Cairngorms 5th June 2018 Anagach

Fallen in love with these woods, love at first sight. We've not got far yet. There's loads of moss and Johnny is going very slowly. It's got lots of tracks - apparently notorious for getting lost in. Tall Pines. Something about it reminds me of the Hayes. I could explore these woods, get to know them. I could spend days walking around them.

Today is sunny and warm in a perfect way, with a breeze. I'm beginning to feel as though this is a holiday. Relaxing. Letting the trees hold me. 

Sitting on a bleached fallen tree. Across the steam a much bigger tree has fallen, long ago, it's bones shattered across the field, like a slayed dragon. The forest goes on and on and the trees stand so silent, as far as you can see, straight trunks. There are lots of birds. A chaffinch landed on the path in front of me, then took food to her baby on a branch ahead. Then they both came down to the path, and they weren't afraid. The sun is warm. It smells of pine, but also sweeter things - broom, rowan, flowers. We saw a really old rowan, festooned with lichen. 

We walked along the Spey, where old men were fishing and messing about in boats. Old man river. 

This closely planted section next the the river was unnerving. Dark and devoid of life. Nothing green down at this level. 

Back across the fields and into the woods. Johnny doesn't like the single age pine bits, thinks they're boring. I like it though. It's very calm, like the sea at Oban. Peaceful. The parts Johnny likes have much more low growing stuff, more variety. They are lovely, but very busy. The tall pines surprise you with their tops, suddenly appearing above the tops of rowans, birches, goat willow. We just saw some oak fern. The broom is in flower, bright yellow and smelling of vanilla. There were lupins by the river. We've seen honesty and dames violets. It's cool under the trees.