Stratherrick

Loch Ruthven is famous for its Slavonian Grebe population, shortly they will return and visitors can access the RSPB hide from the Croachy end of Loch Ruthven.

However that is not the only interesting part of the loch. Last week I took a walk round the other end of Loch Ruthven, near to Ruthven Farm, Abersky and Torness. ( If you do walk, please keep dogs on leads, and fasten any gate you go through and respect farming and shooting activities.)

This is a really interesting area, there is an ancient crannog out on the Loch, and the area has the feel of somewhere that has long been occupied.

The ground is marshy and great for bird watching. This is the time of year the wading birds come back to Stratherrick. In the evening you can hear the distinctive call of the whaup- (curlew) a burbling sound and the ÔÇ£wheepÔÇØ of the peesies ( peewits), as well as the ÔÇ£drumming ÔÇ£ of the snipe- a noise made by the air rushing through their feathers as they do aerial manoevers!

One interpretation of the name Stratherrick is from the Gaelic ÔÇ£YarrickÔÇØ( Anglicised pronunciation) meaning the Strath of the peesies- that is something I like to think anyhow!!

Walking on the hills at this time of year is a joy- the vegetation is low and there may still be patches of snow. A great walk is from the top of the Suidhe Chumein (the highest point of the road between Mhitebridge and Fort Augustus) , where there is a viewpoint.and a new walking trail that takes you to above Loch Tarff, a magnificent view.

This is a lovely time of the year and on a clear day with bright skies, this area is at its best . Enjoy!

(Thank you to Ros Rowell Of Highland Arts for this entry, www.highlandart.com)