Last Hikes in Scotland

I was very lucky to be able to quite a few more hikes before I had to head back to Canada. I had always wanted to hike up Sir Albert's Seat in Edinburgh, mainly because my daughter had hiked up there four years ago and it would be cool to be somewhere I knew she had traveled.

The Pathway up to Sir Albert's Seat

 It is just a short climb to the summit and the weather was not at it's best but we managed to make it up to the summit and get somewhat of a view of the city.

At the Summit

 The most impressive site I felt of the hike were the massive crags. Although we didn't hike up on top of them we did take the trail that was directly below them. The rock formation was just amazing and I could have spent hours just looking at them.

The Crags

 Last time I was here had we had hiked up Mount Schiehallion and I was thrilled to bag a munro so I was determined to get another one this trip. The mountain chosen was Mount Keen. It is a long hike into the mountain through fields filled with lovely sheep and their cute little lambs.

Heading up to Mount Keen

It was wonderful to walk along the trail and come upon this ancient well. There is something to be said for the history of this magical land. 

Queen Anne's Well

We had our first lunch break up above the stream that was running down in between the hills. The summit could be seen in the distance but was a long long ways off. 

Lovely creek running down through the hills

Finally in the distance we could see Mount Keen. It looked so very far away but the pathway wasn't too too steep. For some reasons the Scots have built stairs on many of the hills when you reach the steep part. It must have taken years and I'm not sure I enjoy going up them. 

Mount Keen in the distance

After a few hours of hiking we finally made it to the summit. I had been thinking we would never make it as there was a false summit so I prayed as I peeked over the last bit that this actually was the top and thankfully it was!

At the rocky summit

The views looking back down the trail were just amazing. It didn't matter which direction I looked, there were just more and more hills and valleys. A beautiful peaceful place to be.

The views!

Heading back down it was amazing to see how far we had hiked up. The trail faded out in the distance but it was neat to be able to see where we had been and where we were going. Much different than hiking at home where one was mostly in the trees. 

Heading back down the long trail...

Once down to the flat land we took a break for second lunch and a foot soak. Lovely clear cold water. The sound of the peaceful stream was soothing.

Time for a foot soak
This was one of my favourite hikes for sure. It had a bit of everything, views, history, streams, lambs and was very magical and another munro was in the bag!

Just like the treed land I love back home

One of our last hikes was to the Corrie Fee. Hiking through the trees made me feel at home and there was a lovely stream nearby. Once past the trees we came to the opening of the Corrie Fee. It was quite a way to hike but I really wanted to go up as far as the waterfall. It looked a lot further than it really was though. 

The waterfall in the distance...our goal

I was content to stop here but I am glad that we carried on and hiked right up to where the waterfall came down through the rocks. 

Almost there

I hiked down so that I could put my hands in the cool waters and just sat there silently soaking up the peacefulness of the place and the day. 

Cool fresh water pooling on it's way down

I headed down ahead of the others, just wanting to enjoy the quiet and soak up all the joy of the day. I knew it was my last big hike and wanted to make the most of it. 

Heading back down...can you find D & J

Arriving at the car park felt really good...it was a fun hike....not near as strenuous as hiking a munro. It had been a good day and a great holiday. There is just so much to see and do when one explores other countries that it is impossible to do it all. 

Back at the car park and time to say good bye to the hills of Scotland

There was so many more adventures that I totally enjoyed but it would take too long to share them all. Besides I am back home and have my own hills and mountains to explore. Life is too short to stay indoors! Life and nature awaits.

Big Bang takes Penny Kayaking

My most favourite show on television is The Big Bang Theory, a comedy about four young men working at a University. They are all very wise scientists who love Super heroes and are Star Trek fans and I love them all. There are also two young women biologists that they befriend plus Penny, the high school drop out, who aspires to be an actress. Last year my friend who kayaks and blogs posted a picture of himself with his partner and four friends all taking a lunch break on a beach. They were dressed in matching mango dry suits and I couldn't help but laugh as they so reminded me of the guys from Big Bang when they dressed up in their Star Trek costumes. These too, were all very wise men and so I nicknamed them the Big Bang Guys. 

Yesterday my friends, Duncan and Joan, arranged with their friend, Ian to take me on an amazing kayak trip on the Moray Firth of the North Sea. Ian had planned the adventure and supplied me with kayak and kit so that I could take part. Although I look nothing like Penny, as I suited up in a mango jacket I felt that the "Big Bang Guys" were taking Penny kayaking. I am a novice kayaker and was feeling a little apprehensive about paddling with such wise skilled paddlers.



We headed out from Sandend Beach and the water was calm and a beautiful clear blue colour. We followed the coastline and went behind huge rocks through narrow channels. 


Above on the rocks were many types of birds nesting on the cliffs. It was truly amazing to be so close to them. The air was filled with their sounds and smells. Ian pointed out the many types of gulls, cormorants and kittiwakes. 

We continued on exploring the cliffs n caves that we came upon. As we paddled under the ruins of the Findlater Castle we approached a beautiful sand beach which would be our lunch spot.  

Ian explained how we needed to watch the waves and come in after two large waves had passed as they were followed by seven small waves. He went in first and did a wonderful smooth landing. I followed and was doing great but I'm not a strong paddler so the first big wave came up behind me and thankfully I managed to ride through it but as I neared the beach the second wave caught me sideways and I found myself hanging out of the kayak sideways with one side of me under six inches of water. It was a great sideways skid onto the beach and I laughed thinking how it was a great "Penny" landing. 
Here I had been concerned that I might embarrass my friend around his kayaking buddy and now I could relax because it was done. Ah it was something to laugh about and learn from. We had a great lunch and then headed back out. Amazingly it was much easier to get out with the help of the two guys than it was to come in to shore.



We carried on and cross the bay at Cullen beach and paddled over to Bow Fiddle Rock. 

Safely on the other side of the waves

It as a long ways to paddle and I was unable to keep up to the guys but thankfully Joan paddled along side me enjoying the beautiful views together as we moved along. The Bowfiddle is just so amazing.

Bow Fiddle Rock
From the front you can't see how amazing it is but from the backside it turns into this beautiful rock formation that looks like a fiddle. Paddling under it was such a gift and something that many people don't get to experience. I will be forever grateful! We then paddled over to another cave which will someday turn into an arch as the "window" is already forming.

I loved looking up at the stone ceiling and down through the green water. I could have stayed in there forever just floating on the clear water however we still had to paddle across Cullen Bay to the beach where we had left a car. Thankfully we were landing at the marina where the beach was protected from waves and I was able to land a little more gracefully this time!



It was an amazing day and something I will always cherish. Thank you Ian for organizing such a wonderful day and thank you Duncan and Joan for not only the kayak outing but an amazing holiday!
Photos from Duncan at http://oceanpax.blogspot.ca/ 
(I was very thankful I hadn't taken my phone with me to take pictures)