There were 21 walkers on the bus for today’s outing with 1 walker being picked up on the way at Portlethen.
Three walkers alighted the bus at Stonehaven to complete a walk to Dunnottar Castle & then returning via Dunnottar Woods.
The remaining walkers stayed on the bus & got off at the car park at the RSPB site at Fowlsheugh & started the walk from there.
The weather was cool but mostly sunny with very little wind & there was lots of blue sky around. The going was good at the RSPB site due to the well maintained paths etc but the track soon petered out & there were times when walkers had to climb over the barbed wire fence to access the fields. Gilbert’s bright blue, thick foam, u shaped strip was welcomed by a few folk as they gingerly navigated the many barbed wire fences along the route! There was a nice surprise when the walkers came across a relatively new shelter at the end of the RSPB site – it had a large wooden bench & a substantial picture window looking out to the sea & cliffs. Ideal for bird watching in the Summer or just the job when you need to get away from the wind or rain.
At Dunnottar Castle several of the group opted to take the coastal path to head into Stonehaven early for some lunch whilst the others stuck to the printed route & lunched at the upper car park at the entry to Dunnottar Woods. Everyone had a stop in Stonehaven for various refreshments prior to the bus departing early just after 2:00 p.m.
All in all it was a very pleasant day out enjoyed by everyone. Gilbert