Mallaig to Armadale

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Mainland to Skye… Just for a change, we’ve forsaken the bridge (and quite a few road miles) for the ferry. Mallaig is very busy – tourists all over the place. The ‘Jacobite’ (which some seem to know as the Harry Potter train) is in, but to return to Fort William the locomotive – 45407 – will have to run tender first. We’ll record the departure with no great enthusiasm, and we’re glad to get away as we board the MV Loch Bhrusda for the half-hour crossing. The time passes quickly – the sea views are great!

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Kippin’ in Kippen

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An overnight stay on a journey north – it looked a pleasant and quiet place (it was!), in the Forth valley west of Stirling. (I wondered if there might be kippers on the breakfast menu? No – far too corny!). A brief exploration with just the phone camera on a fine sunny evening – just the thing to work up an appetite. Kippen has an interesting history – see Kippen on Wikipedia

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Sunday afternoon

On By geoffspagesIn Photography, Shropshire hills, WalksLeave a comment

Quiet lanes – apart from the birds. They were singing merrily near Hazel cottage – Merlin says my recording includes chiffchaff, blackbird, thrush, goldcrest, wren and chaffinch. I think his ears are better tuned than mine…

Merlin

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Wild roses and pyramids

On By geoffspagesIn Photography, Shropshire hills, WalksLeave a comment

… and maybe bees? Around this time last year, we walked this way and found a bee orchid, the first we’d ever seen (https://geoffspages.blog/2023/06/08/the-bee-that-did-not-buzz/). Perhaps we can repeat the trick? Perhaps not… There would be some pyramid orchids, surely? Yes, but only a few. I think it was warmer in June ’23. Plenty of other things to see, especially now the wild rose – it’s really in the pink…

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