South Downs Way

We went as far as Butser Hill in the drizzle, before walking back home to Portsmouth. Looks like Daisy needs a bath again.

South Downs Way

Decided to walk some of the South Downs Way from Winchester and give my brother, Phil a bit of training for the army before he joins.

Right: Taking a break on Old Winchester Hill.

Bishopsteington, Devon

Moved on to Devon for Grace's Christening. My cousin Claire and husband Andy are the proud parents.

Dorset, Charmouth

Left: My sister, Debbie with Mick and nephews Liam and Freddie.

To end the weekend we scoffed cream teas - mad hatter's tea party style. Mum was hoping we'd wear the hair pieces at tomorrow's christening... not a chance!!

Dorset, Charmouth

Fed the ducks and swans in the river Char, with the ever changing, eroding hill in the background.

Dorset, Charmouth

Ruin of St Gabriel's Church on the way back down from Golden Cap and some primroses fresh out to play - spring is in the air yeh hah.

Dorset, Charmouth

Persuaded Mum not to wait for us at the bottom of Golden Cap!

Liam, our nephew, is first to the top though.

Dorset, Charmouth

Some of us went out for a walk up to Golden Cap, the highest cliff on the south coast.

Right: looking back along Charmouth and Lyme Regis.

Dorset, Charmouth

Had a few days camping at Charmouth with my family who had booked out a pine lodge. Always nice to go back to where we used to holiday as kiddies. Did a bit of fossiling, beach wandering and lots of eating.

New Forest, Hampshire

Yippee, we got the job and start at Hollands Wood campsite this May until the end of September! It would be great to see anyone that is in the area then. There's new showers, including a doggie shower so Daisy can stay clean for a change!

This is William, our nephew on a treasure hunt in the forest.

Aviemore, Loch Morlich

Real frosty....

Aviemore, Loch Morlich

One last look at the loch before we come back home, the loch had almost completely frozen. Hopefully some exciting news to come back to though, we've got an interview in the New Forest for Forest Holiday campsites. Thanks Des and Julie for all your help after grilling you with questions, good luck in the forest of Dean :-).

Aviemore, Loch Morlich

Our last evening next to the loch for a while :-(

Aviemore, Loch Morlich

Floating twigs??

Not really....

Aviemore, Loch Morlich

Aaah, love that sunset....

Aviemore, Loch Morlich

Dead logs become more interesting..
The ones on the right are pointing towards Cairn Gorm.

Aviemore, Loch Morlich

Just after sunrise and the sand on the loch shore was frozen....

Aviemore, Glenmore Forest

Poor Will woke up with a food poisoning/bug thing. Probably something to do with the sausage roll he'd put in the warm van garage the night before eating it yesterday, or even the weird spam casserole concoction we had last night?? A real shame with all this rare perfect weather. I kept myself busy playing with our new camera around the forest and loch....

Aviemore, Cairn Gorm

On our way back down Cairn Gorm via Fiacaill Choire Chais, Will slipped over on a really obvious bit of ice without holding his ice axe properly, right in front of a Glenmore Lodge instructor, doh! Luckily he didn't slip all the way down to the ski lifts!

Aviemore, Cairn Gorm

Hurrah, a temperature inversion so it made a change the summit was warmer and less windy than on the way up.

Aviemore, Cairn Gorm

Spot the rare white ptarmigan??

Aviemore, Cairn Gorm

Nice clear skies so we got some height and went up to Cairn Gorm mountain. Still really windy so we stopped to tea behind some rocks. Loch Morlich is in the distance where we were camped.

Aviemore, An Lochan Uaine

Our friends Brian and Caroline from Dingwall came to visit us for a walkies and a nice meal. We went up to Ryvoan Bothy, passed this unusually green loch, An Lochan Uaine, then back around via Creag Loisgte. Apparently this cute little loch is green due to the fairies washing their clothes in it at the end of the day after their day of mischief in the surrounding forests.

Aviemore, Lairig Ghru

After a couple of really windy days listening to woodpeckers and dodging owls swooping down through the forest we got back out only to find that the hills were still just as windy. A lot of the snow had been blown away but we had a nice walk through the reindeer enclosure and Cat notch Gap then on to Castle Hill. Will, nearly crushed my hand keeping me upright in the wind and helping me off the hill, but we had some shelter once down and in the Rothiemurchus forest. We finished the day with an ineresting avalanche lecture at Glenmore Lodge.

Aviemore, Loch Morlich

Awful winds last night, destroying a couple of awnings on the site so didn't sleep much. Still, there is always something to do at Glenmore, no matter how much energy you have so we just walked a few metres to enjoy these lovely views.

Aviemore, Ryvoan Bothy

Inside the warm at Ryvoan Bothy on the way back down from the hills.

Aviemore, Meal a Bhuachaille (Shepherd's Hill)

Made it to the top and tried our new gorilla pod camera tripod to catch us altogether, except Daisy didn't seem too impressed, her lead was literally freezing so we didn't hang around up there!

Aviemore, Creagan Gorm

Hurrah, blue skies for a change! Will saw a white hare, and we both saw lots of grouse flapping about. Can anyone mimic the ridiculous noise they make? It's not good for their camouflage tactics!