Newtonmore trip

[annew]

In a week or so we are going to be in Newtonmore for a few days, and would like to relax with some botanising and birdwatching. Can anyone suggest places in the vicinity, other than Loch Garten?

[Maggi Young]

Lovely grub and ospreys to watch while you eat at the Boathouse Restaurant at Loch Insh, near Aviemore.

All sorts of little birds and, I'm told, good cakes, at Inshriach.


My favourite spot for orchids, earlier in the year, probably full of fabulous bog asphodels by this time... is up a little road to Tullochgrue/ Blacktop.... just delightful and good walks around there too.

[David Shaw]

Hi Anne
For birds there is the Loch Insch nature reserve, most famous for winter waders and swans but there should be a range of summer birds. Loch Garten for the ospreys, now fledged but still in the area until the end of August - also keep an eye open for them over the River Spey and any lochs. There is the ancient Caledonian Forest probably most accessible at Rothiemurchus where you might be lucky enough to see crested tits and you could go up to Cairngorm to look for ptarmigan and snow bunting.

For flower interests there is Ardguish Garden near to Boat of Garten and there should be a whole range of flowers around the Northern Corries of Cairngorm and along the plateau. If you are tempted to take a ride up Cairngorm on the funicular be warned that you are not allowed out onto the mountain. Its a conservation issue that I personally don't agree with and have repeatedly argued against it. however, you and Barry are fit and should have no trouble walking.
Enjoy your visit.

[annew]

Who, me? Fit?  Thanks for your suggestions, folks, we seem to have plenty of ideas.

[annew]

All sorts of little birds and, I'm told, good cakes, at Inshriach.

Maggi, you are a mistress of understatement! Those cakes are not just good - they are worth the trip to Scotland on their own! Not only that but you can sit and watch siskins and red squirrels on the feeders a couple of feet away while you eat them - heaven! We hadn't realised that the reds have such pale tails, I don't remember Tufty's being that colour...

[annew]

We also had good views of squirrels at Loch Garten, as well as a soggy and fed-up looking osprey chick waiting for his fish supper. We enjoyed the pine forests at Rothiemurchus, and the Insh marshes too. Maybe my best moment (though the cakes came a close second) was when we went to look for a plant that we'd seen on our last trip 30yrs ago, which I vaguely remembered was at somewhere called (something)bridge. I had a look at the map and let luck take us - we found it first stop! Here it is Goodyera repens.

[annew]

Now here are a couple of others to show and ask about. First some more squirrels, this time at Loch Garten (didn't Tufty have tufty ears too?), then a Scotch Argus butterfly, then a furry caterpillar that I'm hoping someone can identify. Finally some rather splendid fungi, which we think might be chanterelles, but maybe someone can tell us.
We had a fantastic time, too short a stay. The journey home was rather exciting, with knee deep floods around Edinburgh, torrential rain at Lamberton, and road-closed notices on the road to Edrom. Really, the water wasn't thatdeep!

[Lesley Cox]

Thanks Anne, for sharing this lovely trip with us. The squirrals are beautiful and have such lovely tails. S. Nutkin comes from a very photogenic family.

[Paul T]

Not only that but you can sit and watch siskins and red squirrels on the feeders a couple of feet away while you eat them - heaven!

Anne,

So were the siskins and red squirrels tasty while you ate them?  I thought the squirrels were much too cute to be eaten. 

Seriously, the squirrels are just so adorable aren't they?  Red much more so than grey.  Yes, I'm sure there are other squirrels with tufty ears, but yours are really beautiful, particularly with the wonderfully contrasting tail.  They really are the epitome of "cute" aren't they?  Unless they're coming in to dig up your crocuses and bulbs I suppose.    Thanks so much for sharing the pics.

[David Shaw]

Hi Anne, pleased that you enjoyed your trip.
Yes, the fungus are chanterelles - just coming into season and very tasty; much more so than red squirrels.

[Lesley Cox]

According to Gordon Ramsey, squirrels are very tasty indeed and it would be a way to control the greys I suppose.

[annew]

OOPS - I didn't mean it to come out like that!  The only wildlife we ate was a haggis, and I understand they are bred specially, like grouse. 

[Paul T]

Anne,

I knew you didn't MEAN it like that, but had to point out the wonderful turn of phrase!    Can't help myself. 

[Maggi Young]

The only wildlife we ate was a haggis, and I understand they are bred specially, like grouse. 

Yes, Anne, that's quite right. Did you not take time for a tour at one of the Haggis farm visitor centres? I'm told they are a popular vistor attraction , usually after a visit to a whisky distillery......

[Roma]

Anne,

We live close to a wood and have red squirrels eating peanuts on our kitchen windowsill.  They only have ear tufts in the winter.  The colour varies a bit but we don't have any with such lovely bushy blonde tails just now.  Some are a uniform bright red including the tail .  Others are dark to very dark along the back getting lighter down the sides.  The dark ones have dark tails in winter but they fade to blonde in summer.  They are growing in their winter coats now , some with dark hair growing in the blonde tails as if they have  been dying their hair and have not been touching up the roots.

Paul,

Red sqirrels do not seem to dig up and eat bulbs but they do a bit of damage digging holes to bury peanuts, especially if they do it in newly planted pots.