#hillwalker

[scotianostra]

Anna Shepherd was born on February 11th  1893 at East Peterculter 3 miles west of Aberdeen.

Nan, as she was known, spent most of her life living in the same house she grew up in. As well as looking after her mother she went to Aberdeen High School for Girls, and studied at Aberdeen University before joining, what is now   Aberdeen College of Education, teaching English literature, Nan has been described as “an inspiring teacher, with a feminist approach in her lectures which was ahead of her time” She taught there until her retirement in 1956. 

Shepherd’s first novel, The Quarry Wood, was published in 1928, with two more following in the 1930s. All three are set in the North-East with the country communities and harsh landscape as background. Her book The Living Mountain, a work of poetic prose exploring her close relationship with the hills, was written in the 1940s, though not published until 1977. Hill-walking was Shepherd’s great love; her work mostly centred on her love of The Cairngorms.

I must admit I haven’t read much of her writings other than a few poems, but I recall s friend Steve, who lives on Skye posting about her on his, well his dogs’ twitter page, saying “Nan Shepherd has the gift to describe the mountains the way I feel it, and I only wish I could do it justice in words as she can.” This made me look her up and watch The Living Mountain: A Cairngorms Journey, it was on the BBC iPlayer but has gone now. I also found several clip on Youtube, just search for her and you will find them.

Nan Shepherd was renowned for the enthusiasm with which she taught and helped students, colleagues, and other writers. Her generous attention was not confined to caring for her invalid mother and the family housekeeper; she devoted much energy to friendships with many writers. She is represented in anthologies of Scottish women poets, and books of mountain poetry. Nan joined those Scottish writers already honoured in Edinburgh’s Makars’ Court when a stone dedicated to her was placed there in 2000.For those of you in Scotland, and have made it this far into my post about Nan, and maybe still haven’t heard of her, dig in your wallet or purse and dig out a Royal Bank of Scotland £5 note, that’s Nan you have been looking at for the last five years.

Summit of Corrie Etchachan

by Nan Shepherd

But in the climbing ecstasy of thought, Ere consummation, ere the final peak, Come hours like this. Behind, the long defile, The steep rock-path, alongside which, from under Snow-caves, sharp-corniced, tumble the ice-cold waters. And now, here, at the corrie’s summit, no peak, No vision of the blue world, far, unattainable, But this grey plateau, rock-strewn, vast, silent, The dark loch, the toiling crags, the snow; A mountain shut within itself, yet a world, Immensity. So may the mind achieve, Toiling, no vision of the infinite, But a vast, dark and inscrutable sense Of its own terror, its own glory and power.

The pics of the house are Nan’s Shanty on the edge of the Cairngorms, high on the shoulder of Morrone, with views over the village of Braemar and the Dee valley that’s her in the doorway with her friend Amelia McGregor, it is said to be the highest in Scotland.

Loads more on Oor Nan here http://www.geopoetics.org.uk/tag/nan-shepherd/

And more about her hoose here https://charlottepeacock.co.uk/2021/03/02/nan-shepherd-cairngorms-shanty/

[petnews2day]

Body of man and dog found in hunt for missing hillwalker last seen with his beagle in Glencoe

New Post has been published on https://petn.ws/2qECh

Body of man and dog found in hunt for missing hillwalker last seen with his beagle in Glencoe

Rescue teams recovered a man and dog’s bodies in the Lost Valley area, Glencoe Identification has not taken place yet but Kyle Sambrook’s family were informed Mountain rescue teams have recovered the body of a man and dog amidst searches for a missing hillwalker. Kyle Sambrook, 33, left his home in West Yorkshire last Saturday to […]

See full article at https://petn.ws/2qECh #DogNews #Beagle, #Body, #Dog, #Glencoe, #Hillwalker, #Hunt, #Man, #Missing, #Seen

[ulstersnapper]

C A V E H I L L 🌈 A rainbow arching over McArt's Fort at Cavehill #cavehill #cavehillbelfast #belfast #belfastnorthernireland #rainbow #rainbowbaby #rainbows #northernireland #cavehillcountrypark #norniron #walk #optoutdoors #ourweecountry #hillwalker #visitbelfast #optoutside #hillwalking #outdoors #outdoorslover #outdooradventures #winterwalks #cavehillcountrypark #takeahike #hikeyourownhike #hikingireland #hiking #hikewithme #hikemore #hikemoreworryless #outdoorsisfree #outdoorinspo (at Cave Hill Country Park) https://www.instagram.com/p/CoRZjKKIJJU/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[embracingthenoise]

Last Light | Scottish Borders | 2023

Shot on 2008 Canon Powershot A590

All images are subject to copyright unless otherwise stated.

[outdoors-pete]

Ullswater seen from Glenridding Dodd, & Glenridding Dodd, Glenridding & the Far Eastern Fells beyond seen from Sheffield Pike.

Some of the lesser trod fells that make up the Helvellyn range in the English Lake District.

[mings]

Scenes from the trail - new episode

I haven't been here much recently because reasons. Yesterday was an opportunity for me & the Bean to stretch our legs and clear our heads.

I was recently appointed to the board of directors of the local Forest Trust, which is on the threshold of a huge, once in a generation opportunity. Over 1100 acres (450ha) of land neighbouring the forest is on the market, and the owners are willing to consider a community purchase. We're forming a joint venture with another local organisation and hope to raise the funds to buy it.

That's no small endeavour - we'll need to raise more than £1 million - and at any stage, an external buyer could step in and beat us to it.

Anyway, as it's for the community, what better way to put a plan together than to ask the community for their views, ideas, and aspirations? So we're holding drop-in sessions here and in the neighbouring village. I thought it might be useful to have some images of a wilderness that many folks may never have seen.

Although this used to be the drover's route from Fort William to Inverness, there's little evidence of it today. Apart from the prolific heather, much of the ground is peat bog, giving us a clue that this was once a very different wooded landscape. It's ripe for rewilding, and the presence of well-established willow and juniper suggests that either the deer are few enough to be manageable (unlikely) or they stay out of sight in the forested areas. We'll also have to be aware of the wild boar that are regular inhabitants of Glenurquhart because this land adjoins the Glen, and its inevitable that they'll continue their eastward migration.

Peatland restoration holds massive potential for carbon capture and the opportunities for healthy pursuits are endless. Meall na h-Eilrig at 465 metres (1526 feet) sits above Loch Glanaig and provides spectacular 360° views. It's a grind getting there, but restoring and extending the old peat cutting tracks would make it much more accessible for both foot and cycle traffic.

So many things to think about. Now, where to find a spare million or so...

[moonturnips]

[real-life-ghosts]

[rotzaprachim]

finally nailed down vel sartha’s vibe which is: lesbian rugby coach for the kiddo leagues who woudl love to give everyone a participation trophy but Can’t because /rules/ and /building character/ so is going to just blow that whistle REALLY LOUDLY and make everyone drop and give her 20. constantly giving speeches about how This is the game where we are going to WIN girls we are going to WIN as she walks them right into terrifying defeat, which, of course, all the kids have seen right through 

[mirtapersonal]

War Department No. 13 summit marker, Lobawn (Lúbán). From what I understand, it marks an area belonging to the military (which, I guess, would be Glen of Imaal, which is right in front of it and is a military training zone)

[mightywellfan]

The Southern Upland Way crossing Cornal Burn, near to Dumcrieff, Dumfries And Galloway

[scotianostra]

Took a wee walk over the Pentland Hills to Glencorse Reservoir yesterday

[theragingmoon]

climbing ben lomond, scotland 🐏

[ulstersnapper]

C A V E H I L L ⛰️ My fav tree in full spindly winter mode earlier today at Cavehill 😁 #cavehill #cavehillbelfast #belfast #belfastnorthernireland #northernireland #cavehillcountrypark #norniron #walk #optoutdoors #ourweecountry #hillwalker #visitbelfast #optoutside #hillwalking #treesofinstagram #trees #tree #outdoors #outdoorslover #outdooradventures #winterwalks #cavehillcountrypark #takeahike #hikeyourownhike #hikingireland #hiking #hikewithme #hikemore #hikemoreworryless #outdoorsisfree #outdoorinspo (at Cavehill) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cn-MEBjj2P-/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[embracingthenoise]

Running Up that Hill | Scottish Borders | 2023

Shot on 2008 Canon Powershot A590

All images are subject to copyright unless otherwise stated.

Find me on Instagram

[benvironment]

A few pics from a walk the week before last, over Carn na Drochaide. In terms of wildlife, it often feels like it's all or nothing here. Some days you don't see anything whatsoever, and other days the wildlife comes so thick and fast it's a struggle to keep up 😉

This day was the latter. Golden eagles, white tailed eagles, golden plover, black grouse, red grouse, brown hare, lapwings, ravens and plentiful voles 🙂