A lovely calm and dry
afternoon greeted us as 16 walkers started our walk from Birnie & Gadden
Loch car park. It was lovely to have Joe with us again and he paced himself as
we set out on the mostly clean paths around the lochs. The car park was busy
today and most folks must have had the same idea to get out and enjoy the
spring like weather.
We admired the beautiful daffodils adding a splash of welcome colour to the
countryside and noted some bushes sprouting their new green growth. The groups
of dainty but resilient snowdrops reminded me when the St Johns BBs planted
snowdrops during a small service we held in the church garden following the
Dunblane tragedy, exactly 20 years ago. How time moves on
Walking around Gaddon
Loch and some way around Birnie Loch we then left them behind as we headed for
Collessie, a beautiful conservation hamlet. Luckily we had Isabel back with us
and she regularly visited her grandparents home and she was able to regale us
with lots of information. There are lots of lovely thatched cottages and wee
wynds. We stopped at the tap where she was sent to fill the pail with water
before she had to lug it back to the cottage.
Pooh sticks then just happen to be mentioned so nothing would do but Pooh
sticks were sourced and sent off sailing under the wee bridge that crossed the
Den Burn. 6 were launched and three sailed successfully under the bridge. As
you can see we were intent on spotting them!
Passing the Thatched
Studio (The Auld Washie), Marianna Lines the Artist hailed us and opened the
studio so we could look around. Marianna told us about the conversion of the wash
house and built into the walls we spotted an Ammonite, pieces of pottery and
some bones together with small pebbles and large stones
Retracing our steps we completed the walk around Birnie Loch, collected our
cars and made our way to the Lomond Hills Hotel in Freuchie, where we were
warmly welcomed into the lounge with lit fire where we enjoyed coffee, tea and
scones
Another lovely way to spend a Sunday afternoon.
