North from Russa Dale

A walk from the bottom of Bigswell Road, up to Happy Valley, then up Russa Dale onto Mid Hill, then Ward Hill and down the track to Orphir village. Really warm most of the way- especially when off-track ploughing through deep heather. Not a lot of birds about high up- a few snipe and a pair of ravens. Along the Bigswell plenty of curlews, greylag, lapwings and singing skylarks. In the photo- the loch on the right is Loch of Harray, and the one on the left Loch of Stenness.