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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.
Botanical Group-Hoy
by Unknown - 18:50 on 24 May 2013
The Botany Group had a interesting day on Hoy on Wednesday 22nd May. Despite a poor forecast they only had to brave a couple of hailstorms and then bracing gale force gusts up in the hills and a good showing of the sun!. The object of the trip was to find the County Flower, Arctic Bearberry in flower. The Common Bearberry was well into flowering but none were found on the Arctic one, which was in leaf, however the conditions were poor for the search! Moss campion was just coming into flower and there were many plants making a late start, Butterwort, Sundews, Marsh and Spear Thistles, Golden Rod, Foxgloves, Blaebarry, Creeping willows, Juniper, Rowan, early sedges and grasses. Birds seen and heard included Cuckoo, Stonechat, Meadow pipits, Hen harriers, Skylarks, Bonxies, Eiders, Curlew, Oystercatchers, Ravens, Wheatears, Lapwing, Sparrows, Starlings, Crows and Hoodies. A close inspection of the messy planting at the White Glen with many ferns, tree seedlings, mosses and lichens plus a few entertaining birds of the LBJ kind.... Excellent views, stormy skies and friendly tourists kept the group entertained. A good day and test of our winter gear!!!!!
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