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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.
BOTANY GROUP - SAT 01 JULY, 2017
by Margaret - 18:41 on 01 July 2017
U3A Botany Group visit to Cuween Hill, Finstown on Tuesday, 27th June
Eight folk enjoyed our botanising on a cold, but dry afternoon. We started at the lower car park
looking at the plants near the car park and on the track sides. Above the upper car park we
branched left onto a peedie path to the ruin of "The Ranch", with its well disintegrated car and
buildings overgrown with fuchsia, honeysuckle and elder. We re-traced our steps to the main track
up to Cuween Hill Cairn and then descended the same track. The following plants were seen:-
Ragwort, pink Campion, Primrose, Tormentil, field Buttercup, red and white Clover, Sorrel,
Dock, Nettles, Ragged Robin, Meadowsweet, Daisy, Dandelion, Birds-foot- trefoil, Yellow-rattle,
Lady’s-mantle, Lady’s Bedstraw, Spear Thistle, Marsh Thistle, Hogweed, Cow Parsley, Horse tail,
Cats-ear, Heath Speedwell, Glaucous Sedge, Ribwort Plantain, Great Plantain, Cuckoo Flower, Sweet
Rocket, Willow Herb, Bluebells(!), Calluna, Bell Heather, Hard Fern, Buckler Fern, Bush Vetch,
Meadow Vetchling, Coltsfoot, Mayweed, Eyebright, St. John's Wort, Bog Cotton, Milkwort and lots
of unidentified rushes and lots of grasses.
The highlight of the day was the many Twayblades. There were also many Northern Marsh Orchids
and Heath Spotted Orchids plus hybrids.
Keen eyes also spotted one magpie moth, one common blue butterfly and one small whitish moth.
Thank you to all who came and identified plants.
Margaret
Starting Out
Marsh Thistle
Common Twayblade
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