Expedition 363, to Ariundle Oak Wood 12/11/16

 

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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