This was another uncertain one since there had been nasty
weather overnight and the forecast was not promising. It turned
out well, we had a good, fast group of explorers and, once
again, the real rain didn't arrive until we were indoors and
warm. There were six explorers this time: Clara, Donnie, Parker
Maggie, Peigi and Roscoe with four adult helpers, Amy, Ian,
Liz and Marie, plus two dogs, Kipper and Rusty.
We drove carefully from Acharacle to the Ariundle Oakwood
Car Park and took a little time getting everyone kitted out
in waterproof gear. Just as well, as it happened since there
were a lot of big puddles along the track and every one of
them was joyfully jumped into by the explorers, all of whom
had over trousers. After a hundred yards or so we met Tony
with a King Charles spaniel, who was introduced to everyone.
Just after that, one of the keen-eyed explorers spotted a
big bird in a tree, which Ian was able to confirm as a buzzard.
Everyone was particularly full of beans this time and we made
very good speed along the track and spread out quite a bit,
so I had to call everyone back when we reached the Ram Park
to explain the ancient features of the landscape there, including
several cultivation terraces. Shortly after that we came to
a ruin at the roadside, which I have always thought was a
gatekeeper's house, for checking on traffic to and from the
Fee Donald Mine at the top of the hill. Everyone had a look
at it, as well as examining the big sign marking the start
of the Oakwood.
We continued up the road until we came to a small path running
up the hill on the left side of the track. I told the group
that on a previous expedition we had gone up this path in
the snow but the conditions were mild this time. It was a
stiff climb but the explorers were all in good form and we
got to the top quite quickly, although our arrival was immediately
followed by a request for Tunnock's Wafers.
We left the path and crossed some tricky bracken-covered ground
to reach the small stone house, where everyone relaxed with
their wafers and Amy took pictures. I told the explorers some
of the stories about this house, which I remembered from the
Sunart Oakwoods Survey in 2001.
Then we crossed the rough ground to the path and set off down
the hill, at one point some of the explorers laid flat on
the ground looking up at the trees and seeing how there was
a slight gap between them. We also diverted to look at a steep
section of the burn, which I explained had been cleared by
miners in a process called hushing. Finally we made it down
to the path and set off once more back towards the car park
and refreshments at the Ariundle Centre, stopping along the
way to examine a frog, a frequent occurrence on the expeditions.
Everyone made themselves at home at the Centre and quite a
few good drawings were produced, Parker's being notable as
usual, but I have picked out Donnie's picture of the stone
house. You can see from the photograph that he got the mood
of the place.
John
Dye
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