Glencorse

Unfortunately we spent rather too long in Penicuik Storehouse over coffee and in selecting a few items for Christmas gifts that we overran our parking time and are now expecting a demand which will leave a sizeable hole in the wallet - not helped by the payment system in place at the car park which requires a smartphone but where there is no signal onsite.

To vent our frustration, we went to Flotterstone for a brisk walk up the Glencorse Burn. The air was chill and a line of mist still hung in the valley (main picture), frost lay in the shaded areas and drips hung on spider webs - I particularly liked the frosted tree rings on the gatepost  (collage extra 1).

Taking the path by the C19 filter beds we passed the tank house, which stands opposite an old waterworks cottage, whose roof is now collapsed and graffiti adorns its wall. I was intrigued by the filter bed overflow, shaped like an upturned bell, which, it seems, is being devoured by a tree. We continued as far as the waterfall, which is the overflow to the reservoir (collage extra 2), where a gate and fence prevent closer access, though I note this does not deter folk more determined than ourselves.

In better frame of mind we returned by the road and came home for a very late lunch.

Close to home I was just able to catch a shot of Kelvin-Helmholtz clouds in the western sky - a pity we were not able to stop sooner as the effect is often short-lived see  extra 3.