As we near the end of our stay at ‘Old Drynie House’ we wanted to spend some time on the open heather covered hills to contrast with our forest and beach walks. The option we chose was to do a circular walk around Stac Pollaidh a mountain in the Northwest Highlands of Scotland. Quite a spectacular collection of ancient rock rises above the surrounding lakes and peat bogs.

A walk advertised as a 2.5 hour trek among peat bogs, heather, flowers and grasses with some step uphill rocky scrambles did not disappoint.

Recent rain had left the trail squishy and slippery in some places. The weather however was cooperative with cool temperatures quite suitable for a strenuous hike and clear enough to get some spectacular views over the lakes and valleys.

The rain had also encouraged early spring flowers to pop up and grace the meadows with colour and textures.

Lichens growing on the surface of rocks is certainly not an anomaly and managed to catch my eye as I could not remember seeing a white lichen growing in such intricate patterns.