Afternoon Delight In Tarland …
Majestic Morven, curious coos and a spectacular stone circle …💙 Walking near Tarland this bright and sunny afternoon …😊
Alison’s Facebook post: https://tinyurl.com/y289zjsk , 29th September, 2020
This is a pleasant walk from the Cathedral at the centre of Brechin into the countryside on the southern side of the River South Esk where the way-marked route links a number of paths and minor roads around the slopes of Burghill, passing through farmland and mature woodland. At its highest points the route provides far-reaching views over Brechin and the hills to the North, with glimpses, too, of the Montrose Basin to the East … 
John’s Facebook post: https://tinyurl.com/y2pwlb2b , 28th September, 2020
Route Finding (& Losing) In Dufftown …!
Yesterday, Dufftown … 💙 #walking #hiking #Dufftown #Mortlach #Moray
Alison’s Tweet: https://twitter.com/TheMackWalks/status/1310205413305077760 , 27th September, 2020
Furiously Flocking …
It’s been a busy day at Bird Central. The boys, and girls, are back in town …! 
Alison’s Facebook post: https://tinyurl.com/y62fucsb , 25th September, 2020
Autumn Colours At Wellhouse …
I already have so many photos taken over the last few months from Wellhouse woods, a favourite of our “walks from the door”. It was so beautiful and autumnal this morning, I couldn’t resist adding a few more … 
(The trees were snapped closer to “the door”!)
Alison’s Facebook post: https://tinyurl.com/y2wc5qj8 , 23rd September, 2020
Walk (130) Glenbuchat-Meikle Firbriggs Circuit (Aberdeenshire)
After an enjoyable walk up the very quiet and scenic Glenbuchat valley in Strathdon, the route makes a fairly steep climb on heather moorland to the ridge on the northern side of the glen where there are wonderful views down to the farmland below you and onwards to distant hilltops. Remote Glenbuchat was once home to a diverse community living off the upland landscape in a mostly self-sufficient way, and having little need for the 
outside world. The people mostly lived in little settlements called “clachans” which were spread throughout the glen but there is now little evidence left of these in the landscape … 
John’s Facebook post: https://tinyurl.com/y3zm8mq5 , 21st September, 2020
Warm Walking In Glenbuchat …
The heat of a full-on sun made the climb up to Meikle Firbriggs seem tougher than it should have been this afternoon. No complaints, though – the glen was as glorious as ever …
Alison’s Facebook post: https://tinyurl.com/y2nd3aqr , 19th September, 2020
On A Sunny Hillside Somewhere Special …
The gardens at Leith Hall today. Full of colour even this late in the season …
Alison’s Facebook post: https://tinyurl.com/yy7hqbph , 18th September, 2020
Indian Summer Weather …!
Leith Hall, shining this warm and sunny early autumn afternoon …
Alison’s Facebook post: https://tinyurl.com/y3z9ltyn , 18th September, 2020
Walk (129) Cromarty-Gallow Hill-South Sutor Circuit (Highland)
This is a varied and enjoyable circular walk from the historic and picturesque little town of Cromarty in the Black Isle area of northern Scotland to the high headland known as the South Sutor. The initial section crosses the Black Isle watershed where there are fine views over the Moray Firth from Burghead to Inverness. The route then takes a turn to the north-east through rough pasture to reach a high point at the South Sutor. The return leg on the route then descends quite steeply through woodland on an old path known as “The 100 Steps” before exploring the interesting architectural features in the mostly 18thC centre of the town …
John’s Facebook post: https://tinyurl.com/y4fgcavg , 17th September, 2020
From Eilean Dhu …
North Kessock & the Beauly Firth. The last instalment, for this visit anyhow, from the Black Isle ..
Alison’s Facebook post: https://tinyurl.com/y5hk7fgo , 13th September, 2020
Weather-wise, rain showers dominated today. On the plus side, the views were atmospheric … Alison’s Facebook post: https://tinyurl.com/y36wprkn , 13th September, 2020
We included Chanonry Point on our walking route, hoping to see some of the two hundred bottlenose dolphins who live in the Moray Firth. Today, it wasn’t to be. There were diving gannets and supplies of ripe brambles, though, so all was good …! Alison’s Facebook post: https://tinyurl.com/y6gz455z , 12th September, 2020
Historic Cromarty …
How interesting, historically and architecturally, Cromarty is …
Alison’s Facebook post: https://tinyurl.com/yxa2ryam , 11th September, 2020
Bonnie Black Isle …
Walking on the Black Isle today, near Cromarty and the Sutors. A scenic and varied landscape …
Alison’s Facebook post: https://tinyurl.com/y2fhtscy , 11th September, 2020
Harvest Time …
The “hairst”. In full swing at every turn right now …
Alison’s Facebook post: https://tinyurl.com/y4nbtsuj , 9th September, 2020
Walk (128) Corgarff Castle-Carn Oighreag Circuit (Aberdeenshire)
This circular hill walk on the eastern edge of the Cairngorm Mountains feels remote. There is a sense of leaving the last green corner of Strathdon behind you as you climb away from the hill sheep grazing by the meandering River Don, not far from its source beneath Ben Avon. The route begins 
close to the imposing white-walled Corgarff Castle which stands out starkly in the landscape, reflecting its former role in the pacification of the rebellious Highlands … 🤔
John’s Facebook post: https://tinyurl.com/y4cckge2 , 6th September, 2020
Climbing Carn Oighreag (Burial Cairn of the Cloudberries?) …
A tough one today – high climbing above Corgarff castle, always in strong winds, often in pelting rain. The purple of the heather now almost past, bleak and beautiful indeed … 💙😊
Alison’s Facebook post: https://tinyurl.com/y63twvnk , 5th September, 2020
Postscript: just after we took the pic, taken in scudding wind and rain, of the Shepherd’s Cairn looking down on Corgarff Castle, we came upon a sizeable grouse shooting party … the shooters and their gun-carriers were legging it through the heather on a hillside about 500m to our right … and the grouse legging it in the opposite direction as far as we could make out by their panicked flights and rat-a-tat alarm calls! There just might have been the toff-est of toffs in the party since Delnadamph Estate, where we were walking, is owned by the Royals – bought by Queen Elizabeth in 1971 as Balmoral wasn’t providing sufficient birds for grouse shooting. As we passed through the gaggle of empty 4×4’s one vehicle, a top of the range Range Rover was occupied by a couple of guys bedecked in classic countryman checked shirts and tweed waistcoats who gave us a curious look as we came upon them … clearly Special Branch in country gent disguise (well, that’s our theory anyway) … 🤔 I guess we looked like an unlikely pair of wet and bedraggled Jihadists … and since Scotland has been pretty much short of armed rebels since Corgarff Castle was in its Hanoverian heyday … they let us pass unchallenged … indeed we got a cheery wave which Alison, in the spirit of vegetarian republicanism, disdained to return … 💃💪👩🎨
Private Garden – Keep Out …!
The chirpy chaffinches are very territorial – it’s now their garden, not ours … 
Some of my favourite snaps taken in recent weeks …
Alison’s Facebook post: https://tinyurl.com/y4p6n7tz , 4th September, 2020
Flourishing Fungi …!
It’s been a sometimes damp and sometimes humid couple of days. Perfect weather for the ‘shrooms …!
Alison’s Facebook post: https://tinyurl.com/yy77j5qf , 2nd September, 2020
The Mack Walks 