX , 7th July, 2020

We Do Like To Be Beside The Seaside …!
Pulling on the waterproofs wasn’t quite what we’d had in mind for our first “more than 5 miles from home” foray! Nor had we anticipated the footpath being quite so overgrown post-lockdown! Still, it was good to be walking by the sea again … 😁
Alison’s Facebook post: https://bit.ly/2C8VoVe , 4th July, 2020

Wider Walking Again …!
With the 5-mile travel limit for leisure activities now lifted in Scotland, we headed out to the Banff coast for our first glimpse of the sea in 3 months. On a damp morning, the intriguing ruin of Findlater Castle, perched on a rocky cliff-top promontory, and abandoned in the 17th Century, was the turning point on our little hike. On our return route we passed the nearby beehive-style Findlater Doocot, which also dates back to the 1500’s, although restored in recent times …😀
John’s Facebook post: https://t.ly/afsg , 4th July, 2020