The weather here has been glorious this spring. I have just spent a couple of days doing a spot of exterior decorating at Loch View, and yesterday gave myself an afternoon off to give my walking boots a much needed work-out.
I set off directly from Loch View, hopping over the garden fence onto the moorland hillside behind the cottage. (Loch View is the smaller of the two roofs on the lower left)
(Click on any picture to view full size)
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| Loch Harport from just above Loch View Cottage |
I had plotted myself a route which turned out to be a bit too ambitious - I haven't done much hillwalking of late, and am a bit out of practice, so I didn't get quite as far as I had planned. However, I negotiated the first fence I came across without snagging my trousers on the barbed wire (these fences are invariably topped with a strand of barbed wire - sometimes two strands... and there's almost never a gate, so the only option is to teeter over the top).
As on most Skye moorland, the hillsides are cut into by trickling burns, which often provide sufficient shelter for trees to grow. There's usually ferns too, and there were lots of primroses in flower here, though they don't really show in in my photo.
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| Ardtrek Burn |
The walking here was not too tough, and the steepness of the ascent was gentle. I was surprised at how boggy some parts were, though we did have a soggy winter! As you get higher, the views begin to open up. Here, the camera is pointing south east to the Cuillin Hills.
You can see the lumpy summit of Arnaval from miles away, so you always know where you are heading. It's good to see it getting closer, and here, it's just a few steps away...
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| Arnaval summit |
Arnaval reaches only 369 metres above sea level, but as is the case with most Skye hilltops, the all-round views from the top are just breathtaking...
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| Track of my route |
