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Winter has officially arrived. The streets of Beauly are white today.
It's been a hectic week and we were so busy we couldn't even think about planning any serious climbing for weekend. But I still wanted to get out and about even if just for a few minutes as a leg-stretcher we went for a walk in Strathpeffer area. I was eager to get some winter-wonderland views and I wasn't disappointed.
Knockfarrel is a popular spot for walkers as it's close to Dingwall. We used to come here mushroom picking to Blackmuir Wood until most of the forest was cut down in 2009
Still, it's a nice short walk for anybody to enjoy
We parked in the Blackmuir Wood Forestry car park and followed the track uphill. Though part of the forest is missing, paths are signposted so it's easy to find the way to the stone maze.
A local attraction, some 81 stones, arranged in 5 concentric circles (picture taken in 2008):
We walked past the stone maze and onto the track through the woods:
The branch of the path heading up Knockfarrel:
We passed the stile and continued to the crest of the ridge, on a wet path:
As soon as we were out of the trees, we got our winter-wonderland views...
Loch Ussie from above:
Looking east towards Cromarty Firth:
The path along the ridge:
Unfortunately, Ben Wyvis was completely covered by a nasty-looking cloud:
The day was rather dark and Kevin did all his best to squeeze good quality pictures from the camera
We reached the little modern sculpture half-way along the ridge and stopped for a moment just to click a few more photies:
Waiting for more snow...
Strathpeffer in white:
Highland Hotel:
The ridge to Knockfarrel:
As we carried on to the small col (where there's a car park for lazy walkers
) wind picked up and the big cloud from Ben Wyvis started moving towards us with quite a speed
Dingwall and Cromarty Bridge were still on the clear side:
We crossed the saddle and quickly walked up to the fort at the summit of Knockfarrel. We were just about quick enough to capture the changing mood of Mother Nature:
Looking back at the ridge:
Ooooops, the cloud is coming closer!
Here is is, charging at us ferociously:
So it was time to run away!
As a return route we took a track that goes downhill from Knockfarrel, avoiding the ridge. We walked most of the way back in heavy snow, but we were still lucky to be caught only by the edge of the big cloud. We left it behind just as we entered the woods again:
In about two hours time we were back home, drinking hot coffee and watching the weather forecast
For many reasons I won't get much chance to do any serious hillwalking until Christmas, so I have to be satisfied with little things... Till another big one!
