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Walking Group One 25th April 2024
Five hardy souls collected today at Happy Valley for the first Hill Walk of the year .The temperature was cool with a North Easterly wind blowing and a hint of rain on arrival.
Off we set heading towards Russadale Quarry, spotting a Buzzard on the way.Turning into the footpath we remained sheltered from the wind all the way to the top of the hill.
The sun was out at the Quarry and a Greenshank was feeding at the edge of the Lochan. Then it was up the Peat road to the summit with spectacular views across Stenness and Harray Lochs, plus a view of the Closed Road beyond the Watch Stone. On the other side we looked over the Flow and down towards the Oil Platform and South Ronaldsay
Then it was back down after a stop for a snack and finally a walk around Happy Valley itself. The Daffodils planted by James and others were looking lovely and the Bluebells are days away from opening. Then it was on to a well deserved lunch at the Pier Cafe, having walked 4 miles and gone up 800 feet (and down again )
The next walk will be on Friday 24th May and hopefully more hills and views.
Keep moving.
SNOW BOTANY
by Sally MacKintosh - 17:47 on 28 January 2013
Five intrepid bots explored the Binscarth Woods for the first signs of spring in the snow last Wednesday. The weather was wintry but the snow made for cleaner walking and the sun did shine. We even ate our packed lunches sitting on the dry stone dykes up near the main house.
Indeed the spring signs were there. Much in evidence, although not in flower, were the large carpets of pink purslane. The bulbs were well up and golden saxifrage was found not far from being in bloom. Evergreen ferns were safely tucked in among the tree roots and banks of the burn. Trees were still very tightly budded but displaying beautifully coloured lichens, mosses and fungi.
Three unseasonable but not altogether surprising flowers were found – dandelion, hogweed and whin or gorse. “When gorse is out of bloom then kissing is out of fashion” – meaning you will find it in flower somewhere! Among other plants determined to get above the snow was one of the wild garlic family. Another foxed us with not much more than the leaf to go by but we are working on it. There being quite a number of garden escapes in Binscarth we might be on the wrong track completely. We aim to keep an eye on the woods throughout the year. Sal
Well Spotted Row of Bots! - photo by Caroline Melody
Lunch in the January Sunshine
Binscarth Woods
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