If not Torridon then Torry...

Our Torridon cottage in the NW Highlands is undergoing renovation - still far from complete - and is anyway out of bounds right now due to Covid travel restrictions.

Since we can't spend time amid the peaceful mountains and lochs of the Torridon area, I suggested to Gail the other day that we go exploring its near namesake, Torry - a district of Aberdeen just a hop, skip and a jump across the river from where we live. 

Gail raised her eyebrows at the idea that Torry would be a satisfactory substitute for Torridon, but she decided to humour me anyway and off we trotted.

We approached Torry via the harbour and the golf course. So far so good. 

But on the hill overlooking the golf course, the sight of these grim apartment blocks, calling to mind Soviet style Khrushchyovka, did not bode well. And altbough to me, the local aroma of waste treatment plant blended with wholesale fish operations was actually quite appealing, Gail disagreed.

Further down the main street, the brutal 1960's buildings gave way to tenement housing, so typical of an earlier era in Scotland. Perhaps the scene would have looked more cheerful on a sunny summer day.

We reached the shops, and discovered the source of the many Tyskie and Zywiec beer cans we'd earlier seen littering the path by the harbour.

Disappointingly, Gail did not venture inside to buy me some Polish sausage, and when we found a more traditional Scottish food outlet, it was closed.

I was starting to think Gail was right to be sceptical about the attractions of Torry, but then, quite by surprise, hidden away on a back street between the shops and the harbour, we came across a couple of rows of old fishermen's cottages, all gaily painted (a most welcome splash of colour amid the all-pervasive Aberdeen grey) and we decided the expedition had been worthwhile after all.

And for those of you who love a map... our route, 4.8 miles, is marked by the yellow line.

PS This post is especially for our dear blogging friend YAM-Aunty. She knows why! 

Fae Tibet or Torry?

So earlier this week I posted about the sad loss of two of the park 'regulars'. 

But you know what? There's always new friends to be made. 

I hadn't met this wee Tibetan terrier before, but he seems a really nice pup. 

Although I was disappointed to learn that he's a Torry loon, and not from the Himalaya after all.

Maybe some woods are not worth visiting..?

Hey Gail! Now that I have been officially promoted to Associate VisitWoods Web Guide, I think I should take some responsibility for deciding which woods we inspect.

OK then Bertie, that's fine with me. We have some free time this afternoon. Where would you like to go?


Well Gail, I checked on the VisitWoods website, and was surprised to find that there is no information yet about the wood nearest to our home, St Fitticks Community Woodland. Look, see, there on the map, it's listed as being only 1.4 miles away, so perhaps we could walk from here?

Oh Bertie, I fear there may be good reasons for the lack of information. I see that it's very small, and is right next to that smelly waste treatment plant....


A smelly waste treatment plant! Whoopee! Oh that sounds right up my street. Come on, where's my lead?

(Gail sighs, and fetches the lead). 

Bertie, if we absolutely must visit this wood, can we at least go via the harbour and round by the coast? It's a longer walk, but more varied and we won't then have to go through the really ugly housing estate.


A longer walk? Super! Off we jolly well go!

First we take a shortcut round the back of our Aberdeen neighbours' houses.


They do look a bit smarter from the front.

The shortcut takes us down to the River Dee. See how patiently I wait at the road crossing (despite there being no cars).

On the other side of the river I race the Aberdeen Rowing Club.

We're at the harbour in no time at all.

Sadly, dogs aren't allowed in the oil field supply base so we have to walk round behind it.

Soon enough we come to a little beach at the mouth of the harbour.

The harbour mouth is where the local bottlenose dolphins hang out, but we can't spot any today. I think the sea is too rough.

Further round the headland, we go past the lighthouse.

And a half a mile later, we've arrived at our destination!

Er, yes. Those sticks are part of the St Fitticks Community Woodland, apparently. And that's the landfill and waste treatment site behind. Disappointingly odour free today...

I guess Gail does have a point about the ugly housing...

But the 'wood' has one or two pretty corners with bigger trees, if you look hard enough.

We take a different route back, and after a short stretch through the housing scheme and across a busy road, we end up in more green space, south of the Dee.

Then it's back across the river and into Duthie Park. Lots of 'my' park is still fenced off due to the ongoing restoration project.

But at least the kiddies' playground is still open and busy.

Finally we're home. That's my house on the right, behind my Mini.

Well I thought it was a great wee expedition, but Gail is saying she's going to retain rights of veto on my future woodland choices.

Can that be fair?