Dingwall Field Club Black Isle trip is rewarded with spectacular views and nature's bounty
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It was back to summer for Dingwall Field Club’s September field trip at Drumderfit, near Munlochy.
Only a lacy network of dewy cobwebs that festooned gorse bushes near the car park reminded us that this was in fact the start of autumn.
On one side of our uphill track were brilliant green cushions of moss, interspersed with clumps of heather under conifers. On the other side was a magnificent view across harvest fields to Ben Wyvis and distant peaks in the west; all looking their dramatic best under a cloudless sky.
After a while, the fourteen walkers were given the choice of diverting through the trees to the site of a hut circle and the hill fort on the summit , or continuing along the main track. Those who went to the top were rewarded with spectacular views and passed one or two large stones of some significance.
Further along the main track, there were grand sightings of Munlochy Bay. When everyone met up again we bore to the right through woodland. After a lunch stop, we returned downhill, enjoying the panoramas ahead now. It was a day for lingering in the glorious sunshine and two lizards, seen at different points, obviously thought so too. A few speckled wood butterflies were busy foraging and a variety of fungi grew along grassy edges. Some were identified by one member, including a sizeable clump of golden bootleg and the less attractively named dead man’s fingers, dog vomit and stinkhorn!
The club AGM will be on September 21 at 10.30am in St Clement's Church Hall, Dingwall.
Following the business meeting there will be a talk by Lady Hadassah about her wild bird rescue centre ‘Blue Highlands’ at Brora.
New members are welcome and a varied new autumn/winter programme awaits.
