Ravenfield Park via Silverwood

I wanted to do a decent walk that was near home, so Sybil and I set off up to Silverwood, which we usually visit at least once a week. Today however, I was going to extend our walk to Ravenfield Park. We headed off down the Rusty Bump, along the bottom fields and across Far Dalton Lane until we reached Silverwood. At the top a lovely breeze was blowing so I stopped to have a rest and cool down before we headed up to the lake.

Silverwood Lake

At my last few visits I have seen little wildlife on the lake; however today I was delighted to see a swan family complete with three cygnets and a mallard family with too many ducklings to count. I made sure Sybil was lying firmly at my feet, as the first time we came here she headed into the middle of the lake and promptly got stuck in the mud, and it was up to me to wade in to rescue her.

Swan family

We then walked up to Holling's Lane and crossed it to join the old railway track that runs past Thrybergh up to Ravenfield.

Walking the old tracks

Leaving the tracks just before the village we joined another public footpath past St James' Church and through a field of wheat. Although the wheat was just below waist height, it was much taller than Sybil and she wasn't happy at only being able to see the path in front of her. Every so often she would stand up on her back legs, front paws dangling, and bounce a few times to try and see over. I swear I have never met a stranger dog.

"I can't see!"

We eventually reached Ravenfield Park and turned left to walk through the woodland. Being a Sunday the fishponds were busy with fishermen and so coming back Sybil had to go on her lead, which she hates. I didn't want her knocking any unsuspecting fishermen into a pond.

View through the trees

Incidentally on the way back she did knock a man flying at Silverwood, but only because she wanted to play with his spaniel. She doesn't realise how fast she actually runs; then when I call her she can't slam on the brakes quick enough before she either falls over or runs into someone (or something).

A really pleasant walk, the weather was maybe a little too warm but I now have a nicely tanned face. Mileage covered today: 9.46 miles

Day Three - Boat of Garten and Loch Garten RSPB

On Wednesday the steam train was running up to Boat of Garten, about six miles from Aviemore. I wanted to visit Loch Garten to hopefully see an osprey, and I'd read that the steam train to Boat of Garten was the best way to do this, with a two and a half mile walk up to the reserve from there. We boarded the train at half past ten. Originally I had planned to get the train one way and walk back to Aviemore via the Speyside Way, however with the rain and also my feet still hurting from yesterday's walk (yes I'm a lightweight!) I decided to get the train both ways.

The steam engine

We left the train at Boat of Garten which seemed a lovely quiet little village. The residents were also very affluent, judging by the size of most of the houses. We then walked through Abernethy Forest, following the blue trail to the Osprey Centre. We arrived at the loch just before midday, and stopped to take it all in before going to the visitor centre.

Welcome

Unfortunately dogs aren't allowed into the centre, so I tied Sybil up and hurried through to the building before she could slip her collar and eat a squirrel. That wouldn't look good on an RSPB reserve. The centre was further away than I thought but I finally got there and peered through each of the binoculars before spotting a huge osprey leap out of a tree and fly past. The CCTV footage from the nest was being shown live on several screens in the centre; the female osprey was keeping her chicks warm which was lovely to see.

I didn't want to risk staying any longer so I hurried back to Sybil, pleased to have at least got a glimpse of an osprey. They really are much bigger than I thought. We had a few hours before our train left back to Aviemore, so we took a steady walk around the loch and back through the forest.

Loch Garten

Loch Garten

Day Two - Loch Morlich

After looking at pictures of beautiful Loch Morlich on the internet, I had decided I wanted to visit. It was within walking distance from Aviemore and back, so on Tuesday morning I packed some sandwiches and Sybil's tennis ball and we set off at around half past eight. The walk there was beautiful, along a forest path which unfortunately ran too close to the road to let Sybil off the lead.

Rothiemurchus

Between the trees you could see the mountains, and when there were no cars going past all you could hear was birdsong. Chaffinches in particular were everywhere. The weather had changed since the day before, and a refreshing fine drizzle was coming down. The rain had caught in thousands of spider webs all along the path, in gorse, heather and even in the trees, making them sparkle and even for an arachnophobe like me, really quite beautiful.

Just some of the thousands of webs in the forest

After about an hour and a half, we finally arrived at Loch Morlich where I was promptly attacked by midges. The day was overcast and the loch probably didn't look as outstanding as it did under clear skies; however I didn't mind as this meant that fewer people were visiting the loch. I played ball with Sybil until she destroyed it, which took all of five minutes. She keeps the ball in her mouth and chews on it until it splits in the middle; quite why she does this I don't know as the ball is not half as much fun to play with.

Loch Morlich

Watersports at Loch Morlich

I heard a cuckoo calling from the trees somewhere around the loch - only the second cuckoo I have ever heard. On the way back I was also in for a treat as I looked up to see a red squirrel peering at me from a tree at the side of the road. Unfortunately I'd put my camera back in my rucksack, and before I could reach for it the squirrel ran off, chased by another one through the trees.

After a rest back at the cabin, Sybil and I set off for our evening walk to Craigellachie. Halfway around the path, she suddenly bolted off into the undergrowth. I shouted her back as I didn't want her disturbing any wildlife but wasn't too worried as she normally disappears for a couple of minutes only to come and check I'm still there. However, after about ten minutes had passed I started shouting her name louder, and climbed up a little hill to see green everywhere - but no Sybil. I really started to panic now as about fifteen minutes had passed and I still could not hear the jingle of her collar or the pounding of her feet. Eventually though she reappeared, slinking up behind me with her ears down expecting to be told off. Instead I gave her a massive cuddle with tears in my eyes, as with the reserve being so big and having a busy road at the side of it, I was scared that something terrible could have happened. I clipped her lead back on and needless to say, she didn't get much off-lead time the next day as I found the large amounts of rabbits around were just too tempting for her to chase.  

Sybil