Loch Mallachie

We spent quite a time at the Loch Garten reserve watching the ospreys swapping over on the nesting duties and half a dozen red squirrels doing comedy acrobatics round the feeders, the RSPB being more lavish in the peanut department than the parsimonious Duke of Atholl.

We then took a short walk through the forest down to this little loch and sat down on some comfy exposed tree roots in order to write a birthday card for Steve, whose 50th is tomorrow. There were some reed beds on the distance and the gorgeous, uplifting, burbling cry of the curlew kept resonating across the water.

This country is so beautiful it takes my breath away sometimes. Good luck, Steve!