I haven’t done much walking in Fife and this gentle walk took in some beautiful woodland, rocky headlands, several beaches and a swim – and accessible by public transport, which is always a bonus. We started and finished at Aberlour station and were delighted to feel the warmth of far more sun than had been […]
#18 Loch Leven with Callum
Callum had planned to take me to Glen Feshie and to stay overnight in Ruigh Ateachaen, a walk we still hope to do together at some point, but another weekend away this July was going to be a bit much for him. The 19km curcuit around Loch Leven was lovely alternative walk, and we were […]
#14 Solsbury Hill with Kate, Ian, Megan and Elliot and Jessie (the dog)
Easter Sunday! It was a bright blowy day when we explored Solsbury Hill, just outside Bath with wonderful views over the city and surrounding countryside. Leaves were bursting out of Hawthorn and wild garlic lined the wooded valley. Solsbury Hill is the site of an Iron Age Hill foot, and was made famous by Peter […]
#14 Goreglen and along the Esk with Ian
New territory for me, and how delightful to be introduced to this area by Ian with his extensive knowledge of plants, trees and fungi. I learnt some of the plants indicative of ancient woodland including Townhall Clock (Moschatel) and that Birch seeds will not take root under an existing Birch tree – they will be […]
#9 Holyrood Park with Jan
19th February 2024 When Jan suggested a walk in Holyrood Park I hadn’t realised she had volunteered there for a year with the ranger service and so had vast amounts of interesting information to share about the social history, natural history and geology of the Park. She also really knows her birds – I learnt […]
# 6 All around Marshfield at Christmas, with Megan, Elliot, Kate and Ian
25th December 2023. This was Megan’s ‘Nanny friendly’ walk! Marshfield has a wreath competition that is judged on Xmas eve with certificates placed on the winning wreaths on doors on the High Street. We enjoyed looking at the loo seat wreath and the tyre snowman. And an added photo of the Marshfield Mummers on Boxing […]
#5 Hidcote Boyce and Hidcote Bartrim with Jill (Mum)
24th December 2023. I have been to Hidcote Manor Gardens with Mum before but not done this walk, so was delighted when she suggested it. We started by walking through Hidcote Bartrim, a very quaint hamlet full of delightful old cottages in Cotswold stone, before heading across the muddy fields towards Hidcote Boyce and on […]
What is the history of apple wassailing?
The word wassail comes from the Anglo-Saxon toast Wæs þu hæl, meaning “be thou hale” — “be in good health”. There are two different types of wassail – the house-visiting wassail and the orchard-visiting or apple wassail. The house-visiting wassail, also known as caroling, is the practice of going door-to-door singing Christmas carols. Apple wassailing […]