Not one of our usual hiking destinations. In the summer of 2011 we took a trip to the UK to see relatives. A visit to Gary’s uncle living near Glasgow gave us an opportunity for some hiking, backpacking and car camping in Scotland. Very different from the Ozarks…
Looking towards the islands – Near Knock Castle, Largs
Keith, Gary and Ginger – Jubilee Beacon, Dumyat, Stirling, Scotland
The hills to the East of Dumyat
Pastures and derelict buildings on the hills to the North East of Dumyat
De’ils Cauldron, Comrie – The River Lednock, in Glen Lednock, Comrie.
The River Lednock, in Glen Lednock, Comrie.
Looking North from the road in Glen Lednock while on our Comrie hike.
Larchwood path, Glen Lednock, Comrie, Scotland
Foraging for berries – Keith and Ginger supplementing lunch on our Comrie hike.
River Lednock, looking South towards a washed out weir.
River Lednock
Looking North towards the granite obelisk on Dunmore hill which commemorates Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville. Comrie, Scotland
Dunmore Pineapple Folly – What more can one say? There used to be green houses for growing pineapples here
Loch Lomond, Scotland
The Falls of Falloch. For some idea of the scale note the people sitting at the top of the falls
Achallader
Loch at Achallader
Glen Coe to Glen Etive Public Footpath Sign
Footpath to Glen Etive. Lairig Gartain from Glencoe
River Coupall in Lairig Gartain – In the early stages of our hike along the public footpath to Glen Etive
Gary contemplating the view of Loch Etive
Gary and Ginger at the saddle of Lairig Gartain, Glencoe, Scotland
Stag laying, apparently completely unharmed and totally disinterested at the side of the road
Looking back at the saddle of Lairig Gartain from Glen Etive
Gary by the River Coupall in Glencoe, Scotland
Gary and Ginger by the River Coupall in Glencoe
Gary and Ginger at the end of the 9+ mile hike
Camped by the River Etive in Glen Etive
View from our Mutha Hubba tent in Glen Etive
Our Mutha Hubba tent pitched by the River Etive, Glen Etive, Scotland.
Our Mutha Hubba tent camped by the River Etive in Glen Etive, Scotland
Our Mutha Hubba tent camped by the River Etive in Glen Etive, Scotland
The Falls of Foyers drop 165 feet , near Loch Ness Scotland
By the end of the night the inside of the fly was absolutely covered in Scottish midges. We were so glad we’d bought head nets, because these things are nasty.
Loch Tollaidh, On the A382 between Gairloch and Poolewe
Escaping the midges at Loch Maree we stopped by Loch Tollaidh to have our breakfast.
Loch Maree, Scotland
Loch Maree
Loch Maree
St Maelrubha’s is a Scottish Episcopal church. As it was a Sunday and we are Episcopalians ourselves we thought it a good idea to attend the service
St Maelrubha’s, Scottish Episcopal church, Poolewe, Scotland
Sheep and mountains. A common combination in Scotland. Somewhere near Poolewe.
Taken from the top of a 400 foot cliff near Little Gruinard. View to the East across Gruinard Bay
Gary and Ginger looking out over Gruinard Bay
View to the North at Ardmair Scotland
View across Loch Lurgainn, Inverpolly. There’s a small loch at the top of that hill, and a gentle slope up the left side. We have that targeted for a return visit.
Camped beside Loch Bad a’Ghaill, Inverpolly. Keeping the flysheet off until the evening lets us enjoy the view without the midges.
The view from inside our tent by Loch Bad a’Ghaill, Scotland
This is what midge bites look like – on me anyway. Scottish midges are much worse than the mosquitoes of the Ozarks.
Our Mutha Hubba tent camped alongside Loch Bad a’Ghaill
Rainy day at Loch Rannoch
View from the tent on a rainy day at Loch Rannoch. Our only really rainy day in Scotland, and it cleared up later.
Our last campsite in Scotland