Scotland

This year I felt most privileged to have been invited to join a group for a weekend's outdoor pursuits (cycling, walking) in the mountains of Argyll, Scotland. Being in the happy position of not being restricted to weekends, I was able to arrive in Scotland a couple of days ahead of the main party and do some cycling and birdwatching around the shores of the sea lochs. A complete write-up of the event will appear on the TCA Blog but in the mean time here are some images of my own reflections of the trip.

My first night camping at the fishing village of Easdale on the Isle of Seil, Argyll

An eponymous Loch Fyne kipper, cooked on a camping stove, for breakfast

Ben Nevis, the location of some of our activities, viewed from Loch Eil

Flogging our way up through the foothills of Ben Nevis...

...eventually reaching the snow line

The "walking party" at the climbers' hut below the summit of Ben Nevis

Our final day was a more leisurely hike through the Ariundle forest walk near our base at Strontian, Argyll

I was able to record some 87 bird species during the trip, including some first arrivals of the summer (Black Redstart, Common Sandpiper, Manx Shearwater, Tree Pipit) as well as some upland species like Twite, Ring Ouzel, Raven and Hooded Crow. Altogether a most satisfying and energetic few days in Scotland.