by dunrig » Fri Feb 24, 2012 3:33 pm
Couldn't agree more Mike-here is a the less succinct version Polly
Had a look at forecast on wed night, warm, windy, and wet over most of Scotland. Fancied a bit of self medicating real ale and a wee hill walk, always helps get commonplace worries into perspective.There are a few hills with breweries near start of walk (loch fyne..) but Ben Vrackie and Moulin brewery looked best bet with forecast.
My fellow train passengers are mostly workers, laptops and phones going as I stare out the window at sodden farmland and the cloud covered Ochils. Alighting at Pitlochry there is a sense of spring in air (at least break in winter), warmth, birdsong, greenery. Even the walk up the road alongside the Moulin burn is fine, a cloud free Ben Vrackie and a breeze that promises to blow all cares away as I get higher.
The car park is empty, surprising on this usually busy hill, maybe the forecast has put people off. Fir trees are lying across the path, a reminder of the ferocity of some recent storms. Moving out of the trees onto moorland brings a sense of space, the top of the hill is still clear,the wind blows me up in no time. It is not easy to stand up but I love the cloud capped view of southern cairngorms-a view with enough room to lose yourself in.On the way down pass a few people coming up, maybe enticed by lack of rain - ah but here it comes producing a memorable rainbow over Loch a'Choire.
The Moulin Hotel has a homely wood lined bar with a log fire going, real ale tastes great. 15 frenchmen come in and order expresso. They have no english but are intrested in haggis I mime (badly) whats in it- they decide to order something else.'allez les bleu' they are here for the rugby. I will draw a veil over rest of the day, it finished as I woke, happy and tired as the train drew into central station.
