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A couple o wee plooks that I mustve driven by a hundred times back in the '60s. Nonetheless a nice justification to collect my 75th RAF MR bottle o whusky at Lossiemouth. It was my day for taking Harvey for his doggie walk, so northwest we drove with all the workies driving the other way, until Fochabers. In spite of the usual Moray coast traffic chaos around Elgin, we made good time via the Pluscarden "Glen" to park up at the forestry entrance for Wangie with enough room for a couple of cars to squeeze in at the side of the track, so as not to block access to the gate and not to occupy the passing place on the road.
- Parkup for the Wangie
We followed the forestry track to where the forest had been cleared felled. At the "Layby" where some logs were stacked, we spotted a small gap across the rough clear-felled area created by a forwarder clearing wood, so decided to use this "easy" access across from the track to one of the firebreaks in the mature forest to the west.
- Looking across the clearfell to the firebreak
- GordobC's closeup of the firebreak start
On reaching the Larch borderinbg the pines, we crossed a dilapidated fence to reach the Pine firebreak heading south.
Well what a bit of luck - the firebreak we had chosen just happened to be the one that the trig point was in - now that doesn't happen very often !
There was a faint animal track down the firebreak, which we followed, so the expected thrutch across the felled stuff, followed by a fight down the firebreak didn't materialise and was a breeze compared to some of the stuff I've encountered before.
- Wangie's trig point in the firebreak
As there wasn't anything to see, we headed off back down the way we'd come. However, on the way down the forestry track, Harvey spotted a wee lochan - and being a Labrador, plunged in for a swim and drink - perfect for a hot sunny day.
- Harvey enjoying the water
- Harvey's cooldown bath
The wind turbines were all very still, looking like extras in Lord of the Rings.......
We made it back to the car when Harvey had finish plooterin aboot in the lochan..
Burgie Hill.
We headed back towards Plucarden Church then turned left doon the glen to find the unsigned turnoff for Burgie other than a wee signpost for the Califer.
Another spacious track entrance with enough room at either side to park up.
A short walk, even tor a dog-walk up the track and a loop round to the Comms mast compound.
GordonC wandered around and found the trig point tucked in to the east of the comms compound fence.
We returned to the car for a piece before driving to Lossiemouth for my bottle of commemorative whusky. kindly passed on by the Mountain Rescue guys.
Managed to make it back home before the workies erupted from their deliberations and activities, to race homeward.
Another great day out to an old stomping ground near Kinloss
