Day Eight 07 05 25
Tuesday at 11:45 AM, I set out on my usual mile-long route. The air felt thick and humid, with only a light, quite cold breeze – maybe a 0.7 out of 10 on my personal monitor. There was a cold dampness in the air that made me glad I’d put on my light coat, hat, and wellies. As I started walking, though, I took off my hat and wondered if even my coat was necessary, despite the clouds looking thick and moody, as if they were brewing for a storm. The air smelled damp, earthy, and mossy somehow; it reminded me of the colour green. This is so different from the city, where the smell of exhaust fumes, cigarettes, vape, and the thick, oily smell of skunk weed seem to prevail on the streets. Overhead, I spotted a golden eagle gliding silently and seamlessly through the sky. The eagle made it look effortless. Further in the distance, I saw what I think was another military helicopter – although I couldn’t be quite sure as it was far away. But it was flying low, and the noise was loud. It looked heavy in the sky.
Birds spotted:
- Two ducks flying past
- A cormorant or shag
- x6 heron
I met no other people or walkers.
NB: the PlantAI app was only free for a week, and for this I would need to provide my card details. I have just been subjected to a subscription scam so I am not getting the app!
Tapestry of Connection
Day Seven 06 05 25
At 4 PM, I am having a ‘sitting in the landscape’ day. I returned to the same spot as last week, a place that is now becoming familiar to me. This repetition of walking and returning to places allows me to observe the subtle changes in the environment around me. To my left is Locmaddy, with the distant silhouette of Ben Lee Hill rising majestically against the sky. On my right lies Loch Fada, its waters shimmering softly under the thickening clouds that are gathering above. Further along to my right, I can see Crogearraidh Mòr hill.
Ben Lee is a boggy moorland hill whose close proximity to the Cuillin makes it a fine viewpoint. It was once part of the common grazings for the Braes communities on its eastern slopes – its withdrawal as common land resulting in The Battle of the Braes.
link to information about: Battle of the Braes: The Battle and Trail
The Beinn Lì Hill Race and Walk is a 10k much loved and well attended (by residents and visitors) annual event held in the village of Lochmaddy on the island of North Uist . The race is held on the first Saturday in August and was first run in 1994. Link to the FaceBook page
The wind is barely noticeable today; my personal monitor registers it at just 0.2 out of 10. The air feels still, almost serene, but there’s an anticipation in the atmosphere as thick clouds build overhead. In the distance I saw a military helicopter, its loud buzzing sound echoing across the landscape. The unique formation of the clouds seems to amplify this noise, making it carry clearly through the stillness around me.
Sitting in the landscape provides me with time to reflect on how these moments of stillness and observation connect me more deeply with nature and allow me to appreciate both its constancy and its changeability. Each visit brings new insights and experiences that enrich my understanding of this unique place.
At 4:45 pm, I noticed a subtle shift in the atmosphere. A little colder breeze began to stir, registering about 0.8 out of 10 on my personal monitor. The clouds above thickened considerably, muting the light and casting a greyer, moodier tone over everything. In the distance, I heard the distinct sound of birds twittering.
I sat in the landscape for 2 hours. I did some sketchbook work. No walkers passed me by today.
Nicola Neate 