Cambusbarron, Gillies Hill, Lunchtime, December 13, 2012

So this morning, such a beautiful morning, a light dusting of snow on the ground, white flakes floating gently down from the clouds above, the cloudscape broken by the splendour of winter blue sky, a gentle and beguiling mist, parking up at work in the morning I struggled to think about about the day of work ahead, those butterflies in my belly were flapping hard at delicious thoughts of a short lunchtime ramble through the woods and around the quarries of Gillies Hill, Cambusbarron, near Stirling ...

Gillies Hill, viewed from Touch Road, the drive from office to car park start point, the anticipation fills my mind and heart, my soul, with wonderful happiness.

The start, from the car park near the top of Quarry Road, along the quarry path.

Decisions, decisions, ... let's go left, let's climb :)

The old Cambusbarron quarry, now disused.

Let's climb some more, there are rewards .... and savour the views through the Silver Birch as we go ...

The winter scene view over Touch Estate and Gargunnock Hills ... also lovely running up there :)

Turning around, Stirling Castle and the alluring Ochills behind.

Trails and views through the trees ...

 

With obstacles - jump here ...

... and duck here - I do a deep squat to take this picture.

The trail gets twiggy, then narrow beside the fence ...

The reward, we reach the big trees, the Sierra Redwoods atop Gillies Hill, planted in 186x.

The ground underfoot gets tough for a short while, and I am over time, I must run very hard back to the car park now, no more photo stops.

The ending, the last yards of trail on return to the car park, I have run hard, I am breathless, I am euphoric.

THE OUT-TAKES!

The imprint of studs (mine) in the dusting of snow, but this pretty layer hides a terrible sheet of ice ...

... and the imprint of my, ahem, posteriorplant (phew, zero damage) ...

FOOTNOTES, AND AN APPEAL

Please excuse, and thanks in advance.

This beautiful, wonderful place, Gillies Hill is under threat, and it's a serious concern. The working quarry ...

... has planning consent to expand. The magnificent and ancient Sierra Redwoods will be destroyed by the expansion.

If you have enjoyed this photo-expo, please visit Save Gillies Hill Campaign, if you can help in any way, you will be my hero.

Thanks!