Harris 1891 : The old man rose slowly from his chair, walked stiffly towards the door of the blackhouse. He was accustomed to the gloom, the air thick with peat smoke, but still he fumbled with the door latch. He muttered to himself in gaelic. Outside the morning sunlight blinded him and he raised hisContinue reading “Am Bodach”
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10k a day in January
I’m trying to walk 10km a day during lockdown. This should be achieved in two walks, each comprising of one hour. The problem this weekend (in lockdown), I have discovered, is that literally every man and their dug are out and about, resulting in delays due to avoidance tactics (social distancing) and blethering. Despite this,whenContinue reading “10k a day in January”
Loch Ossian Camping
The train stopped just before noon at a remote spot. Corrour Station is high up on a moor, 1350 feet above sea level, in the middle of nowhere. I got off along with two cyclists, leaving just one other traveller on the train and we watched as the train crawled towards a gap in theContinue reading “Loch Ossian Camping”
Windfarm Walk
This lockdown, I’ve set myself daily targets for walking. January was 10km and now, as the days grow longer, February is 12km. The plan is to be ready for the hills in the spring, maybe a little camping too. I’ve kept the walks local obviously and discovered some good ones. The Bannockburn Heritage Trail fromContinue reading “Windfarm Walk”
Bannockburn
Dunblane Primary School 1977 : The Boy sat bored at the back of the class. It was too hot in the classhut, a prefab unit for the Primary 5s. He remembered when they once had class in the school field. They had sat on the grass in the shade of the trees. That was fun.Continue reading “Bannockburn”
Going to Dunblane Primary School
In 1972, The Boy went to Dunblane Primary School for the first time. Wearing hand-me-down grey shorts that were too big for him and an uncomfortable shirt and tie, he walked from his house in Murdoch Terrace each day to the school. It was a five minute walk and his mum had decided early onContinue reading “Going to Dunblane Primary School”
Dunblane in Lockdown January 2021
This is my third winter as pharmacy delivery driver in Dunblane and, after two mild winters, finally the snow has arrived. Its not been as bad as I feared : any areas where the snowplough had not been I parked nearby and walked in (Dargai Terrace, Buchan Drive, Keir Street and Balmoral Court spring toContinue reading “Dunblane in Lockdown January 2021”
1966 train to Dunblane
In spring 1966, Dunblane Railway station was quiet. The previous November, the line to Callander had been closed for good, after over 100 years of service. It was mid morning when the Aberdeen train arrived at platform 2. The Man got off it, then walked over the Victorian footbridge to platform 1 and out ontoContinue reading “1966 train to Dunblane”
The Skinny Woods
I’m walking down a cobbled lane. I can hear the sea, smell it, taste it even but where is it… Suddenly, a surge of saltwater across the cobbles in front of me, blocking the lane before slowly it recedes and my path is clear again. Wow that was unexpected I say to myself. I dropContinue reading “The Skinny Woods”
Stirling City Walk
“Here, take that son” said an auld dear, as she handed me a card on Christmas Eve. I’m not meant to accept gifts but if someone hands you a Christmas card you cannae exactly say no. Kinda defeats the purpose ae Christmas. When I got home I opened the card and there was a fiverContinue reading “Stirling City Walk”
