Dingwall Field Club

07 September 2024Ness Castle and Holm Burn

A hidden gem on the edge of lnverness.

DFC members met at a small parking area just off Dores Road – the start of the South Loch Ness Trail which ends at Fort August. This is marked by posts along the way bearing a small squirrel symbol. The wide path runs parallel with the busy Dores Road for a bit and on this misty morning whin bushes glistened with myriads of spider webs. The woods here are a mixture of broadleaved trees with blueberry bushes below.

The group left the main path to follow one through the estate called Ness Castle. In the 1760’s a Scot called Simon Fraser, who was a merchant in Gibraltar, acquired farm land near the town. There is no evidence of a castle but the grounds must have been large. It passed through many owners over the years and a large mansion stands at the centre. Huge oak and ash trees impressed the walkers.

At one point can be seen the brick base of a Nissen Hut. During WW2 the mansion housed officers and several Nissen Huts were used by lower ranks and Italian POWs.

The Holm Burn runs through the woods sometimes creating a deep gorge. Years of fallen leaves have made rich earthy banks which the burn is gradually undercutting. High above is the site of a motte but slippy steep banks are impossible to climb from this position. Towards the end of this circular walk a newly fallen tree meant the members had to tackle a mini assault course. Now surrounded by an ever increasing housing estate it is to be hoped that this excellent wild woodland will survive. The members were delighted to see the numbers of runners, bikers and dog walkers making use of the Ness Castle area so convenient for city dwellers.

03 August 2024Littleferry

This was a chance to explore a new route at Littleferry, Golspie. Instead of taking the usual easterly path with its interesting selection of wild flowers, the group headed west. The girnal near the shore is interesting with crow stepped gables and outside stairs at each end. Part of the Sutherland estate, it has had many uses apart from storing grain, such as serving as a fishing lodge and now as holiday lets.

A path behind the girnal wends its way through pine trees and gives great views of Loch Fleet. Unfortunately the tide was too high to see the dozens of seals which visit the sand banks in the middle of the loch, but the varying colours of the water were admired. Sunshine highlighted the landscape across the water, including Ben Bhraggie and the statue of the Duke of Sutherland.

The group chose to follow a path from a random selection,enjoying the clumps of bright purple bell and ling heather, and regained the single track road, finding a grassy spot nearby to sit and have lunch. The path over the sand dunes is a botanist’s delight at this time of year, with patches of heather and harebell. An intriguing clump was made of purple and white bell heather together, rarely seen.

Standing on a ridge overlooking the water near the former ferry pier members spotted an osprey hovering. lt did not appear to catch a fish but then perched atop an electric pylon on the opposite shore.

We then drove back along the road to Balblair Wood where a pleasant broad path through the forest leads to a hide. However on this occasion the aim was to find some of the rare flowers found there rather than looking for birds. The search among blueberry bushes and brushwood resulted in finding the white flowers of creeping ladies tresses. This was a satisfying end to a varied day at Loch Fleet.

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