The sun was out, and the mist was hanging low, clinging to the hills like wisps of cotton wool; a morning walk should never be rushed, and a Highland landscape gives you good reason to stop, take a few deep breaths and feast your eyes on the contours stretching as far as the eye can see.
It was refreshingly cool, with very light rain on the breeze; the cooler temperatures have accelerated the dying back of the bracken, the golden autumn hues turning dark brown as the fronds go limp and start to break down, while another benefit of the cold overnight temperatures is the increased activity of the red deer during the rut. There were many more stags roaring in the hills than on previous mornings.
The morning air was perfect for walking, although my clothing choices are becoming increasingly interesting as we progress towards the wintry months; this is such a changeable time of year, and finding the layers that work is key to staying comfortable on a walk. Over the years, I’ve found that natural fibres work best for layering, and my favourites always come from Findra, a Scottish firm focused on women’s outdoor clothing. This morning was a bigger hat day, so the Akubra came out to give me some shelter from the rain, but I’m still wearing my Swanndri wool shirt, with an added scarf.
A longer morning walk a few times a week with the hounds feeds my soul like nothing else; it’s thinking time, gets my body moving and puts fresh Highland air into my lungs, and for all of that, I am grateful.
