Sunday, February 05, 2017
The small hill of Cnoc Chaornaidh (285m) was climbed in 40 minutes from the road, total walk distance being 2.1km with an elevation of 133m.
Splashing through bog up the hillside between the forest and a sheepfield, I heard a flapping of wings and looked round to get the merest glimpse of a brown bird flying away above the trees; I thought woodcock, I thought hen black grouse - but it happened so quickly and I saw next to nothing, so I don't know. Bit high for a woodcock that's just taken off, maybe; and this wasn't a million miles from where I saw a black grouse last year.
It remained dry but dullish and there were good views north to Breabag and Ben More Assynt, although the mountains were ill-defined against a watery blue sky and scarves of cloud. Loch Ailsh, which we'd walked out to a week ago ago hoping to do this hill from the track, is just visible on the right of the picture.
There was a splendid pillar, with a complete top plate - Greger pointed out that the screws looked new, so perhaps this one is loved and looked after by someone. The lettering's a bit worn in places, but simply states: Ordnance Survey Triangulation Station. The FB number is S8148.
Not so far below, the River Oykel winds its way south-east towards the Dornoch Firth.
Apart from the unidentified bird flushed low down on the hill, nothing else was seen on the walk. But back on the road, a moorland pool held some life - half a dozen water crickets skimming about.
And when we drove on to eat lunch in the Loch Craggie lay-by, a buzzard was spotted on the top of a conifer and then a distant raven, standing out well against a snowy hillside.
The raven looked as though it was feeding in the alder trees, a bit like a black grouse; but perhaps it was collecting twigs or bark for nest-building. A dipper and a male goldeneye were on Loch Borralan. We drove home content with our short walk - it had been quite long enough on this cold day (4ºC).
// posted by Christine @ 3:38 PM 
