My last ascent of Lotus Hill was opportunistic, and so was this. I had intended taking the dogs along the forest track but could not ignore the siren call of the hill. Bluebells in profusion and new growths of fern carpeted the ground beneath the trees.
The forestry track
The forestry track ends near a small quarry where I found a piece of sandstone with quartz crystals covering one side. The path then narrows and winds up through the trees. This is usually quite boggy but with the warm sunny weather it was just a little boggy (the dogs sinking to mid-leg level).
Once above the tree line I was among the heather. Why does the old heather look purple from a distance? Close up it is a combination of old shoots, some light ash colour, some dark brown, with dark green new growth. There were also the bright green leaves of blaeberry, their orange flowers mostly hidden and the contrasting matt green of new fern. Most impressive though were the blankets of bog cotton, .
Bog cotton on Lotus Hill
Lotus Hill trig pillar
Sweep barking because we stopped
Bluebells at Kissock
Sphagnum moss that seemed dry but wetted my feet when I stood on it.
Lochs
Hills
Sweep unhappy to stop, Leo finding it hard going. Kerplunk of Sweep entering pools.
