Friends, Connects, Backcountrymen (and women)

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As you may have seen already, the behemoth that is Google is stopping 'google friend connect' for non-blogger sites as of March 1st, 2011.

Hill farms and Hill Forts: A Cheviot short circuit

Judging by the weather reports, I was best off avoiding Plan A - was for Arrochar, a good day Friday but disintegrating Saturday.  I spent most of Thursday evening weighing up the pros and cons of pointy bits versus staying over, but this one was about the camps, and 11th hour planning told me the Cheviots were escaping the worst of a nasty incoming northwesterly.  So then, 28 miles, 2 days, a bit of the Pennine way and some big skies - that'll do. 

A Day with Donald and Graham, or: Pie, Hills and Industry

This week, I took a wander in the uplands for a very manageable though boggy round in the smaller, more rounded hills of Lanarkshire and the borders.  The walk takes in 4 Donalds and 1 Graham, if that's your thing. 

Aberlady Bay

A local one for us, on an absurdly sunny Monday in February.  Beach, sand dunes, bird life, calm seas and no wind, a quiet and chilly return on a little chunk of the John Muir Way and Saltcoats Castle via a blazing sunset and a nigh on full moon.  But then again, just the sound of this place was a complete tonic - the chattering, quipping, parping wildlife - curlews and crows, shags and shanks, oyster catchers and others we don't know yet, lapping waves and the crunch of frozen sand underfoot (that's a new one).  A sensory land of wonder, full of life even in winter.  In a few months we'll return for the start of the migration season, and next time remember both the bird book and the mini telescope.  Thankfully, a good amount of information is provided on site by the reserve and east lothian council/SNH about sea buckthorn (used in the 70's to control erosion, now a problem on its own), and roe deer management (albeit written in a very anthropocentric manner).  Maram grasses are being encouraged in order to protect the dunes.

Adventures in Aviemore

Getting here before was a real pavlova, now its just 2.5hrs up the road.  That means a lie in and still there for a stroll in the woods.

For the good ladies birthday, a treat was requested in the form of a spa hotel and skiing,