Corrieshalloch Gorge, Scotland

On July 30 of this year, we visited Corrieshalloch Gorge in Ross-shire, Scotland. It is around ten miles south of Ullapool. I had seen photos of this waterfall online but I didn't know much about it or what to expect. Even before we reached the falls, we heard it roaring.

Corrieshalloch means "ugly hollow" in Gaelic, but I didn't find anything ugly about it. This is one of the most beautiful Nature Reserves I've visited. This slot gorge or box canyon was carved out by glacial melt waters between 2.6 million and 11,500 years ago. The River Droma flows through the gorge. In less than a mile, the river drops over 328 feet through the gorge in a series of waterfalls. The most dramatic of these waterfalls is the Falls of Measach, which drops over 147 feet. In Gaelic, the name of the waterfall is Easan na Miasaich which means "fall of the place of the platters." The platters term refers to the smooth rounded boulders of the riverbed above the falls.

Standing on the suspension bridge, looking down.

If you're afraid of heights, a visit to this gorge might be a bit uncomfortable or even frightening. It is a long way down from the 82 foot long suspension bridge which spans the gorge, especially since it sways gently in the wind or if someone else is walking or running across it. This bridge was built in 1874 by Sir John Fowler, one of the designers of the Forth Rail Bridge. This bridge is actually over the falls.

The suspension bridge

 Most of the freshwater in Scotland is tinged slightly brown. This is because the water runs through the peat of the moors and bogs before going into the streams. This is also what makes most of the lochs in Scotland dark and very reflective of the sky.

A close up of the Falls of Measach taken from the viewing platform downriver.

  It was only a short walk down from the car park to the suspension bridge over the ravine. Once we crossed the bridge, we took another short walk through the woods to the metal viewing platform. It hangs out high over the gorge for an awesome view of the falls beneath the bridge.

The waterfall with the suspension bridge above it, taken from the viewing platform.

The trail through the forest.

 Woods surround most of the gorge though some trees had been cut in the past few years. These trees include birch, rowan, oak, hazel, elm and pine. Some rare and unusual plants grow in the deepest levels of the gorge, such as mountain sorrel, germander speedwell and saxifrage. Ravens next on the ledges of the gorge and trout swim in the deep pools.

The vertical cliff with lots of ferns and plants.

Wildflowers

Looking across the gorge to the viewing platform we'd stood on earlier.

The wonderful woodland trail

 After going back across the suspension bridge, we walked a trail that follows the edge of the gorge. It is far enough away to be safe, but it's easy to see the gorge from the trail. There is an especially nice viewpoint down into the gorge at one spot. The trail circles around and up a hill through beautiful heather and other wildflowers. At the top of this hill is a spectacular view out over Strath Broom, Loch Broom, and the mountains in the distance (toward Ullapool). The whole walk is probably around a mile, so not too difficult.

Here I am checking out the posted info. :)

Heather

Wildflowers by the trail leading up the hill.

Heather beside a log

 This National Nature Reserve is owned and cared for by the National Trust for Scotland.

View over Strath Broom and Loch Broom

Thanks for taking the tour with me through Corrieshalloch Gorge! Are you afraid of heights? Do you love waterfalls and walks through nature?

Vonda
www.vondasinclair.com

Beautiful and fiercely protective of those she loves, Lady Seona Murray captured Keegan MacKay’s attention when she first set foot in Dunnakeil Castle. Though she is a chief’s daughter and forbidden, Keegan has fallen in love with her from afar and burns to possess her. But so does the clan traitor, Haldane, an obsessive outlaw bent on murder and kidnapping.

Sinfully handsome, Keegan MacKay is a fearsome guard as well as the chief’s cousin, but Seona’s father would never consider him a worthy husband for her because he is not a titled laird. Seona has secretly watched the sensual, tawny-haired warrior from across the crowded great hall for months, but when he is tasked with escorting her across Scotland, back to her home, their simmering attraction flames into sizzling passion with just one kiss.

Though she fears she is endangering Keegan’s life, Seona cannot resist his seductive charm or his spellbinding kisses. Keegan sets fire to the memories of her sad past and shows her what it means to truly live. But her father has other plans. He’s arranged for her to marry a wealthy Lowland laird. Is Keegan daring enough to steal her away? Or will the vindictive Haldane snatch her first?

A Walk Through the Heather

Bell heather

One of the reasons I wanted to visit Scotland in summer (aside from it being our anniversary) was to see the heather in full bloom. On earlier trips, I'd seen small patches of heather blooming in June and some in September. In late July, the first flush of heather paints the hills slightly pinkish-purple or magenta. There are several different varieties of heather which bloom at different times, but mid-August would probably be the peak, depending on the location. Flowering is dependent on the local weather and temperatures, as well as altitude and how far north or south the heather grows. The nice part about this is that you can possibly see some heather blooming somewhere in Scotland from late spring to early fall.

The cliff and trees in the distance.

 I love taking walks in nature, especially in a place as beautiful as Scotland. We started our walk on the opposite side of Ullapool at the large free parking lot. In the photo below, that would be at the center, a few hundred feet from the loch's edge. Once we'd crossed town and walked on a sidewalk along one of the main roads, we followed the signs and headed up toward Ullapool Hill. Thankfully the beginning of the hillside trail wasn't too steep and it had a nice gravel surface. Rain was misting slightly at the beginning of the walk, but soon the sun came out and shined a bit, then it was nicely overcast. Not too hot, nor too cool. Great for walking.

Ullapool

 We encountered a few other hikers and even a group of mountain bikers riding down the sometimes very rough and rocky trail. I didn't envy them. :)

We paused often to take in the spectacular views out over Ullapool, Loch Broom, the Summer Isles as well as the surrounding mountains.

Click to enlarge. View out to the Summer Isles

Heather above Ullapool and Loch Broom

Ullapool Hill is a part of the Rhidorroch Estate. This working estate features several businesses, such as agriculture, fishing, deer stalking and tourism. There's also a quarry nearby. They have restocked a local river with salmon fry.

Ullapool Hill

Click to enlarge. Mountain indicator board.

The mountain indicator board sits on a flat area with wide-open views all around. The board is a map of the surrounding hills, mountains and islands. I loved the poem on it! We also encountered a few benches, some of which we made use of. :)

A nice smooth portion of the trail and the Summer Isles in the background.

One of the most north-westerly pine forests in Scotland exists on the estate. It once covered a much wider area. It is now being restored using seeds from the few pines remaining from the original Caledonian Forest. Other native trees that have been planted here include birch, alder, and rowan. Ullapool Hill used to be a cattle and sheep pasture, but these animals have been moved out so that the woodland can be restored.

We estimated that we walked around six or seven miles that day (including the walk through town) and I was tired by the end of it, but I'd love to do it again. :)

Both types of heather growing together.

There were a couple of types of heather coming into full bloom during our trip in the Ullapool area. The main one was bell heather (Erica cinerea) which is magenta or pinkish-purple. Another type which was blooming had even smaller pale pink flower clusters. Both were gorgeous.

This was a very special day to me. I enjoyed spending it with my husband surrounded by incredible natural beauty.

I hope you enjoyed this walk through the heather with the incredible views around Ullapool!
Thanks!
Vonda

P.S. I found this wonderful new reader review on Amazon for My Brave Highlander:



5.0 out of 5 stars Loved this book
I really enjoyed this book. I could not put it down. This author is awesome and I have enjoyed her books.
 by candace

Battle-hardened warrior Dirk MacLerie isn't who everyone thinks he is. He's Dirk MacKay, heir apparent to the MacKay chiefdom and Dunnakeil Castle on the far north coast of Scotland. When he returns home after a long absence, will his clan know him and will the duplicitous enemy who tried to murder him twelve years ago kill him in truth this time?

Lady Isobel MacKenzie is a beautiful young widow betrothed to yet another Highland chief by her brother's order. But when her future brother-in-law accosts her and threatens to kill her, she is forced to flee into a Highland snowstorm. When she runs into a rugged and imposing man she thought dead, she wonders if he will turn her over to her enemy or take her to safety.

Dirk remembers the enchanting, dark-eyed Isobel from when he was a lad, but now she is bound to another man by legal contract—an important detail she would prefer to forget. She wishes to choose her own husband and has her sights set on Dirk. But he would never steal another man's bride… would he? The tantalizing lady fires up his passions, testing his willpower and honor at every turn, even as some of his own treacherous clansmen plot his downfall.

Happy Early Earth Day!

Happy Spring! I think it's finally here, and I'm thrilled. It's one of my favorite seasons, the other three being summer, autumn, and winter. :)

I do love all the seasons, each one for its own special contribution to the beauty of our dynamic earth. If I sound like a nature lover, it's because I am, so much so that I wrote an erotic romance, Second Nature, set mostly in the forest in which an environmental activist tries to resist the advances of an arrogant developer who is not what he appears to be. It's one of my first published novellas and was one of my favorites to write because of the nature theme and the abundance of passion Graham and Claret share, even when she despises him and all she thinks he represents.

In honor of spring, and since April 22nd is Earth Day, I thought I'd share the description and an excerpt from Second Nature in case anyone is in a green mood and looking for a red-hot read. :)

Enjoy, and Happy Earth Day!

DESCRIPTION: 

"Mate with me."
This is the insistent demand wealthy tycoon Graham Norton makes on passionate activist Claret McDaniel. Never, "Make love to me." Never, "Let's have sex," or even a crass, "Let's do it, baby."

But whenever he sees her, whenever they meet to argue over his recent land development plans to destroy her beloved forest, the only place she feels at home, Graham urges Claret, "Mate with me."

And all of Claret's attempts to remain professional and pure are slowly melting away under the persuasive gleam in his eyes. She begins to sense under his carefully groomed businessman's exterior beats an untamed heart. There's something primitive about Graham. Something mythical. Something not entirely human. And whatever it is, she is about to find, deep within her unnatural human body...its mate.

EXCERPT FROM  SECOND NATURE

“You know, Claret, you could stop this if you wanted to.”

Graham Norton’s hand reached for Claret’s, and she instinctively pulled it from the table, settling it gently in her lap. His intense gaze shot fire through her, but she straightened in her chair and cleared her throat.

“Mr. Graham, I have told you before that I am not interested in using those types of methods to convince you to change your development plans. If you met with me tonight thinking I would give in this time, you were wrong. Again.” Claret finished her practiced speech, her voice sounding even and polished, although her insides quivered and her throat felt suddenly parched. It was probably all the throat-clearing she had done throughout dinner.     

Claret forgot the danger sitting across from her and reached for her water glass, but with one deft move, Graham clasped her hand in his and offered a sinister smile.

“Why not?” he questioned her, his thumb finding the tender spot on her freckled wrist where her pulse throbbed. “Why not mate with me tonight and let me show you what you are missing, what you have missed for most of your life?”  His thumb rubbed gently across her soft skin in time with her heartbeat, which quickened at an alarming pace.

Claret shook her head and sighed, trying to pull her hand from its warm embrace. She had long given up trying to figure out why Graham’s arrogance allowed him to think that mating with him would be the highlight of any girl’s life. He was oddly handsome, yes, with dark chestnut hair that neatly curled above his ears, and the most sensual amber brown eyes she had ever seen. But really, did he think Claret was so inexperienced that she’d climaxed before?

And mate with him--why did he always say that way? He never said “have sex” or “do it” or “enjoy carnal bliss” or anything different. It was always “mate with me.”  Claret shook her head again. Why did she even come tonight? Did she really think that this time he'd would offer anything but another invitation to his bed?

“Claret, do you want to know a secret?”

Claret rolled her eyes and tried to tug her hand away, but Graham’s grip was strong. Gentle, but very strong. Her heart began to pound.

“Your eyes are like the greenest emeralds—I dreamt about them the other night, you know. And do have any idea how much I envy those black waves that tickle your face and neck? Your pixie cut suits you, Claret. Won’t you be my pixie tonight? I need you.”

Graham intensified his attentions at her wrist, and his steady gaze, infused with an odd hunger that intrigued and challenged her, caused her to shift uncomfortably in her seat to relieve the slight pressure she had begun to feel between her thighs.

“Mr. Norton, tell me one thing,” Claret started, trying to draw his attentions away from her wrist and back to their conversation.

“Anything you wish, Claret.” Graham’s response was filled with mirth. He was humoring her.

“You are not unattractive, as I am sure you have noticed every woman in her staring at you throughout our meal.” An amused smile played across Graham’s face and his eyes flickered dangerously. “So I don’t understand why you can’t just bang one of them? Why does it have to be me? What is it? Haven’t you ever had an activist before?”

Graham stopped rubbing her wrist and sat back in his seat, his hand lightly touching her fingers and his gaze as intense as ever. That’s one for me, thought Claret. Graham Norton hated coarse language; she had figured that much out over the last few months, and he especially seemed to not like it coming from her. Finally, after a minute, he spoke.

“That’s common, Claret, and not like you at all. I offer you something beautiful and you try to make it ugly. Was the idea of mating with me beginning to appeal to you that much that you had to make it seem so…so human?”

Spring Has Sprung?: Second Nature

I love the beauty of winter, but not the season itself. Not really. And this winter has been one of the most unlikable winters I can remember. I don't mind the snow, but the dryness and cold are unpleasant. Very unpleasant.

It's been such a cold winter in my part of the world that today it was 22 degrees and it felt like a heatwave. The hardest part was that the sun was so bright it reminded me of spring, and I started thinking spring thoughts.It didn't help that the groundhog predicted an early spring on February 2, because I've been thinking about it ever since.

Thoughts about planning vacations and wearing flirty dresses and having April breezes whip through my hair have infiltrated my brain, and spring fever has set in. Oh, I know that spring is still weeks away, whether a few or several, but I can still feel it in the air.

Maybe you can, too. If so, why not enjoy a read about nature and all its beauty, including the passion between a nature spirit and the woman he decides to claim as his mate? My novella, erotic novella, Second Nature, is available if you like books that take you into the great outdoors and into a magical place where there is nothing more natural than love. Here's a brief description:

"Mate with me."

This is the insistent demand wealthy tycoon Graham Norton makes on passionate activist Claret McDaniel. Never, "Make love to me." Never, "Let's have sex," or even a crass, "Let's do it, baby."

But whenever he sees her, whenever they meet to argue over his recent land development plans to destroy her beloved forest, the only place she feels at home, Graham urges Claret, "Mate with me."

And all of Claret's attempts to remain professional and pure are slowly melting away under the persuasive gleam in his eyes. She begins to sense under his carefully groomed businessman's exterior beats an untamed heart. There's something primitive about Graham. Something mythical. Something not entirely human. And whatever it is, she is about to find, deep within her unnatural human body ... its mate.

Hiking trip photos

This past weekend my husband and I went on a little hiking excursion. We didn't have to drive far to reach the start of the trail. It wound down through dark woods to a small river that flows over beautiful primordial looking rocks. The clear water tumbled down small waterfalls. Rain sprinkled but we had rain jackets and I had an umbrella. Yeah, I'm a genuine hiker, carrying an umbrella.

Wild roses in full bloom grew along the path and the scent was amazing. It mixed nicely with the smell of pine needle and moldering leaves. Rock cliffs stretched up toward the sky on one side, carved by the water over millennia.

Other wildflowers grew near the water. Trout jumped from the surface a few times. Mist enshrouded the cliffs in the distance on the opposite side. We even found trees half cut down by beavers.