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Dun Dornaigil
In the heart of Strathmore lies Dun Dornaigil, a broch of ancient origin, dating from around 400 to 200 BC. These brochs, or stone roundhouses, are unique to Scotland, and predominantly found in the northern and western regions. Dun Dornaigil, at its heyday would have been a formidable structure, and may have been the stronghold…
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The Ruins of a Colby Camp
For the second morning, we stirred from slumber to the majestic sight of Ben Klibreck presiding over the loch, its reflection a perfect mimicry under a regal Elizabethan ruff of cloud. As the forecast suggested a cloudier day, it seemed a propitious day for ascending its heights. Yet, as the day unfolded, any fleeting clouds…
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Rosal—Echoes of Highland Clearances
In Strath Naver, Rosal’s historic community fell victim to ruthless evictions in 1814 by one Patrick Sellar, driven by profit from sheep farming, displacing families and destroying homes, leaving a haunting legacy of Highland suffering and exploitation.
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Ben Klibreck
Amidst the banter of hill-walkers, there arises a spirited debate over the most northerly hill on the British mainland. The Munro enthusiasts make a compelling case for Ben Hope, indisputably crowned as the most northern Munro, with Ben Klibreck, pronounced ‘kee-bree’, coming a close second. As fortune would have it, I beheld that illustrious peak…
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Ben Vrackie
The secluded Loch a’ Choire, with the 841m high Corbett, Ben Vrackie, serving as a picturesque backdrop. Ben Vrackie — the ‘speckled hill’. Loch a’ Choire is in fact a reservoir, first shown on OS maps in the 1920s. The rationale behind its damming remains elusive; I suspect a potential motive might be centred on…
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St Abb’s Head
This is St Abb’s Head, a rugged headland in the Scottish Borders, renowned for its bustling seabird sanctuary, boasting a population of over 60,000 winged residents. Among its craggy stacks, guillemots and razorbills establish their nests, while the majestic kittiwakes favour the towering cliff faces. Yet, amidst this natural spectacle, I later discovered a historical…
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Beyond Rabbits, Lies Plastic—The Cost of Trees Guards
Wandering through Newton Wood on this beautiful morning, I felt the long-awaited arrival of spring. Sunlight gently filtered through the canopy, illuminating the lush greenery of wild garlic blanketing the woodland floor. Ascending further, I passed through an azure sea of bluebells, heralding the season alongside the blooming rowan and holly. On Roseberry Common, this…
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A Little Bit of Bread and no Cheese
The song of the yellowhammer resonates with a quaint charm, often likened to ‘a little bit of bread and no cheese,’ a delightful call immortalised by Enid Blyton in her tales and verses. Males serenade the countryside with their melodies during spring and summer, adorning our open spaces. Resembling a canary in appearance, the males…
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Tripsdale Head — from Monastic Grange to 17th Century Shieling
This morning I had the chance to visit Tripsdale Head in the North York Moors, an area I’ve often admired from afar at Low Cable Stones — visible in the photograph on the skyline. It looked an inviting spot oozing with history amidst its lush pastures. Tripsdale rises on a gentle slope on the moorland…
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A Giant’s Tantrum — The Making of Blakey Topping
Legend has it that Blakey Topping, that iconic North York Moors hill, isn’t just a natural wonder — it’s the epic handiwork of a grumpy giant! Volunteering with the National Trust, I’ve been helping repair fences around the north end, right where the legend begins. The story goes that Wade, a giant with a temper…
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