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Walking Group One 25th April 2024
Five hardy souls collected today at Happy Valley for the first Hill Walk of the year .The temperature was cool with a North Easterly wind blowing and a hint of rain on arrival.
Off we set heading towards Russadale Quarry, spotting a Buzzard on the way.Turning into the footpath we remained sheltered from the wind all the way to the top of the hill.
The sun was out at the Quarry and a Greenshank was feeding at the edge of the Lochan. Then it was up the Peat road to the summit with spectacular views across Stenness and Harray Lochs, plus a view of the Closed Road beyond the Watch Stone. On the other side we looked over the Flow and down towards the Oil Platform and South Ronaldsay
Then it was back down after a stop for a snack and finally a walk around Happy Valley itself. The Daffodils planted by James and others were looking lovely and the Bluebells are days away from opening. Then it was on to a well deserved lunch at the Pier Cafe, having walked 4 miles and gone up 800 feet (and down again )
The next walk will be on Friday 24th May and hopefully more hills and views.
Keep moving.
u3a Walking Group One - June 2023
by Tim - 08:53 on 30 June 2023
Fifteen of us met at Yesnaby and made our way to the car park below the Black Craig. A mild southwesterly wind bit cooler than expected with a few drops of rain driving over. Then it was over the stile and up to the lookout at the top of the hill.T hat warmed us all up for a group photo following which it was off to North Galton Castle.
On the way across the cliffs we saw Arctic Skuas, Wheatears, Curlews and Ring Plovers but no Whales. A short stop at North Galton to have a snack and look at the Blackback Gull young. Discussion about the car placed the advert on the Castle many years ago decided it was a Rover but which model we weren't sure.
Then it was off to Yesnaby via the cliff Quarry and the only Oyster Plant on the West Coast of Orkney. The botanists among us soon found the second flowering of Primula Scottica while some of the walkers rested by the buildings catching their breath. A four mile walk in ideal conditions with lots of chat.
We will walk again on Friday 28th July, the time and place to be decided a couple of days before.
Keep moving, Tim.
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