Hike around Inverkip, West of Scotland

This evening, I am providing a photographic record of today's small group hike in and around Inverkip.

                                                  Firth of Clyde looking towards Dunoon.

Inverkip is situated about thirty miles west of Glasgow on the eastern shore of the Firth of Clyde. The Firth of Clyde is a bay or estuary where the River Clyde empties into the Irish Sea and ultimately the Atlantic Ocean.


Sub-tropical vegetation. This phenomenon is due to the influence of the warm ocean current known  as the Gulf Stream. Glasgow is 56 degrees north, the same as parts of Canada. Without the Gulf Stream we would have a far harsher climate.

Inverkip is best known for its yachting marina. The name is an amalgam of two origins, viz:

  • Inver = creek or river mouth 
  • Kip = block-like landscape.

The route covered 12 km or about 7.5 miles. 

                                                                         Hiking group


                                                  Heather in bloom. Heather is a symbol of Scotland.


Rustic scene. The brown and white cow is probably of the Ayrshire breed and well known for milk production.


Equine scene. This horse is well protected (over protected?) against the vagaries of the Scottish weather.

                                                            This is probably the River Kip

                                                  Pebble art. Increasingly popular in Scotland.

                                      War memorial set against background of Firth of Clyde

                  Friendly local collie dog who came from nowhere and 'adopted' the hiking group.

Overall, a rewarding experience in very favourable weather conditions.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Reconstructed Roman Villa

Image
This evening, I am reporting on my visit earlier today to a meticulously reconstructed Roman Villa in Somerset, England.   Funding for the project was provided by a South African billionaire. Specific features of the reconstruction project which is known as 'Villa Ventorum': Employed hundreds of architects, builders, archaelogists, mosaic makers, fresco painters and experts on ancient plumbing. The new build was built close to the remains of the original villa which dates from AD351. Incorporates the only working hypocaust system in Europe to create authentic Roman underfloor heating. Thne system also provides heating for the internal baths. Designed to appear to visitors as though still in use. Mosaics and frescoes have been made below the top standards of the time (e.g. Chedworth ) to reflect the social rank of the resident family. Incorporates a Roman 'fast food bar' allong the lines of that found in Pompeii . (Core of above information sourced from the Times newspap
Read more

Glen Quaich, one of Scotland's best backroads tour routes

Image
This afternoon, I am reporting the route of Glen Quaich in Central Scotland. This is a scenic, single track road which is usually closed to traffic in winter. The route covers about twelve miles and runs between the villages of Amulree and Kenmore on the northern tip of Loch Tay in Perthshire. Depending on time of year it is possible to encounter low lying snow, many sheep, grouse and other exceptional opportunities for photography. Incidentally, Quaich means a drinking cup. In a certain place the landscape is shaped like a bowl. Glen Quaich, Perthshire, Scotland Glen Quaich Black Grouse at Glen Quaich Here are a couple of video clips.
Read more

Fort Augustus, a popular visitor site on southern tip of Loch Ness

Image
Loch Ness from flight of locks at Fort Augustus, Scottish Highlands This evening, I am posting information on Fort Augustus, a busy tourist village on the southern tip of Loch Ness in the Scottish Highlands. Summary information on Fort Augustus as follows:- Population about 650 persons. Distance, about 160 miles from Edinburgh and 35 miles from Inverness entailing journey times of 3.5 hours and 1 hour respectively. Well endowed with hotels and other accommodation plus shops, restaurants and visitor attractions. From here visitors can avail of boat trips on Loch Ness. Home to an impressive flight of five locks on the Caledonian Canal. Latter dates from 1822 and is now primarily used by pleasure boats. Closely linked with the 18th century Jacobite uprising in that (a) the village was renamed Fort Augustus (after Prince William Augustus, third son of King George II) consequent upon construction of a British military (redcoat) fort in 1742 and (b) the same Prince
Read more