All our walks since we came here in November have started from home but today we did the first 'drive-walk', taking the car south of Golspie along the road to Littleferry but stopping just short of the hamlet at Balblair Wood, on the north side of Scottish Natural Heritage's Loch Fleet Reserve.
The part of the wood near the car park has been done out with interpretative signs, and there is a small bird hide within easy walking distance which has a good view across the loch and the extensive mudflats - populated today by flocks of rather distant ducks and several curlews.
Beyond the first pine plantations....
....the woodland becomes more mixed and the paths a little more rough. The main walk takes one along the shore of the loch with several places where one can....
....get down to the shingle beach. This view is from the most southerly point of the wood looking up the loch towards the bridge which carries the A9 across the its upper end at what is called 'The Mound'.
The wood has much to offer. In summer, the hide is busy with bird watchers as ospreys nest around the loch, and there are several flowers which are unusual, including the creeping lady's tresses orchid, twinflower, and one-flowered wintergreen. At this time of year the Scottish crossbills which live in the conifers are already mating, and we had hoped to see some of them, but they did not oblige. We did, however, have a glimpse of what was either a gold- or firecrest, and watched a very smart pair of goldeneye.
We'll be back. The area also has pine marten, roe deer and otters and, although we've seen them here before, I'm still anxious to watch some crossbills.
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