Walks near Connel
During our stay in Connel over Christmas 2021 we did some lovely walks.
Loch Etive from Inverawe
An out-and-back route from the Forestry Commission carpark at Inverawe to the River Liver had beautiful scenery, a herd of deer, and the remains of a deserted township, Creag Buidhe.
Oban and Pulpit Hill
We made the mistake of going into Oban two days before Christmas. It was heaving. On Christmas Day itself, it was bright, cold and quiet. From the town, we did a circular walk climbing Pulpit Hill and the hillfort of Dun Uabairtich before returning along a minor road. We had fine views back to the town and over the Sound of Kerrera.
Sutherland’s Grove
This is a “lollipop” route which starts and finishes by walking through Sutherland’s Grove alongside the Abhainn Teithil (river) before looping out to Gleann Dubh Reservoir and returning through Balcardine Forest. The grove is named after Lord Sutherland who was President of the Society of Foresters and helped set up the Forestry Commission in 1919. During the walk, there were views to Loch Creran, Loch Linnhe, and beyond to the hills of Morvern. We also met a funny little troll under a bridge!
Glen Nant
Today Glen Nant is a nature reserve, but in the 18th and 19th centuries it was a busy industrial site with hundreds of people coppicing trees and burning them for charcoal for the nearby Bonawe Iron Furnace. In addition, the bark of the oak was used in the leather tanning industry. We found a very beautifully placed picnic table to eat our sandwiches.
Fearnoch Forest
In Fearnoch Forest we followed the Ant Hill Trail – Scottish wood ants make their impressive domed homes from pine needles, moss and heather. They eat a lot of other insects which are harmful to trees – for every square metre of forest there is estimated to be about 500 ants.
Ganavan Bay to Dunstaffnage
On our last day, we walked from Ganavan Bay, about three miles north of Oban, along the coast to Dunstaffnage Castle, returning slightly inland past the Marina and along the cycle path to avoid re-traversing the coastal trail mud.
This was a lovely way to spend the Christmas period in a year when we just wanted to get away from it all. We’ve had another three Scottish trips since then – we are getting back into our stride at last.
Linked to Jo’s Monday Walk.
The Glasgow Gallivanter 
Oh Anabel, so much stunning scenery in these photographs. How lovely to have this all close by.
LikeLike
We are very lucky! For the last few years (pre-pandemic because of mum) our trips have not been more than 2-2.5 hours drive away, and we’re still in that habit. So much beauty in that radius.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sometimes it’s great to get away without driving a long distance. Having said that, we’re at the end of a huge road trip, more than 4,000km through Queensland. That’s been fun too.
LikeLike
It is, especially at the end when you can be home really quickly! I hate that end of a trip feeling and it gets it over with. 4000km is definitely huge!
LikeLike
Such stunning views! I love these photographs and think I need to sort myself out a long overdue trip to Scotland! 🙂
LikeLike
That sounds like a grand plan!
LikeLike
Hi Anabel – what a lovely way to spend Christmas … certainly helped you both I’m sure – and such a beautiful area. Thank you – Hilary
LikeLike
Thanks, Hilary, we really loved our Christmas here.
LikeLike
By the way, I’ve crossed many a toll bridge but never yet a troll bridge.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Still time!
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is the first time I’ve come upon the term lollipop route. I guessed the name refers to the lollipop-like shape of such a route, then confirmed it online. Now I can’t help wondering if anyone similarly speaks of, say, a pretzel route.
LikeLike
Now, that would be complicated!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Love the bridge troll, though he would have freaked me out as a kid. I lived in fear of the bridge troll at the Yankee Peddler Festival (an old-timey arts and crafts fest) every year, although he was an actual person in costume that would jump out at you, so a bit scarier than a statue! Beautiful scenery!
LikeLike
I think the “real life” troll would have freaked me out too! This one was quite small and inoffensive.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ahh if I ever get that way I shall have to refer to your post. Lots of good walking ideas. I will have to try to remember not to rest on an ant hill..
LikeLike
No, that would not be a good idea! Still plenty of walks we could have done, but time ran out. It’s a lively area.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I need to check out your blog for Largs and surrounding area as going there in August. X which I’ve probably mentioned!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Not sure that I have all that much. Fairlie, just outside Largs which I think is when you said you were going, Cumbrae, Arran. If you don’t know them already,we always use this series of books https://pocketmountains.com/shop/ayrshire/
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks Anabel. I think we have one of those books for The Uists in the Outer Hebrides.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Beautiful panoramas of a lovely landscape.
LikeLike
Thanks. It is very beautiful!
LikeLike
Lovely landscapes, Anabel! I’m a bit slow making the rounds because we have company this week. Many thanks! Hope you’re now enjoying Spring.
LikeLike
Enjoy your visitors! No worries, it takes me days to make the rounds at the moment.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You sure have a lot of greenery for late December. Very scenic throughout. River Liver is a good one! I won’t even venture a guess as to the pronunciation of most of these places.
LikeLike
Ah well, a damp climate = lots of greenery! Some of the Gaelic pronunciations stump me, but I think Liver would probably rhyme with jiver rather than river – or be called after the meat 😉.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m so glad that you’ve gotten back into your hiking stride, Anabel. Richard and I are trying to do that as well and leave for our PEI Camino shortly. As if in sympathy, as soon as I read the word ‘heaving’ in this post – rain immediately started heaving outside my window here. How coincidental is that! 😀
LikeLike
Oh dear, but I shall absolve myself from blame for the rain because when I said heaving I meant with people! Maybe that’s a Britishism, or even a Scottishism. Looking forward to reading about PEI.
LikeLike
It is a very good part of the Highlands to walk in. Bagging the ring of small summits, including Pulpit Hill, that dot Oban’s outer suburbia is a classic for views and Glen Nant is pretty following the wooded streambed up to the dam. My parents liked going to Inveraray in summer but I found walking around there through thick plantation pine forest hard and tedious away from the town itself and that small folly hilltop was the one redeeming short excursion worth doing. Oban is the opposite with loads of fantastic back country to explore in every direction.
LikeLike
Yes, I agree. Oban is a great base. We’ve never stayed in Inveraray, only visited.
LikeLike
You have such lovely hikes in Scotland. I truly jealous…these were stunning and I wish I was there… Glad you have reconnected with travel. (Suzanne)
LikeLike
We do – we also have a lot of rain and mud! So there are drawbacks. We were very lucky here.
LikeLike
Even in December these views look wonderful. The red roof of that building at Oban really stands out and I love the first pic and the view of Oban from Pulpit Hill 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, Oban was beautiful on Christmas Day. That was the best day for weather – very bright.
LikeLike
Hello
LikeLike
Thanks for visiting.
LikeLike
What beautiful landscapes Anabel, a good idea to get away for Christmas and you chose a good spot. The weather looks to have behaved itself too. And OH has excelled himself with the photos – such clear and colourful shots. (And obviously some by you as well).
LikeLike
Thanks Jude, it is a lovely area, and we were definitely lucky with the weather. And you’re right, unless he’s actually in them, all the shots are by John.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The locales in this story are perfect in many ways. Beautiful, peaceful and invigorating.
LikeLike
Thanks Neil, I’m glad you found them that way! That’s a good summing up – peaceful yet invigorating.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Beautiful landscape and photos, Anabel. Oban looks like a charming place. I love your photo of Ganavan Bay to Dunstaffnage.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Natalie. Oban is a lovely town, but I like it best when it’s quiet!
LikeLike
Gorgeous photographs from Pulpit Hill. I’m very jealous of your deer herd. I was surprised not to see a single one when I walked the West Highland Way in the first week of April. Look forward to reaching Oban and following in some of your footsteps, while avoiding the troll! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m surprised too – when we were in Glencoe the other week there were two constantly hanging about the Kingshouse. Obviously used to being fed, even though there were notices telling you not to do that. They’ll make an appearance next week.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lovely landscapes, Anabel!
LikeLike
Thanks Sue – I thought so too!
LikeLiked by 1 person
😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh I love all of this, but you shouldn’t call hubby a troll… oh no, sorry, I see it now!
I remember a weekend orienteering on those hillsides along Loch Etive, and I did a nice picture to celebrate it. I wonder where that is now, I’m sure I kept it.
My picture of the Sound of Kerrera is near my front door. Love this area… and Mull, of course 🙂
LikeLike
Ha ha – I hope he doesn’t read this! Though I’m sure I’ve called him worse than a troll occasionally …
LikeLike
Beautiful photos Anabel, you wouldn’t think it was December. Oban looks very delightful
LikeLike
Thanks Alison – the temperature felt like December, but at least it was dry!
LikeLike
That’s always a plus
LikeLiked by 1 person