Marilyns

Hills below 2000ft in Scotland are classified as Marilyns. Sometimes when the weather makes climbing larger hills difficult, the wife and I prefer to go out and bag these smaller hills. Obviously a single hill is hardly worth the travelling, so today we did three of them: Hill of Foudland, Hill of Tillymorgan and Fourman Hill, in Aberdeenshire.

Hill of Foudland

Hill of Tillymorgan

Fourman Hill

Love Is In the Air!

Ah, Spring is in the air! Well no, not really, but besides the crocuses and daffodils, I witnessed another tell-tale sign this morning. Something far less appealing to witness than a smattering of flowers. "Pray do tell?" you plead! Well, it was none other than... seagulls humping. Yes, first thing that got my attention was the incessant noise they were making as I nipped to the shop. I looked up to see a pair going at it birdy style, then another pair on the next roof along, then another pair... well, you get the idea! One in... all in!

All that was before I'd even had breakfast. Not the kind of thing you really want to witness at that time of day. It didn't put me off my breakfast though... if I'd been watching it happen while I had my breakfast, well, that would be another matter entirely!

Tomorrow we're heading off for some hill-walking on a hill called "Morven" in Southern Aberdeenshire. At least, that's the plan. While it's been a really nice day here today, I've been told there were 3 or 4 inches of snow out that way. Anyhow, we're going regardless. As long as there isn't a blizzard or anthing, we'll give it a shot. Should make for some decent photos! I'll get back to you!

Back Of Beyond!

The Buck!

Took this shot on the way back. A view of the Buck from the Cabrach. Doesn't look nearly as big as it actually is from here.

Thought this was a nice idea for a photo, looking along the fenceline with Ben Rinnes in the distance.

What appears to be a pictish symbol stone with 3 fishes swimming around each other, and some other symbols. Nobody knows what these stones represented, but it could have been a boundary marker. Interestingly, the present day boundary between Moray and Aberdeenshire, runs right across the top of the hill!

View from the top towards the Cairngorns.

This was a hard one! The virtual bog at the bottom had to be negotiated twice, but at the top of the hill, the wind was so strong it was almost impossible to stand. I've never experienced anything like it before. I only managed to get some photos off because I found shelter behind the rocks on the summit. What an adventure!