Winter Walking

With a blustery and showery westerly wind blowing this morning, and in need of a walk across land as well-drained as possible, we headed for the sheltered, east-facing slope of the long hill called Cathair Mhic Dhiarmaid - MacDiarmid's Seat. This runs parallel to the road which goes down from the Cairn to Branault, forming one side of the lovely open valley of the Achateny Water. As we came down the road a squall laid a layer of hail across the tarmac, the first of many showers we would.... enjoy.

Looking back along the road as we climbed the first slopes, we watched the next shower wrap itself around the summit of Ben Hiant, which has been snow-capped since first thing this morning. The building visible in both these shots is Braehouse Cottage, one of Ardnamurchan Estate's letting properties.

At the northern end of the hill is a shallow dell which runs parallel to the contour. Lying in it, with his chin resting on a rock, was a young stag which had died not long ago. There was some evidence that he'd become entangled in loose wire which had been left lying around when a new deer fence was built, and had then fallen down the slope into the valley.

As we worked our way along the hill it began to snow in big flakes whipped along by a sharp wind. Our progress was watched by a small group of hinds which may have been the luckless stag's harem. They seemed inquisitive rather than afraid - perhaps surprised that humans could be so foolish to be out on the hills on such a wet day.

Then, as so often happens in this place, the skies cleared, the sun came out, and the whole valley seemed to glow in rich, vibrant colours. This picture looks from the road up towards the ridge of Cathair Mhic Dhiarmaid. The sun didn't last long: within minutes the scene was submerged in a heavy hail storm.

The Christmas and New Year period have been very wet indeed, the heaviest rain coming on the last day of 2011, when we had 29mm, over an inch. One thing we would like to see come in with the New Year is a change in the weather.