Eerie freezing fog & spooky woods

Well, it's feeling like winter is finally here at last!! Think it could possibly be our favourite time of year and we can't wait for the snow to come or more likely we go in search of it. There is plenty on the hills... so hopefully there's a wintery wonderland adventure in the planning for us soon! 

Today, our walk was weirdly eerie in the woodland. A cloak of ghostly freezing fog was lying low and crystallising everything it touched. The leaves were fringed with frost, the branches hanging with delicately frozen filaments and everything dulled & faded in the straining light. Still, the crisp air was refreshing and we ran around like mad, in between the trees, along the paths and up & down the hills. Doesn't matter where we are... we always make our own fun together!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Christmas day walk in winter sun

Little did we know when we were bundled into the car on Christmas day morning that we were heading for the beach of all places!! The low winter sun was shining beautifully for us and the beach and dunes had a warm glow about them. The sand was strewn with thousands of empty sea urchins all along the strandline, so must have been stormy the last few days... churning up the depths of the seas.

But not today... today was blissful and even though the water was a wee tad baltic... we still dipped our toes and surfed the waves!!

Happy Christmas folks... fun, family and lots of love... that's what makes us happy!!

 

 

 

Grey Shades of the Blackmount

The Cobbler

Well, the weather this Autumn has not been the best. Rain rain and more rain for the most part, but that hasn't stopped us getting our fill of fresh air and mountain fun. Today saw us heading up one of our favourite hills just over an hour away in the Arrochar Alps. A reasonably steep but quick hike up through the trees brings us out into the high valley floor of Allt a' Bhalachain with misty views of The Cobbler (Ben Arthur), Beinn Narnain & Beinn Ime, We had only been on the trail for little over an hour and already we were covered paw to tail in mud!!

Heading towards the misty summit

The muddyness didn't get any better but we still had a top day on the hill, running thro the valley, scrambling the rocky scree and using our noses for all the mountain sniffs. 

 

Glen Sligachan

More grey, wet and misty weather today but not lacking in another very very soggy adventure!! We packed up the car with lunch and the bike and headed to the great Sligachan glen for some long muddy trails with Mel and her mountain bike.

 

We were all as wet and caked in mud as could be but still we found fun in every little burn, puddle and bog!! If you're already wet, you can't get any wetter... right?

Who could resist this face even when wearing a bog!

Loving every second of this day in amongst the mountains. Keeping up with the mountain bike was great fun, energetic and tiring but a great way to expel some of our boundless energy. We were two extremely happy, content and tired mountain mutts after 4 hours of trail balzing!

 

Fairy Pools

Our first day on Skye and we headed out in damp and misty weather for a wee adventurous wander upto the mystical Fairy Pools. Nestled quietly in the foothills of the Cuillin mountains, we found these deep crystal clear waters irresistable for a doggy paddle and a swim around... but soon we were on our way and trailing along a rocky path and towards the hills.

We love running around sniffing and exploring, in and out of every bit of water... an having all this mountain space to ourselves. Fresh air in our panting lungs, wind in our faces and rough terrain under our muddy paws! 

Soon the path was less obvious and we started to make our own trail towards the hills and scrambled across the boulder fields. Easy peasy for us mutts with 4-paw drive... not so easy for our human!!

Finally, after a long steep climb we arrived on a flattish plateau, a col before the rest of the ascent but a good resting spot for a breather, a tasty treat and to take in the view. The mist was just hanging around at this height, shrouding the rest of the mountain from sight, but we caught an occasional glimpse of the dark grandeur of The Black Cuillin as they are known... easy to see why in this atmospheric weather.

Autumn Afternoons

Autumn this year has been stacked full of sunshine and beautiful warm golden colours and our local country park is looking awesome. There is still a lot green left in the trees too and we love nothing more than our late afternoon wanders through the woodlands with the sunlight filtering through the fading canopy. Our favourite kind of fun at this time of year is running and chasing through the woodlands, kicking up all the fallen leaves in a whirlwind of canine capers!!