Christine's walking & birds blog

We had intended to go up the hill on the left, but even here the path was quite icy and we decided to leave the hill for another day, following the path round to the Braes of Ullapool instead.

The painted soldier had been placed on a small knoll overlooking the village and the loch.

The snow on our drystone wall gives it a furry look. I googled it, and apparently it's surface hoar; it forms after cold, clear nights on banks or layers of snow, and is something to do with radiation of energy from the snow and the presence of liquid.

Our walk today was short - just under 6 kilometres - but it involved a steepish climb and felt an important step for me. It was the first walk I've done - apart from village and loch-side strolls and two level walks at the dam - since turning seventy in December. With relief, I realised that I can still do it!