April in Hopeman

Grant Park, Forres - spring at last?

Brrrr. Mostly a very chilly month, often with cold winds from pretty much every direction except south.

East Beach, Hopeman

But it was pretty dry and often clear. some lovely views...

North from Daisy Rock, Hopeman

The views are in chronological order.

The Moray Firth from Daisy Rock, Hopeman

North east from Hopeman

Hopeman Harbour

Hopeman Harbour and East Beach along with the new sports pavillion

From East Beach, Hopeman

Evening from West Beach, Hopeman

The Moray Firth from Hopeman

Burghead from near Cummingston

Rafe, East Beach, Hopeman

Hopeman sandstone and fulmar

Cummingston

Freddie in one of Cummingston's many caves

Caves at Cummingston

Natural Arch, Cove Bay, east of Hopeman

Clashach Quarry

The Moray Firth from East Beach, Hopeman

North from West Beach, Hopeman

Burghead from Cummingston

Rafe on East Beach, Hopeman

Looking west from Cove Bay

Beach Hut, Hopeman

Cove Bay near Hopeman

Late Daffs, east of Hopeman

Rafe on the dunes near Hopeman

Fulmar over Cove Bay

Evening light, east of Hopeman

Burghead from Cummingston

The Moray Firth from West Beach, Hopeman

Lichen above the sea,  Cove Bay

Another Weekend in Cannich - 27th and 28th April 2013.

Loch Ness and Urquhart Castle

Freddie was waved off at the station in Forres - back to Uni for exams - on Saturday morning. So we were a bit later than usual arriving at the campsite in Cannich.

Urquhart Castle, Loch Ness

 This was a good excuse to have a bit of a lazy day on Saturday - road trip....

Sgorr nan Conbhairean,
the Munro we climbed last week

Five Sisters of Kintail

Loch Duich

Loch Shieldaig

Beinn Alligin

Loch Torridon

Beinn Alligin, Beinn Dearg and Liathach over Loch Torridon

Sunday - a spot of geocaching around Cannich...

River Glass, Strathglass, near Cannich

followed by a walk along the River Affric...

Glen Affric near Affric Lodge

River Affric

River Affric

Glen Affric Munro's

River Affric

Before heading back to Moray, ready for the working week.

Bah !

Plodda Falls.

Rafe on the Green Route near Plodda Falls

A lovely walk through the forest around Plodda Falls in Glen Affric.

Enormous Douglas Fir near Plodda Falls

We set off from the car park along the Green Route, choosing to follow the forestry road north first, leaving the waterfalls til last.

On the Green Route near Plodda Falls

The trees were enormous, including many Douglas Firs of gigantic girth.

Rafe looks (unsuccessfully) for Red Squirrels near Plodda Falls

The sun was out and the walking very pleasant. Rafe had a wonderful time bounding about.

Abhainn Deabhag just downstream from Plodda Falls

The track soon left the forest road onto a lovely track through the woods down to the river - Abhainn Deabhag - and then along its banks via an avenue of more outsize trees.

Plodda Falls

The waterfall announced itself well in advance following a week of snow melt and the overnight rain. It was spectacular!

Plodda Falls

Plodda Falls

Plodda Falls with Jim on the viewing platform 

Plodda Falls - looking down from the viewing platform

Plodda Falls - looking down from the viewing platform

We spent some time trying to keep the camera dry, then continued up the Allt na Bodachan and its accompanying woods to the car park.

Allt na Bodachan

We'll be back again - regularly.

Allt na Bodachan

Route:  Forestry Commission car park near Tomich at NH279237. Follow the Green Route, N along forest roads and track, SW along forest road by the river and SE along the waterfall back to the start.

Statistics:  Distance: 2:5km  Ascent: 100m  Time: 45minutes

Allt na Bodachan