Bruar and Kinloch Rannoch

Finally have my computer back after it had a serious illness and the hard drive crashed, sounds painful.  I sadly lost an awful lot of photographs and a few other bits and pieces.  To be honest can't say I really missed the computer, but lucky it broke when it did and not in the middle of the B&B season.  The children recently had a couple of 'in-service' day's off from school, on the first day I took them up to The House of Bruar and walked up to the top of Bruar Falls and on day two we headed over Kinloch Rannoch way and had a picnic and just enjoyed the day and the scenery and stopped for Hot Chocolate at the chocolate place at Grandtully on the way home.

World War 2 'Pillbox'

Another nice day yesterday, but very cold.  Planned on doing a bit of Munro bagging but too much snow on top's and I wasn't properly equipped.  I just had a wander about the lower slopes up at Glenshee which still had snow and ice in parts, but didn't become a 'cropper'.  Although somewhat funnily and fairly painfully I managed to do a rather impressive slide and fall on some gravel as I was nearly back at the car.  Luckily no one was around to witness my black clad self striding down the hill then disappearing in a heap!
I mentioned the tank traps at the Devil's Elbow in a previous blog and this time I located the old Pillbox which is fairly well hidden.  Nice little building on the mountain side, although built for serious matters.  It was very dank and dark inside, but very interesting. Just my usual photo randomness and my shadow thrown in for good measure, that damn shadow kept getting in all my photos yesterday.
On another note they are realigning the road just before Glenshee Pottery where there was a steep dip and steep climb, will make a real difference especially in the winter.

Corrie Fee

Well today it was my birthday......45 years old....but enough of that, no celebrations.  Although to mark this momentous occasion the dog and I crossed the border into Angus and up to Glen Doll to walk up Corrie Fee across the reserve and onto the Cairngorm plateau, about 10 miles there and back.  Lovely drive up to the Glens carefully avoiding all the pheasants with a death wish.  The whole Angus Glens area is an absolute walkers paradise.  The weather wasn't too bad today and had a bit of snow right at the top, as well as the obligatory swirling mist.  Very pleasant hike up through the woods and then 'wow'.  You emerge out of the trees into the amphitheatre of the Corrie and you are immediately struck dumb by the dramatic landscape in front of you with the waterfall at the far end.  It was strangely quite moving and I am running out of superlatives to describe the awe inspiring beauty of Scotland.  It was actually like entering another world, the whole Corrie is a National Nature Reserve.  My pictures do not do it any justice what so ever, but well worth going right up to the plateau at the far end and the dog managed fine on the rocky climb.  As usual quicker coming back down and my knees were feeling it as I jogged the last bit back to the car....guess that's what happens when you reach 45!  More pictures on Flickr.