Interesting walk on Fife Coastal Path
IT has seemed to me that in recent years Golden October has given way to Golden November.
Although some trees have turned; walking in mixed woodland in the latter part of October I notice that the predominant colour is still green. Some frosty mornings and high winds could change all that.
The Monday Walkers were along the Fife Coastal Path recently from St. Andrews almost to the village of Boarhills. At one time or another I guess I've walked most of the coastline from the Firth of Forth up to Moray.
The diversity of the various stretches is what makes coastal walking so interesting. This day conditions were ideal with above average temperatures.
The path takes you close to the St. Andrew's Bay Golf Course. The governmental Northern Ireland Conference was being held in the hotel during that week but it was sloe berries on the blackthorn rather than high politics that claimed our attention. There is a glut of sloes this year. Some of our number came home with a few pounds between them; the basic ingredient for sloe gin which makes a fine after-dinner liqueur.
Out from the shore fishermen were checking out their lobster creels indicated in the water by flag markers. Further along and in a sheltered gully a species of ivy was liberally covered with painted lady butterflies; wings extended in the warm sunshine. I lost count at three dozen.
The peace was periodically shattered by the low roar of Tornado aircraft engines from the RAF base at Leuchars a few miles to the north.
This seven mile walk is no doddle. The undulating path, greasy after damp weather, gave way to a bit of rock scrambling but the scenic rewards are there in the fantastical shapes of rocky outcrops and sea stacks.
I've just finished reading the autobiography of Wainwright who knew the fells of Lakeland like no other. His advice to ramblers (in block capitals) was "WATCH WHERE YOU'RE PUTTING YOUR FEET". If you want to admire the scenery stop and look. Falls occur when your concentration wanders. You certainly needed to pay attention on this stretch of coastal path. (OS Landranger Sheet 59).
There was a good turnout the following Monday when the walkers visited the Hill of Alyth. The weather was good and it was, apparently, a successful outing. I was elsewhere myself.
Down in the douce south-west for a few days, we were walking in Glen Trool in the heart of the Galloway Forest Park.
We did a circuit of Loch Trool, a few miles from Newton Stewart on a walk described in the "Visit Scotland" magazine. Part of the track follows the Southern Upland Way and there are good views across to the Fell of Eschoncan and South Scotland's highest hill The Merrick (2783 ft).
Up on Buchan Hill you come across Bruce's Stone. This imposing rock commemorates the life and achievements of King Robert the Bruce. The Battle of Glentrool (1307) was a relatively minor guerrilla action compared to many of the great battles of Scottish history but it was here that three hundred Scots defeated an English force five times their number. This signalled a turning point in Bruce's fight for Scottish freedom which culminated in victory at Bannockburn a few years later.
You only get up to 300 ft or so on this walk but the up-and-down nature of the terrain put me in mind of Loch Lomondside.
That part of Scotland is now one of the few outposts of the red squirrel against the incursions of the grey but we have seen one in Deeside in recent weeks and someone has reported to me that a month or so ago a red squirrel scampered over a lady's foot in Brechin Cathedral. Take heart; all is not lost.
- Don McGilp.
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Weather for Brechin
Friday 25 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 10 C to 14 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 8 C to 15 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: East
