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It was my husband's birthday last Thursday, but he was busy with business calls all day so we decided to wait until the weekend, and then go somewhere pretty for a picnic.
If it was up to me I'd have chosen a mountain to climb, but he's older than me and isn't keen on long walks or ascent so I located the prettiest flat walk I could find, not too long, and made us a picnic.
We arrived in sparkling sunlight at about 9.30 am, and apart from a camper van had the car par to ourselves. Off we went down the track, which we'd passed many times and always wondered what was down there! The views were already pretty as we crossed the bridge.
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- Did I wish I was up on Beinn Eighe? Yes, a bit!
We followed the tarmac track around the edge of Loch Clair, and the water was so still that the reflections were very clear and beautiful. Views of Beinn Eighe and Liathach were stunning.
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- Panoramic on the phone - superb viewpoint!
We came to the end of the loch, and walked along the river towards the second loch, Loch Coulin. This loch is quite low at the moment, as it's been dry, but there were lots of birds around the water, and willow warblers singing. I had taken the big camera rather than the binoculars.
The track then became a smaller path and headed away from the water, across a sunny grassy expanse, towards the point at the far end where we passed to the right over a bridge and among some pretty houses, said hello to some young Highland Cows, and started to return along the other side of the loch.
Once we'd turned the corner, we found a log to sit on for lunch, spotting a tick on Trevor's trouser leg before it managed to get any further! SQUISH!
At this point, a lizard came scampering up to our feet, and just sat there, for twenty minutes while we ate - it was still there when we packed up and left.... we are from the Northern Isles and this was the closest I'd ever seen one. What a lovely wee thing.
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- Picnic spot
After lunch we wandered back along Loch Coulin towards the bridge near Coulin Lodge, where I was slightly alarmed by the BEWARE OF THE DOGS sign - but none appeared, thankfully! Then it was back along the track again to the car, stopping for tea and cake by the river. The light was different by now, with no reflections on the water as there were ripples now instead in the gentle breeze.
Back to the car 3.5 hours later, had a paddle in Loch Maree on the way home, then a lazy evening making drop scones. Trevor declared it one of his favourite walks ever, so that was good too!
