Christine's walking & birds blog

The walk along the loch from Ullapool to Rhue is a beautiful one scenically speaking, but in other respects is a bit of an obstacle course. But first we had the dog-walking field to negotiate (I've never seen it quite so pooey!) and as we turned onto the long sloping path that leads down, up from the scrubby area came the reeling of a grasshopper warbler - which Greger unfortunately can no longer hear. We failed to see the bird, and soon carried on as we had a longish way to go.

We followed the posts along the edge of the golf-course but eventually the grassy path petered out and we had to walk on the pebbly beach. Looking back towards Ullapool (all scenic shots from G's smartphone).....


Three Bonxies were out on the loch  - evidently practising social distancing. A first for the year.


Several wheatears were encountered along the Morefield crofts.


The coastline began to take on a rocky ruggedness, and even at low tide some headlands couldn't be walked round. We clambered up this one and found a pleasant path along the low cliff-top - though later in the year, bracken might be a problem here.


Several fences also have to be dealt with - fortunately they're low enough (just) to swing your leg over.


I thought the greyish bird ahead was a rock pipit, but I reckon it's a rather sombre meadow pipit.


At last we were free of fences and approaching the lighthouse at Rhue.


We sat on the rocks and had a packet of crisps and some water, and then set off for the road. A cheerful runner came down the path as we climbed up through the still-dead bracken. The road walk through the hamlet of Rhue was pleasant enough, especially as a cuckoo was being fairly vocal from the parallel river valley and seemingly moving along with us. It wasn't until we were plodding up the main road though that we finally saw the bird - and by finding a narrow gap through the undergrowth I was able to get a passable shot.


Once at the top of Morefield Brae it was downhill into Ullapool and all the way home. A common lizard darting across the verge gave me an "other species" tick for lockdown.


This was the first time we've done this walk - which was just under 12 kilometres - and it will probably be the last!