A grand day in prospect weatherwise.......
Picked up Harvey and scooted off up Royal Deeside.
Exercised our NTS membership rights and took the shortcut across the Edward vii brig at Mar lodge and parked at the Big o Quoich.
First again ! GC paid our parking fee before remembering that I had NTS membership. Och well, more into the kitty.







Strolled off across the Quoich Brig, which seemed to un-nerve Harvey. Don't know if it was the metal surface, but he had to be coaxed across, which he did - close to me, with his legs splayed a bit, which made GC chuckle. Once on "dry land" his tail resumed its wag !



Passed the Allanaquoich buildings and the forest with its fairly new surrounding electric fences. Continued along the track until we were distracted by 3 birds in the marshes honking at us, which we assumed were Greylag geese. Looked like they may have been nesting. Left them in peace and wandered past the keepers house with much woodworking activity in the surrounds, to the end of the track up Chleirich. .



Took a wee shortcut up to the track then turned left to follow the track up to a loose copse of mature Scotch pines, where we stopped to admire the scenery.






Although there was a light breeze with a wee edge to it, we stripped down to "summer" walking attire, then continued toiling up the track with a few stops to "admire the scenery" and disturbed 4 deer resting in the sun, until the track expired.
We joined some convenient muir-burns together to get to the top and a wee cairn. Cooried down behind the cairn out of the edgy breeze blowing down from Bheinn a Bhuird.






As we lay ruminating and soaking in the views, GC spotted a couple o hang-gliders launching from Morrone across the glen. They seemed to be catching noonday thermals, as they started gaining a bit of height. Eventually they disappeard from sight behind the hill.
We couln't lounge any longer, as we'd soaked up all the scenery and our quota of sunshine. so checked that our legs still worked and headed down.



At the track along the glen, we passed some guys with heavy "camping " packs who had walked over from Glenmore and asked us about bridges across the Dee. We pointed out the options of going back to Mar lodge or continuing along to Keiloch past Invercauld and then catching a bus into Ballater. As the Dee was pretty low, they could've spashed across and walked into Braemar. Think they opted for Keiloch.
Continued back to the car park with another coaxing of Harvey across the bridge, to meet a holidaying Northampton couple setting off for the Linn o Quoich.



Chatted for a wee while until GC directed them to the path from the car park.
Jumped into the car and scooted off in search of a BR cafe. Last weeks venue in Ballater was closed, so we had to make do with cheese toasties again - Boo Hoo!.
Enjoyed the sunny drive home alongside the river in all its spring glory, with the deciduous trees soaking up the spring heat to get their leaves out for some photo-synthesis..
A stotter o' a day !