What a wonderful day we had yesterday. It made me so happy. We set off to do 3 Munros. Job done ... so I'm going to milk this one for a few days of posts. :-)
We cycled into Derry Lodge (about 5km from where we'd parked the car) and then set off on foot towards Carn a' Mhaim, our first summit. It was a very misty, warm start, and the good old Scottish midgies were ferocious. No hanging about, we had to get high, and away from the water very quickly. We passed this cottage, which is no longer inhabited. It used to be where the head gamekeeper, Bob Scott, from Mar Lodge Estate lived. Such a remote location. Nothing for miles around. Not sure I'd have liked that much, although back in the day things were sometimes difficult and people were extremely resilient.
I'm always amazed at the name...Munro's.. that's our name coming from Scotland so long ago! I'm sad that the cottage is no longer inhabited.. so many people nowadays love this sort of atmosphere!
@maggiemae Yes, it must be funny for you to have all those Scottish mountains named after you!!! Do you know if you are related in any way to Sir Hugh Munro who charted these mountains in the late 1800s?
I love isolated places. Admittedly I've never had to live permanently in such isolation. This setting reminds me of homesteads in the Karoo.
The Karoo, also spelled Karroo, is an arid to semiarid geographic region of Eastern Cape, Western Cape, and Northern Cape provinces, South Africa. The Karoo is best defined by its vegetation, which consists of assorted succulents and low scrub bushes spaced from one foot to several feet apart. The area is devoid of surface water, and its name is derived from the Khoisan word meaning “land of thirst.” Altogether the Karoo occupies about 153,000 square miles (395,000 square km), about one-third of the total area of South Africa.
I like the mood you've caught here. And the sense of isolation and social distancing with today's meaning is quite striking! But a little too isolated for me as well.
So 5km before you even start climbing! Yes a bit too lonely fir me too living here but he would be used to it I dare say. It still looks in good repair. Ah the Scottish midges, they love me....It does look very midgy weather!
Apparently, yes... Sir Hugh Munro, 8th Baronet (of Foulis), born 25 October 1763, was a Scottish noble and also the chief of the Clan Munro. We have been to Foulis Castle!.
The Karoo, also spelled Karroo, is an arid to semiarid geographic region of Eastern Cape, Western Cape, and Northern Cape provinces, South Africa. The Karoo is best defined by its vegetation, which consists of assorted succulents and low scrub bushes spaced from one foot to several feet apart. The area is devoid of surface water, and its name is derived from the Khoisan word meaning “land of thirst.” Altogether the Karoo occupies about 153,000 square miles (395,000 square km), about one-third of the total area of South Africa.