A couple of weeks ago I traversed boggy moorland between Sanaigmore and Gruinart. On Monday my friend Jane and I ventured further east to visit land which I suspected had seldom been subjected to the weight of human feet. With low late November light I stopped often to take photographs of the late autumn colours; it really was magnificent. We passed Loch Laingeadail with its tiny crannog and Loch an Fhir Mhòr which is where my theory that we were almost on uncharted territory fell apart - for what did we come across but a veritable ruined settlement. Apparently it dates from the 19th century and comprises 5 buildings with remains of wall also extant. This little settlement is well worth a visit for it has a huge slate lintel above the fireplace and tiny stone cupboards built into the remaining walls. Trouble is, you have to traipse across sinky bog to reach it. Oh well! I apologised to Jane for telling a lie - I'd asked whether she wanted to come on a boring, featureless and boggy walk; she'd agreed - on that basis - and it turned out to be boggy, yes, but also full of features and definitely not boring. We saw Snipe, Raven and Stonechat, very interesting, colourful fenceposts, goose droppings and lots of lichens. Who's up for another 'boring' walk! For more information on the crannog on Loch Laingeadail, visit http://alturl.com/82hiv. For more information about the ruined settlement near Loch an Fhir Mhòr, see http://alturl.com/wppyk.
Becky |
| Crannog on Loch Laingeadail |
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| Ruins near Loch an Fhir Mhòr |
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| Red Deer running towards Sanaigmore |
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| Goose droppings in an unusual place |
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| Fencepost (the first for a while!) |
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| Flavoparmelia caperata |
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| Cladonia portentosa ('Reindeer Moss') |
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| Another Cladonia sp |
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