Guernsey Donkey2 wrote "I think I can see a building and perhaps a vehicle in the distance Fairy, but no other walkers - with such stunning views and good visibility why are there not more people out enjoying this?"
Because lots of walkers would ruin the visibility and the stunning views.
Yes GD> Sparse population in large areas of the Highlands and Islands. Sheep often graze on the lower slopes but there's not very much vegetation for sheep higher up.
When driving along the roads any hill walkers or climbers just appear as specks unless wearing luminous clothing.
Well,you're three and a half thousand feet above sea level, and you have to be fairly fit to do it, so it's not like a low level walk. There are thousands of people who hill walk - but there's also quite a lot of hills to choose from too.Those are not amongst the most popular hills to walk either. Some hills are very busy. It's a long day doing those two - around 7 or 8 hours in good condtitions.
There are sheep on most of the hills, but that first hill is the one you ski down in Glencoe - not too many sheep on that one...
That's the Kings House Hotel you can see down there. One of the stops on the West HIghland Way and the building you see as you enter Glencoe from the south.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Ha, ha - a lost sheep perhaps...... so how do you spot a sheep in the snow Fairy? Do they have a typical breed of sheep in that area near Glencoe? Yes the views look inviting but I imagine they are difficult to walk. Very rugged indeed.
There was a little flock of them up on the ridge that day!
I think they're mostly Black face sheep and Cheviots on Scottish hills, GD, but not sure. They have to be tough to survive the weather. In the worst of winter, they're lower down the slopes.These were in Glen Douglas down in the bottom of the glen - it was a bit snow clad higher up
There are some particularly handsome ones on the estate in Glen Fyne. Not sure which breed they are
Of course - they don't all make it.....
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
What a bleak existence sheep have to endure, once they are old enough to go out with the flock, or do they give birth on the lower hills? There isn't much money in sheep rearing these days but when we were young all our warmer clothing was made from wool, blankets too - now it's all man made, poor quality clothing that most people buy. I love seeing sheep and we have very few here. There used to be seaweed eating sheep kept on one of the smaller islands.
Sheep are such docile creatures. We watched Countryfile last evening with the One Man and His Dog herding competition. What a lovely programme and such a skill to be able to command the dog to be so exacting. There are some sheep in Guernsey but no big herds.Apologies if I have shown these pictures before, not taken from exactly the same angle - this is one of the smaller inhabited islands off Guernsey, on a fine afternoon and then on a cloudy afternoon.
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Guernsey Donkey2 wrote "I think I can see a building and perhaps a vehicle in the distance Fairy, but no other walkers - with such stunning views and good visibility why are there not more people out enjoying this?"
Because lots of walkers would ruin the visibility and the stunning views.
Last edited: 26 September 2016 08:55:21
Well yes that's true Papi Jo, but I guess the population is sparse up there too, but even the sheep seem to be in short supply.
Yes GD> Sparse population in large areas of the Highlands and Islands. Sheep often graze on the lower slopes but there's not very much vegetation for sheep higher up.
When driving along the roads any hill walkers or climbers just appear as specks unless wearing luminous clothing.
Well,you're three and a half thousand feet above sea level, and you have to be fairly fit to do it, so it's not like a low level walk. There are thousands of people who hill walk - but there's also quite a lot of hills to choose from too.Those are not amongst the most popular hills to walk either. Some hills are very busy. It's a long day doing those two - around 7 or 8 hours in good condtitions.
There are sheep on most of the hills, but that first hill is the one you ski down in Glencoe - not too many sheep on that one...
That's the Kings House Hotel you can see down there. One of the stops on the West HIghland Way and the building you see as you enter Glencoe from the south.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
..and they just appear sometimes, Joyce....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Ha, ha - a lost sheep perhaps...... so how do you spot a sheep in the snow Fairy? Do they have a typical breed of sheep in that area near Glencoe? Yes the views look inviting but I imagine they are difficult to walk. Very rugged indeed.
There was a little flock of them up on the ridge that day!
I think they're mostly Black face sheep and Cheviots on Scottish hills, GD, but not sure. They have to be tough to survive the weather. In the worst of winter, they're lower down the slopes.These were in Glen Douglas down in the bottom of the glen - it was a bit snow clad higher up
There are some particularly handsome ones on the estate in Glen Fyne. Not sure which breed they are
Of course - they don't all make it.....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
What a bleak existence sheep have to endure, once they are old enough to go out with the flock, or do they give birth on the lower hills? There isn't much money in sheep rearing these days but when we were young all our warmer clothing was made from wool, blankets too - now it's all man made, poor quality clothing that most people buy. I love seeing sheep and we have very few here. There used to be seaweed eating sheep kept on one of the smaller islands.
There are ones which live on the salt marshes in Wales GD. I believe it flavours the meat too. I don't eat lamb though.
I suppose they're bred for it - they can survive most of what nature throws their way. They're outside all the time really.
The lambs are lovely in spring too. It's always a cheery sight seeing them on the hills. I always have a chat with them when I'm out
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Sheep are such docile creatures. We watched Countryfile last evening with the One Man and His Dog herding competition. What a lovely programme and such a skill to be able to command the dog to be so exacting. There are some sheep in Guernsey but no big herds.
Apologies if I have shown these pictures before, not taken from exactly the same angle - this is one of the smaller inhabited islands off Guernsey, on a fine afternoon and then on a cloudy afternoon.