Tomatin wind power station proposal

The Cairngorm National Park Authority has said that the park's "sense of wildness" would be harmed if the proposed wind power station comprising 29 turbines at Glenkirk, near Tomatin, were to be approved. The initial application by Eurus Energy was for 34 turbines.

The park's planning officers have recommended that the planning committee object to the proposal.

The turbines would be visible from several areas within the park including some areas of Aviemore and Glenmore as well as from Meall a Bhuachaille.

The Planning Committee will meet in Boat of Garten.

Below is a photograph of the Burnfoot turbines in the Ochils, taken from Glen Bee, none of which were turning on the five days we spent on these hills last week. The Green Knowes turbines were doing no better and this state of affairs is far from unusual.

Burnfoot turbines

Before the turbines

Friends of Dollar Museum

Last night Lynne gave a talk at Dollar Academy, based on her new book Beatrix Potter's Scotland - Her Perthshire Inspiration', to help raise funds for Dollar Museum. We were both happy to support the Museum as did Hamish Brown a few months earlier, and have been invited to give a talk on our 'Munro Years' or some other hill-related topic in the future, which we will happily do. Talk over, Lynne was presented with a lovely painting by a local artist of Castle Campbell.

The SE slope of King's Seat Hill which leads down to Castle Cambell and eventually to Dollar

Dollar Academy sits at the foot of The Ochils and this lovely small range of hills has given us both immense pleasure over many, many years and continues to do so.

The grassy path to Innerdownie through the August Blaeberries

 
 
 
 

Hen harrier decline

The numbers of hen harriers in Scotland has declined by a fifth according to new research, the RSPB blaming this on illegal persecution on managed grouse moors. There are thought to be about 500 pairs in Scotland but they are near extinction in England.

Estate managers claimed the accusation was unfair but Stuart Housden, RSPB Director in Scotland, claimed there was 'systematic and illegal persecution' particularly in the central and eastern Highlands and Southern Uplands of Scotland.

The Scottish Parliament will debate the Wildlife and Natural Environment Bill soon and Mr Housden has urged that amendments be adopted which would remove the sporting rights from landowners where there has been a history of illegal activity. The Bill, if passed, could also see the use of snares banned or at least regulated. "Vicarious liability" could also see estates criminally liable for the actions of their employees.

Various rural and land management organisations such as The British Association for Shooting and Conservation (Scotland), the Scottish Gamekeeprs Association and the Scottish Estates and Buisness Group said the statistics were flawed, their spokesman Tim Baynes saying " All of our organisations condemn the illegal killing of any bird of prey".

There has been only one recorded incident of hen harrier persecution in the last 6 years according to RSPB figures.

(Source - BBC Scotland News)

Photos

I've opened a few galleries at smugmug for some friends who've asked to see some old photos, so obviously they're available for anyone to have a look. For those who visited this blog when I started it just over a year ago, there's not much that's new - just what has been requested. Note: Smugmug is better viewed with Firefox which seems to display the pics them better.

Loch Leven and some graves

The 'dismal' day mentioned in a previous post had transformed itself into a sunny, but blustery one by the time we arrived at the Kirkgate car park; oyster catchers were scattered along the grassy shore and Lochleven Castle was catching the afternoon sunshine.

The castle was used as a state prison (its first use) when, in 1316, King Robert the Bruce imprisoned John of Lorne there;  in 1390 it was granted to the Douglas family as a royal stronghold. In 1567 Mary Queen of Scots was imprisoned in the castle and forced to abdicate in favour of her infant son James, later King James 1st, uniting England and Scotland. She escaped in 1568.

Now managed by Historic Scotland, a frequent ferry service runs from the pier to the castle during the summer and despite living nearby for many years, we have yet to make a visit there. Likewise we have still to walk the full 'Hertitage Trail'. Some way round, Lynne spied a cluster of yew trees off the path and guessed an old graveyard would be found there.

It was indeed just that and so we spent a pleasant hour 'Guddling among the Graves'.  This was the title of a series of illustrated talks by Hamish Brown about the folk art of Scottish gravestones, a talk which eventually gave birth to his fascinating book 'Scottish Graveyard Miscellany'.




Note the hourglass ('the sands of time are sinking') and the skull and crossbones




















We were in fact at the site of the old Orwell Kirk, (without a church, the 'graveyard' would be a cemetery) which was moved to Milnathort in 1729. Now another building stands here - a mausoleum dated - 1865.




The earliest date we could find on a stone, was 1633 (and on the same stone 1688.) Note the spelling of 'year' as it was then.

The two photographs above show 'table stones', the gravestone having been placed on legs to prevent wear.

Further along the Trail is a seat with a rhyme in Scots carved into the backrests.

It relates to standing stones found on the land of Orwell Farm. The stones, which can't be seen from the trail, mark the site of cremation deposits which have been dated 2300BC.

In the centre backrest

To our east lay Bishop Hill and below it the village of Kinnesswood, once an important centre for the maufacture of vellum and parchment. Alexander Buchan the 'Father of meteorology' was a Kinnesswood man who identified the principles of isobars:

Buchan warned of windy weather

When isobars lay close together

We've enjoyed many a fine walk on Bishop Hill .........

Bishop Hill from the Heritage Trail

....but none better than in March 2010 when we paid our respects to Carlin Maggie.

The whole Trail covers 12.5Km and there is much more to tell than I have done here. One day we really must walk it in its entirety - and take that boat trip to Loch Leven Castle as well.

Note: much of the above is courtesy of  the Loch Leven Heritage Trail with some checks from Lynne.



Some lovely weather

 Well no. Not really.

Path west to Commonedge Hill and, looking east...



The path to Seamab Hill above Muckhart

Nevertheless, a happy Lynne, muscle mended, is on a summit again at last!















































It's just as dismal today, so we're off for a walk round Loch Leven and thoughts of spring, not to say summer sunshine will just have to do for now.

Summer in Skye - Loch Dunvegan and Macleod's Tables - Healabhal Bheag (left) and Healabhal Mhor

And another

A nineteen-turbine wind power station at Corriemollie (Loch Luichart) near Garve has been recommended for approval by Highland Council.

Wind turbines and Forestry Commission Land

I thoroughly enjoyed listening to Alan Sloman on David Lintern's programme yesterday evening -  not surprisingly, since my views are indistinguishable from his. Scotland's wild landscapes are stuffed, although I think Alan wanted to use a rather different word but couldn't on air!

And just to drive home that fact, here's some more depressing news.

Energy companies have, apparently, been given the go-ahead to develop Forestry Commission land for renewable energy which would see some extra 200 turbines erected.

In SW Scotland, Scottish Power Renewables will work with the commission to develop land in Arran and Dumfries and Galloway, while PNE Wind UK will look at schemes in Stirlingshire, Cowal, the Trossachs (in a National Park!?) and Tayside; in Argyll, Lochaber, Invernesshire and the Northern Highlands, E.ON Climate and Renewables UK Developments will be the preferred developer; in Grampian Fred Olsen will oversee this plunder.

Communities in the vicinity will get 'leading edge' annual payments, which can be reinvested into the developments, and can also add their own money to get a greater stake in the schemes. The next eight months will see developers identify suitable sites.

I wondered why Alex Salmond didn't want to sell off Scotland's forests like Mr Cameron south of the border.

Build more coffins Alan.

Closure of Wades Road crossing point over A9 near Newtonmore

Information on this, and an invitation to sign a petition to keep the crossing open, can be found on the TGO Challenge Message Board .

Port na Craig - Tummel Ferry



The suspension bridge across the River Tummel




On our recent outings to Pitlochry Festival Theatre (see post 1 February) we had a bit of time to spare so wandered down to the 'Historic Hamlet' of Port na Craig on the banks of the Tummel.

In the 12th century, monks from Coupar Angus were given the lands of Fonab as a gift and established a ferry here, the last crossing taking place on Empire Day 1913 when the new suspension bridge was opened by the Duchess of Atholl. Made by the Lanarkshire Steel Company Ltd, it is now a Listed Grade B building.

 A sign asks that people do not cycle - or swing on the bridge!



Ferry rates



Further upstream is the Coronation Bridge (also listed), a similar suspension bridge built in 1911 to commemorate the coronation of King George V.



Ferryman's Cottage from the suspension bridge



An interesting diversion on what was a bittery cold day, but only a few minutes away hot coffee awaited in the theatre.