Eats plants
We swam in Clunie Water in Braemar yesterday in the same spot we swam over the summer last year. It was a lot colder this year. Absolutely freezing in fact so we used our wetsuits. It was still lovely and clear and we could see fish in it which is always reassuring. The colder temperatures… Continue reading Swimming in the Clunie
Last night before I had a chance to put the wildlife camera out the hedgehogs had already left their houses to forage for food. We saw Horace in the undergrowth hopefully consuming some of the many slugs and snails that live in our garden. It really is a paradise for hedgehogs as we have very… Continue reading Glen Tanar and swimming at Cambus o’May
The kids and I went to the Cambus O'May suspension bridge today. Ben is snowed under with work and couldn't join us unfortunately. The bridge reopened in April this year following major repair works after Storm Frank nearly washed it away back in 2015. It's a beautiful Edwardian suspension bridge built in 1905 across the… Continue reading Cambus O’May Suspension Bridge
Today started at around 2am with the cat meowing at me. She wanted to go outside but we don't let her out at night and usually she's very happy with that. I think her bowel movements must have got out of sync and she was desperate to go and crap in the neighbour's garden. Eventually… Continue reading Sunday diary: good food and wild swimming
I haven't done so much swimming since I was a kid when we'd spend a week or two at the beach over the summer holidays. I'd get sunburnt and dumped by waves but generally have a very good time. We've been swimming with the trout in the Clunie River everyday and we've named one of… Continue reading Our trout friend, Segways, squirrels, and the River Dee
There was more wild swimming for us today. This time we swam in the Linn of Dee and the Linn of Quoich. Linn means a "pool below a waterfall". The Linn of Dee is a well-known tourist attraction about 6.5 miles from Braemar. It was a favourite spot of Queen Victoria's and is a gorge… Continue reading Swimming at the Linn of Dee and Linn of Quoich
The temperature has reached a top of 26C today. I think this is the hottest temperature I've ever felt in Aberdeen. We had no choice but to cool off in the river. We cycled up Deeside Way a short way and walked down to the River Dee near Allan Park. There are some nice swimming… Continue reading Cooling off in the Dee
We went for a swim at Potarch Bridge today. It was smashing and I realised that it's the first time I've been wild swimming in summer in Scotland. Usually I just do the idiotic thing and submerge myself mid-winter for bragging rights. After all, what's the point of doing something if you can't brag about… Continue reading Swimming at Potarch Bridge
On his walk yesterday Ben saw a seal on the banks of the River Dee and took these great photos and video. We sometimes see seals swimming in the Dee but this is the first time we've seen one sun-baking on the bank. This part of the river bank is quite busy with people walking… Continue reading Seal on the banks of the River Dee
We visited a lovely bridge over the River Dee today called Potarch Bridge which is about 40 miles west of Aberdeen. It was built by the engineer Thomas Telford in 1811-1813. This is the same Thomas Telford who built the Caledonian Canal and many other bridges all over the UK. I do love an old… Continue reading Potarch Bridge
I've been a bit grumpy this past week because sometimes it feels like the world is conspiring against me. Earlier in the year I planted lots of sweet pea seeds. Only one of them germinated and when it had grown to about 10cm tall I planted it at the base of the tree on the… Continue reading Swimming in the Dee
The lockdown has mostly ended here insofar as much as it can end. Things won't return to normal until there's a vaccine but shops are allowed to open and people can go for holidays. Nevertheless our life hasn't really changed. I'm still working from home. Ben is still working from home. The kids just finished… Continue reading Be cautious, COVID app, wild swimming, and distance education
The Aberdeen City Council was awarded a £1.76million grant to widen pavements, install temporary bike lanes, and build one-way walking systems - all to create space for social distancing during the pandemic. I cycled into the city centre this morning and they've already closed part of Union Street to cars and buses (the part between… Continue reading Union Street is closed to cars | Pics by the River Dee
Often on weekends, when there's no pandemic, we venture out into the countryside for walks and picnics. Today I found myself missing that peace, quiet, and feeling of remoteness since we haven't left the city for more than a month now. I do love living in the inner city with its convenience but I also… Continue reading The River Dee and Brig o’ Dee
We're in Braemar today and gosh I love this place. I think I could retire here. You can just make out the River Dee in the valley in the next photo. This is the River Clunie gushing beside the Fife Arms Hotel. The entrance to the Fife Arms is beautiful. This is the duck pond… Continue reading Photos of Braemar
There are big chunks of ice on the River Dee today. I took pics. It's very pretty.
A new cycle route opened up in Aberdeen this week. It's a shared walking/cycling path which runs right next to the River Dee. I went and checked it out today and it was just lovely. It's hard to believe this is in a big city (maybe big is not the best word for Aberdeen?) because it's… Continue reading A new cycle path for Aberdeen
We went for another ride this afternoon along the Deeside cycleway. It was raining all morning and so I had to force a somewhat reluctant husband to join me. The kids were warm and dry in Busby so they didn't mind. It didn't rain very much in the end and the sun even came out on our way… Continue reading Cycling the Deeside cycleway in the rain
We've just been out for a cycle ride on Deeside Way. This is the old train line which used to ferry Queen Victoria and entourage out to Balmoral Castle every summer. It was closed in the 60s and has recently been converted into a cycling/walking path. The pathway goes all the way out to Ballater,… Continue reading Deeside Way
It snowed this morning in Ballater. I was ecstatic. An Australian in the snow is a bit like a puppy with a smelly leather shoe to chew. Ben was less excited about it. This is the Royal Station in Ballater, a magnificent building: The River Dee, which is lovely in all kinds of weather, was particularly beautiful… Continue reading Ballater in the snow
rachel.blog 