Hag Hopping!......

After a whirr of activity, including a visit to Zurich, we're now back in Scotland.......

Despite yet more unpacking and washing waiting to be done, I took myself off, in bright cold sunshine, for a walk in Glen Muick.

Arriving in the car park, and seeing how many others had had the same idea, I opted not to follow the crowd and took the path beside the Allt Darrarie hoping to find my way to the Shielin of Mark.

{Looking back to Lochnagar - sparkling white in the sunshine}

I crunched, hopped and sploshed my way along the footpath squinting into the sun. I had left it until near lunchtime before setting off, not quite believing the forecast for a good day.

After a great deal of hag hopping I had to admit to myself that there was no such thing as a short cut across this terrain, I finally reached the bothy, where I had my lunch sitting outside. Inspecting my Keen boots, they were heavy with peaty water but my feet were not wet. Brilliant!

{At last - the Shielin of Mark comes into view}

Lunch over I decided to return to the car park by keeping to a lower level and following the streams. I did have a little internal rant about the narrowness of the path through the heather as I approached Glen Muick again. There was no comfortable way to walk without catching my gaiters, or risking tripping on my own feet, as I was forced to mince along.

I think I was tired!