A Short Walk to Tea

Some Sundays are for long, exploring walks but this week we decided on a more relaxed route to take in the Autumnal scenary and possibly even stop in for some cake. This shorter walk would be great if you don`t feel like going far, or just fancy a leaisurly stroll on a colder day. It starts from the main car park as you enter Tarbet, on the banks of Loch Lomond. This car park is the starting point for ferry trips on the Loch and provides beautiful views across to Ben Lomond.

Exit the car park across from the hotel and continue to the right. Walk along the pavement which crosses several burns. At one point we had to walk on the side of the road as the pavement stopped. The road is a busy one with it being the main route to Fort William so take care! We crossed the road to the left hand side which had more of a path and continued a short stretch until there was a path that led up to the wood.

Across from the path you can see Tarbet Isle and stunning views of Loch Lomond. We stopped here for a bit to admire these views and noticed that there had been a campfire recently. It`s amazing that such a peaceful spot can be found so close to a main road.

Back across the road we followed the trail into the woods. This gentle up and down path led us through ferns and trees, coming out at the Bonnie Braes tearoom. Through the wood you can catch glimpses of the loch and the mountains around.

Reward yourself for being half way through the walk with a nice hot chocolate and a wee nibble at the tearoom! Unfortunately, on the day we went it was closed (but thankfully my mum brought a back up chocolate bar for us!)
On the way back, take the right hand route through the wood which gently climbs. This path takes you through some ferns and provides a nice view of the Loch on the wander back. I do love a circular walk!

This gentle woodland trail is perfect for all weather types and I can imagine it providing beautiful views whatever the season. Also, a warming cup of something nice half way through a trip is a rare treat!

The Facts on this Walk:

• Starting point is from the car park as you enter Tarbet, on the banks of Loch Lomond. Parking is free.
• Nearest public toilets are in the snack shop in the car park, which are also free.
• This walk took around 1hour- 1hr 30mins. May take longer if you order cake.
• Distance is 5km/ 3miles
• Difficult points: Generally easy walk, but I did slip on the grass at the car park so you never know what you`ll find hard... Also, be careful when walking along the road.
• Wear: weather appropriate clothing, may be a bit muddy in the wood.
• Perfect for those who want a gentle walk with rewarding views and a slice of cake!

Isle of May: Puffins, Whales and Aerial Attackers

The Isle of May National Nature Reserve is home to a vast array of seabirds including the one I was looking out for, the super cute Puffin. But what we actually found on the island was so much more than I expected.

To get to the island we booked tickets for the May Princess and picked them up next to the harbour in Anstruther. Along with the tickets we were given an information booklet on the Isle of May and a map of the island. The boat was packed with around 60 people from young couples and families to photographers and older hillwalkers. Once on board the journey took around an hour which passed very fast, despite the leisurely pace of the boat. Passing birds were pointed out by the boat staff and there were toilets and a small bar below deck. The boat has an inside area which would be useful on colder, rainy days but we were again lucky with the weather and got to enjoy the sunshine on the top deck.

 

 As we got closer to the Isle the boat slowed down and we observed the birds bobbing about the water on one side and the sharp cliffs of the island (dyed white from bird droppings) on the other. The noise was intense and I really got a sense that the island belonged to the birds that were nesting on the cliffs.

On the island one of the female researchers, who was staying on the island for a couple of months to carry out research and count the birds, gave us a brief introduction. She asked us to stick to the paths and give space to young chicks who were still learning to fly. On the island there is a new visitor centre which has some information on the Isle and the toilets which are behind. We were then let loose to wander round which the strict instriuction to be back for 5:45.

As we walked up the path towards the visitor centre a protective bird starting swopping anyone who walked past a young chick that was stuck on the path. The researchers asked us to put hats on if we had them and one older man informed us that the last time he had come to the island his white hat had been turned red from bird attackers. I wasn't prepared for that so decided to take the other route and head for the South of the island. We used the map we had been given and guided our way around the paths, stopping at viewpoints to observe the wildlife in more detail.

I went to the Isle of May with the hope of seeing my first wild Puffin and I shouldn't have worried, we saw plenty! The cute little birds with the brightly striped beaks were the star attraction of the isle and everyone was after a shot of one. Thankfully, they seemed quite happy to pose for us and I'm sure the professional photographers got some amazing shots.

Something that I didn't expect to see when on the island but was shocked and thrilled about was our sighting of a Minke Whale! At first we thought the slow fin arching through the waves was a dolphin but one of the researchers advised it was actually a whale.

On the island there were also some cultural spots of interest including the Priory where monks used to live, old lighthouses that protected and guided sailors in the past and foghorns that warned of bad weather. The paths around the Isle of May were very clear and although we felt quite high up there was no difficult climb. We were also interested in all the burrow holes around the island and guessing whether they belonged to rabbits or puffins.

Our 2hours 25minutes passed incredibly quickly and it was soon time to dash back to the boat for the journey home and some dinner at the famous chippy in Anstruther. I would like to make a trip back to the island in the future as I think each visit would be different depending on the season and weather, with a huge variety of wildlife to spot as well as an enjoyable wander around the Isle.

Here is a quick list of the wildlife we saw while on the Isle of May:

• Puffins
• Minke Whale
• Kittiwakes
• Shags
• Guillemots
• Razorbills
• Fulmars
• Grey Seals
• Red Admiral butterflies

The facts on a day out on the Isle of May:

• Tickets can be booked in advance by phone and must be collected 30 minutes prior to sailing.
• If the weather is bad sailings may be suspended so I would recommend checking in advance.
• Times of sailings can be checked on the website.
• Toilets can be found on the May Princess boat and on the island.
• No food is served on the island but you can take a picnic.
• The full journey takes around 5 hours with around 3 hours on the island.
• Take a hat to protect from bird droppings and aerial attacks!
• Wear: season appropriate clothes; waterproofs, walking shoes/ boots.
• Perfect for everyone from twitchers and wildlife photographers to those who can't tell a pigeon from a parrot.

Conic Hill

This Sunday my mum and I decided it was time for another adventure so off we went to climb Conic Hill. And wow, what a view!

The route starts at Balmaha on the edge of Loch Lomond where you follow the signs for the West Highland Way just at the back of the car park. The route is fairly simple and well signposted with a steady climb through a woodland area and up quite a few wooden steps (you could definately feel these on your knees on the way back down). At this point when you come out of the trees you can see how high you are already and the views of the Loch below begin to emerge.

Continuing up more wooden and bouldery steps the view of the four peaks of Conic Hill unfolds. There are some lovely spots at this point where you can have a sit on the grass, a bite to eat and take in the views of the Loch and the mountains to the North. To get up to the peaks my mum and I followed the West Highland Way around the back of the "obvious path" and found a rough animal track through some heather. We actually didn't realise this was the right track at first as it didn't look as marked out as the rest of the route, but after walking a wee bit along the WHW and realising that we weren't really prepared for that sort of commitment just yet we turned around and ventured up the animal path. I'm really glad we done this as there was noone around and we managed to find a really peaceful spot amongst some mountain flowers to have a picnic.

The rough animal track path

From here we climbed up the first of the peaks. Once at the top we could see the other peaks in front of us and then the beautiful views of Loch Lomond, round to the South and the Campsie Fells and up towards Ben Lomond. We were very lucky to have picked a warm, sunny day and the visability was amazing with blue skies peppered with fluffy clouds all around. From this peak we ran down and then back up the next one. This was my personal favourite part of the walk as it gave you a break from climbing and rewarded you with some more stunning views. Again, we ran down this and up to the next 2 peaks. By this point we were feeling confident so decided to take the more "interesting" and adventurous route down- the stony edge of the last peak. I'll be honest, we ended up doing this on our bums as it was a bit steep and rocky; pebbles were tumbling down with each step we took! Although I think the more brave out there could have managed it more elegantly... we'll get there! We then followed the same path back down to the car park and enjoyed the last panoramic of the Loch. Apart from the rocky "cliff" the walk was very steady and although steep and a bit tiring at some bits I think all abillities would manage this happily! There were a lot of people when we went including families with children and dogs, large tourist groups, professional walkers with sticks and men in kilts. I'd recommend doing this walk on a nice clear day when your boots can properly grip the hill and the views go on for miles. Just remember, if the sun is out always wear sunscreen... even in Scotland!

The facts on climbing Conic Hill:

• Starting point is at the back of Balmaha car park on the East side of Loch Lomond.
• Toilets are 20p in the Balmaha tourist centre in the car park.
• Walk is around 4.5miles/7.5km.
• Takes around 2.5-3hours.
• Difficult points- steep initial climb up the steps and scramble back down from the peak.
• Wear- decent, comfortable shoes (trainers, hill walking boots etc) Kilts welcome
• Perfect for casual walkers, beginners and people who love a view.