Not the usual colours to be found in Scotland
pictures, but this picture captures Scotland's ever changing
landscape. You would not normally associate this vibrant
yellow with the rolling fields or hills of Perthshire, but
then the landscape is always changing and is not only changed
by mother nature, but also by man. We have changed the face
of the World with devastating consequences over the centuries
and lets face it, there are very few parts of Scotland which
have been left untouched. I think it was in the 80's when
I first seen a field of Oil Seed Rape and I could not believe
the colour, none of your subtle hues of the earth, this
is loud, brash, powerful and exciting. Can you imagine laying
this colour onto a blank canvas, even a tiny patch would
draw the eye, to the exclusion of all else.
I love the county of Perth it embraces both the Highlands
and the Lowlands.The city of Perth itself lies just to
the south of the Highland fault line and this probably
explains why the county has the best of both worlds. From
the wilds of Loch Rannoch to the shores of Loch Tay from
the heights of Ben Lawers to the rolling fields of Strathearn
and of course there is Schiehallion. Schiehallion sits
in an isolated position in the centre of the Highlands
near Kinloch Rannoch, it is one of the best known Scottish
mountains thanks to its striking appearance. From both
east and west it appears as a steep conical peak and so
to the non hillgoer every pointed hill in Scotland is
Schiehallion, "Look Jessie there's Schiehallion "
even though he and Jessie are standing waiting on the
ferry at Millport.
Its shape brought Schiehallion fame, it earned a place
in scientific history and discovery, when experiments
- proving gravity and weighing the earth - were carried
out on its slopes. So everyone who has ever used a map,
should thank Schiehallion for being the inspiration for
contour lines.
The John Muir Trust now own the East side of the hill
and because of the amount of visitors it gets, the one
time path has become an ugly motorway to the top, but
the JMT are carrying out extensive repairs and I'm sure
with their knowledge and enthusiasm the scar will be healed
on the side of Schiehallion.
A personal grouse coming up.
When I started on the hill with the rest of my pals,
we bought a map of the area we were going to walk in.
There were no guide books and it was not until several
years later that we heard of the Munro Tables, but these
tables just gave the heights and a grid reference. So
when you reached the top, it was a shock to realise that
others had been walking up the hill at the same time but
obviously coming from a different direction. In other
words you started wherever you fancied. Now guide books
and writers tell you where to start, which lay-by to park
your car in and how many hours it will take you.( don't
admire the scenery, the book says three and a half hours,
so you will take three and a half hours ) Everyone walks
up the same way and down the same way ( I thought the
idea was to get away from the crowds ) back to the same
lay-by, discussing how long it took them," it took
us three, oh? we were only two and three quarters"
"did you see the deer?" "Naw" "
Ah seen nuthin ma mate always races the book" The
police are at the lay-by because the road is blocked by
everone trying to park their car in the same place and
a massive traffic jam stretches from the Devil's staircase
to Bridge of Orchy. Come on! There are many points to
a compass try another one next time. Of course the authors
of the guide books then appear on the radio and write
articles for the newspapers complaining of the erosion
in the Scottish hills, what do they expect if they tell
the 17,000 or so walkers who visit Schiehallion each year
to take the same path. I know that each year sees an increase
in the anount of people using the hill and that's great,
but the writers could surely suggest a parking spot on
the other side of the hill, or will they all get backhanders
from the burger vans when they discover this ready made
market.
If you are planning a holiday to Scotland you could do
worse than pick Perthshire as a base and if you are going
to climb a hill please do not go the same way as me and
please do not use the same lay-by, and if you see a Robertsons
Burger Van please stop and buy one.