http://whatsnew.fotki.com/pipsmitch Recently created and updated albums http://images.fotki.com/logo3.gif http://whatsnew.fotki.com/pipsmitch http://public.fotki.com/pipsmitch/permanent_folders/1/scottish-castles/ "Scottish Castles, Tower Houses & Stately Homes" Album
249 photo(s) (56 MB)
Scotland has many castles, some very very old and some just old, they date from as early as the 12th centrury.
One of my hobbies over many years has been viewing some of these castle, not necessary viewing the inside of them, but certainly being able to view the outside of the buildings. The castles vary in size from very small towers to hugh magnificent structures.
Since obtaining a digital camera it has been a lot easier to take pictures of the castles and store them altogether in the one place.
I hope I will be able to continue this hobby for a long time to come. ]]> http://public.fotki.com/pipsmitch/permanent_folders/1/scottish-castles/ Sat, 28 Nov 2009 04:31:44 GMT http://public.fotki.com/pipsmitch/walks/2009-walks/midweek-walking-gro/culmark-hill/ "Culmark Hill" Album
63 photo(s) (9 MB)
Album date: (Oct 27, 2009)
To-days walk was a 7 mile stretch of the Southern Upland Way, starting at Stroanfreggan up over Culmark Hill and the moors to finish our walk at St. John's Town of Dalry.
We set off from East Kilbride, travelled to the Hollybush for our morning coffee, we then headed to Stroanfreggan to start our walk.
Our weather today was wet and underfoot conditions were quite difficult at times.
We headed up over Culmark Hill onto the moors to continue our walk, we headed on to cross Earlston Burn and skirt Ardoch Hill to eventually descend down to St. John's Town of Dalry. Our day finished with our social stop at the Clachan Inn then our journey back to East Kilbride.

OUR WEATHER TODAY PREVENTED US FROM SEEING THE GREAT VIEWS ON THE WALK, BUT ON THE RECCI THE VIEWS WERE FANTASTIC, KLICK ON THE UNDERNOTED ADDRESS TO VIEW THE RECCI PHOTOS.

http://public.fotki.com/pipsmitch/walks/2009-walks/miscellaneous-walks-2009/culmark-hill/ ]]> http://public.fotki.com/pipsmitch/walks/2009-walks/midweek-walking-gro/culmark-hill/ Sat, 31 Oct 2009 11:21:29 GMT http://public.fotki.com/pipsmitch/walks/2009-walks/midweek-walking-gro/brae-of-cluny-speci/ "Brae of Cluny Special Walk" Album
84 photo(s) (14 MB)
Album date: (Oct 14, 2009)
Another lovely walk in the Perthshire countryside.
Our day started with our journey to the distillery at Aberfeldy where we had our morning coffee stop.
We then headed to Edradynate where our 7 mile walk started at the entrance to the Edradynate Estate. Our walk took up up through the estate to the moorlands, where we had stunning views over the beautiful autumn countryside. We continued walking until we reached Loch Derculich in the shadow of Farragon Hill, this is where we stopped for lunch.
After lunch our walk continued until we reached Loch Glassie and from there downhill to return to our starting point at the entrance of the Edradynate Estate.
We were very luchy with the weather today, although overcast, conditions remained warm and dry.
Our day finished with a meal in a local hotel just as you enter Weem. Another good walk ]]> http://public.fotki.com/pipsmitch/walks/2009-walks/midweek-walking-gro/brae-of-cluny-speci/ Thu, 15 Oct 2009 04:38:51 GMT http://public.fotki.com/pipsmitch/walks/2009-walks/miscellaneous-walks-2009/fort-william-recci-day-3/ "Fort William Recci Day 3" Album
100 photo(s) (19 MB)
Album date: (Oct 8, 2009)
We started our day by visiting the Commando Monument at Spean Bridge, the views of the Monument, hills and surrounding countryside were stunning. We then headed on towards Invergarry where we walked to Faichemard Farm Campsite and the start of our 8 mile walk. We walked over the open moorland and through trees until we came to Loch Lundie where we stopped to have lunch
After lunch we continued on our walk toward Bridge of Oich where our walk ended.
On the way back to Invergarry a few of us stopped in to see Invergarry & Glengarry Castles, we then headed to the Invergarry Hotel where we all had fantastic Scones and Cream, before heading home. ]]> http://public.fotki.com/pipsmitch/walks/2009-walks/miscellaneous-walks-2009/fort-william-recci-day-3/ Wed, 14 Oct 2009 22:42:41 GMT http://public.fotki.com/pipsmitch/walks/2009-walks/miscellaneous-walks-2009/fort-william-reccie/ "Fort William Reccie Day 2" Album
93 photo(s) (19 MB)
Album date: (Oct 7, 2009)
Ardverikie Estate/
Travelled from Fort William to Spean Bridge then along Glen Spean past Loch Laggan to The Ardverikie Estate where we started our 10.5 mile walk.
Greaty walk, up over open moorland, through forests , taking in stunning views all the time.
We also got a quick view of Ardverikie Castle where Monarch of The Glen was filmed.
Absolutely fantastic countryside.
On way back to Fort William we had a quick look at Laggan Dam and long views of Loch Laggan. We then carried on to Roy Bridge where we stopped at the hotel for coffee.
Weather today, started off rainy then brightened up, Great walk ]]> http://public.fotki.com/pipsmitch/walks/2009-walks/miscellaneous-walks-2009/fort-william-reccie/ Mon, 12 Oct 2009 22:21:36 GMT http://public.fotki.com/pipsmitch/walks/2009-walks/miscellaneous-walks-2009/fort-william-recci-day-1/ "Fort William Recci Day 1" Album
70 photo(s) (11 MB)
Album date: (Oct 6, 2009)
Travelled from East Kilbride to The Green Welly Shop at Tyndrum where we had our morning stop.
We then headed to Fort William passing Bridge of Orchy, Loch Tulla, over Rannoch Moor, viewing the Black Mount, and onward toward The Buachille Etive Mor and on through Glen Coe. Beautiful scenery on this drive.
We crossed the Ballachulish Bridge and drove on to Fort William.
Our 7 mile walk started at Highbridge not far from Spean Bridge,from the start of the walk we could see the Commando Monument. We walked over the hills heading back towards Fort William,on the way we had stunning views across Leanachan Forest to Aonach Mor, Carn Mor Dearg & Ben Nevis.This was not a particularly easy walk, the ground was very muddy which made walking diffucult at times.
We carried on walking by the riverside until we reach the road, we then headed to The Ben Nevis Hotel where we were staying for 2 nights.
This walk is not a good one for 50 people, so the club will not be doing it, but I'm glad I did it just for the views alone. ]]> http://public.fotki.com/pipsmitch/walks/2009-walks/miscellaneous-walks-2009/fort-william-recci-day-1/ Mon, 12 Oct 2009 17:06:32 GMT http://public.fotki.com/pipsmitch/photos-2009/orkney-2009/a-walk-along-the-ca/ "Day 10 A walk along the Caledonian Canal, a Visit to the New Culloden Tourist Centre and Inverness at night" Album
95 photo(s) (16 MB)
Album date: (Aug 30, 2009)
A very relaxing day. We walked along the Caledonian Canal from Clachnaharry to Inverness, we then visited the New Culloden Visitors Centre at Culloden Battlefield. We returned to Inverness where we had our evening meal and visited a pub where there was a folk music group playing, we then walked along the banks of the River Ness to return to our B&B ]]> http://public.fotki.com/pipsmitch/photos-2009/orkney-2009/a-walk-along-the-ca/ Fri, 2 Oct 2009 11:23:55 GMT http://public.fotki.com/pipsmitch/photos-2009/orkney-2009/travelling-from-kir/ "Day 9 Travelling from Kirkwall to Inverness" Album
23 photo(s) (2 MB)
Album date: (Aug 29, 2009)
The weather to day was again very windy. We travelled from Kirkwall to Burwick in South Ronaldsay to catch our ferry across the Pentland Firth to John O Groats, fron there we travelled by coach to Inverness.
Our journey across the Pentland Firth was not at all pleasant, our ferry was continuously bombarded by hugh waves. I sat in the middle of the ferry willing myself not to be seasick and kept my eyes on the horizen, at time looking out of the window all I could see was a wall of sea, the horizen having been replaced by the hugh waves. Boy was I glad when our ferry journey ended.
The journey from John O Groats to Inverness was really relaxing after the sail across the Pentland Firth. We booked into our B&B then took a short walk along to Caledonian Canal to Clachnaharry. Our day ended with visiting my brother and his wife in Beauly. ]]> http://public.fotki.com/pipsmitch/photos-2009/orkney-2009/travelling-from-kir/ Thu, 1 Oct 2009 11:43:59 GMT