Fritillary

Today was the day we had toyed with going away. Properly away I mean as in staying somewhere else overnight. But the idea was soon dismissed. Why take the risk when you don't have to? Anyway we are booked to be away at the end of the month and I don't want anything preventable to get in the way of that.

With a free day though we decided to do one of the four reservoirs/lochs in the Devilla Forest near Kincardine. Not far away at all and what a great walk. We decided on the circular walk round Peppermill Dam which was a reservoir but I think now disused. There was so much wildlife. The butterfly (I think a fritillary) won by a whisker but there were clouds of blue and turquoise damselflies which nearly made the cut. The reservoir itself is attractive but for a blip it's only another body of water. The woodland has some magnificent old trees as well as more regular plantation. Lots of lovely wildflowers too and very quiet so we could hear all the birdsong.


On the way back we took the tiniest detour up to the Keith Of Tulliallan Mausoleum (extra). Ruinous and probably dangerous but a fascinating place. The name Tulliallan might be familiar if you're a Rebus fan. Or if you're an Associate Lecturer of the Open University in Scotland. When I worked for the OU we held AL staff development events at Tulliallan Police College. The accommodation was spartan, the food was awful but what fun we had. Anyway this mausoleum was part of the original Tulliallan estate.

The weather is lovely - temperature in the high teens, sunny and no wind. It suits me well. So I'm heading out again to make the most of it.

Have a good weekend everyone.