An(other) unexpected treat…

 

Isn’t it cheerful when lovely things happen - and all the more so when they pop up completely out of the blue? At the tail end of our holiday I was more than a bit surprised to get a message inviting me to pop up to RAF Waddington for a Red Arrows in-season practise. You might recall that I do travel up there to shoot those whenever I can but this was an invitation from the team to head on to base to watch the practise from there!  It is the current Red 1’s final season, and he had decided that he wanted to extend a thank you to some of the amateur photographers who have photographed him over the 8 seasons he has been on the team, which was a lovely gesture, and very unexpected indeed.

The boss in his first season in the iconic red suit

My first issue was whether I would be able to secure the holiday time - I wasn’t even due back into the office for another few days, and was then only meant to be working three days before having another week off for a trip to Lundy - so I was well aware that I was probably on rather thin ice - regardless I sent a hopeful message explaining the situation and thank goodness got an “oh, go on then!” one in return shortly after. Phew! 

Even the crew room mugs are in formation! 

Thursday morning saw me in the car heading up - very excited and completely unsure what to expect. On arriving at the specified location at the base I met the other invitees, all similarly in the dark. Much nervous giggling ensued as we waited for our escort round to the RAFAT section. I don’t think there was anyone among us who was anything other than slightly astonished to find ourselves there! 

Claire, Caz, Tom & me failing to hide our excitement!

Our escort turned out to be the very lovely Doug - Chief of Staff and someone I have known for years, so that was excellent! With parking at the squadron apparently at a premium that day, once equipped with our visitor passes we hopped into two cars and proceeded through past lots of interesting looking buildings - Waddington is very different from the slightly run-down familiarity of Scampton with its World War 2 infrastructure and is also far bigger! Into the squadron building - but not before I had noticed just outside my lovely XX311 - the jet my pal Ross flew in in 2014 - now retired and installed as Squadron guardian!

XX311 enjoying her retirement 

The all important brew was a priority of course - always - an introduction to Joe from the PR team who was helping to host us, and lots of hellos from various people milling about too, and then Doug explained that we would be sitting in on the pre practice briefing which was very exciting - I have done this before but not for a lot of years. Briefings are fascinating - hearing all information relevant to the next activity being imparted and then the whole intended display plus any likely variations talked through step by step in incredible detail. Once complete, the pilots headed off to get kitted up and we went back to the crew room where someone else I have known for years- P R Manager Andy Morton - joined us. He wasted no time in jokingly pointing out how little I had been about this season - a very valid point indeed! We split into two groups at that stage to head out to datum, Claire and I hopped into the car with Andy driving along with another of our group, David, and a chap called Steve who was there filming, and Doug drove the rest of the group. 

OC RAFAT supervising, Iwan filming - “Rollbacks” in the background

The practice itself was essentially like watching our own private Red Arrows display - and watching everyone get their”game faces” on once the camera kit came out was entertaining. I do wonder what the value of the assembled kit out there was though - I suspect well north of £50k total between us, and that is not counting Steve’s kit and that of the team’s own photographer! New Officer Commanding Wing Commander Sasha Nash was supervising, I’d not met her before so it was nice to have quick chat in between her duties.

Back to the squadron then, and after a bit of a break for the pilots time for the debrief - another treat! Just as fascinating - the level of scrutiny they subject themselves to is astonishing - after all these years we are pretty good at noticing stuff that isn’t quite to the incredibly high standard the team set for themselves and indeed the Boss (Red 1 is always known as The Boss) commented that we were all very good at not posting photos of those moments, but they pick up on the tiniest things that are invisible to us! Seeing the way they call themselves out on errors really underlines why the team motto is “Eclat” - Excellence. 

There was still more in store for us - photos outside with the team, both individually and as a group…thanks to Claire for the shot above - and then a hangar tour where the very lovely Matt, one of the team’s armourers - gave us all sorts of interesting info about the jets in the hangar and the engineering side in general. It is always great to see the jets up close, but being able to look inside the engine bay was a new one for me - with the engine (below) having been dropped out of XX219 to go to Rolls Royce for repair.

Rolls Royce Adour engine as used in the Hawk.

We got the chance to sit in the training jet too - active team jets are off limits to visitors but the training jet has its ejection seat system disabled and so is “safe” for random people! Naturally after all my work with the Blues and circus team in the past I chose the backseat!   Time then for farewells, and heartfelt thank you’s from us - I think we were all a bit shell-shocked to be honest, it was an incredible day and although we didn’t really know what to expect, it wasn’t a fraction of that! - before Joe who had been looking after us through the day drove us back across to our cars.  

Simply a superb day, and an incredible opportunity, one I am so glad to have been able to accept and something I certainly won’t forget in a hurry! 

Robyn

The journey home…

 

Sunday morning saw an early departure from the lovely glamping pod and a quick drive down to Lochboisdale for our ferry back across to Mallaig - aboard our old favourite vessel M V Lord of the Isles. We are both fond of “LoTI” as she is known - a good friend of ours used to Captain her and we had a memorable crossing to Uist on the bridge on one occasion. She is also the only ferry we have ever got on and off again in the same place without ever travelling anywhere- when visiting Byron on storm-bound days at Lochboisdale over Christmas! 

A quick wander into the terminal building - Lochboisdale is one of the ports which hasn’t yet had its infrastructure upgraded and the little old terminal is really quite charming - although I bet the staff might call it something else! It also has a decent little book exchange- the terminals all have these again now, they were discontinued over Covid and it took a while for them to get up and running again. 

The rain had made an appearance by the time we got on board, and more to the point, so had the midges, so unusually for us we settled ourselves inside in the observation lounge to watch the remaining traffic loading up ready for departure. This was far from a full crossing - we think there were a few vehicles nominally on the standby list but they didn’t even wait until all the booked traffic was on board to load them. We meanwhile were at the head of the second line of cars to drive on - not as good as it sounds as that means we line up along the sides and then all the bigger traffic - campervans, small commercials and the dreaded caravans - slots in to the middle, and thus gets to drive off first…and then delay the rest of us all the way to Fort William! 

Anyway - breakfast time!  CalMac breakfasts are legendary, and it’s a must-do on an early sailing. After that time to head outside and see what wildlife was about… 

There, the view back towards Uist. Nothing outstanding on the bird front this time, but we did see some lovely close-in Dolphins and some further away Porpoises, plus an unexpected Seal which popped up and looked at us. MrEH spent almost all the remaining time out on deck, I popped out a few times but mostly settled down to read my book.

The ferry is of course the fun bit of the journey back - once back on the mainland there is over 500 miles to be driven, although this time round we opted to break the journey a couple of hours north of home. It makes for a more relaxed journey back, giving us time to stop for a late lunch in the southern Highlands.

Yes, of course we bring back some of the delicious Dunes Larder home baking to be enjoyed on the way back and our first day back at home! 

Some nice views on the way back through - the Glen Ogle viaduct above is always a favourite, and this time round some handy roadworks/traffic lights saw us stopped right opposite it, so obviously I grabbed the chance to hop out and take a quick photo! 

Onwards then, and before we know it the border back into England flashes past and suddenly it truly feels like the holiday is over. The next time we see the Scottish border it will be next spring, but that will likely be the rather fancier one across on the eastern side of the countries. For this time though one more change of drivers and then the final few hours driving down to Grantham and our bed for the night, followed by an early alarm, a quick breakfast and the last couple of hours home. Another adventure over and done. 

Robyn

A rubbish walk…

 

Big rocks on bins - needed out here!

A quirky tradition for our final morning here is that unless it is actually blowing a gale, or sideways-raining, one of my final tasks before we head away is that I gather up the accumulated rubbish from around the cottage and take it up the track to the bins. This time round I thought I was going to be scuppered on this one, as when we woke up yesterday morning it was indeed blowing a gale and sideways-raining, but handily it calmed down an hour or so before departure so I popped my wellies on, grabbed the bag and went for a wander.

The track is a third of a mile up to the road, not a long walk by any stretch, but one I really enjoy, particularly once the bag is dropped off and I can enjoy the walk back without it. That last approach to the cottage on foot for this trip, always plenty of birds to be seen - this time I surprised a Snipe as well as the usual Meadow Pipits, Gulls  and Starlings. The new house being built part way up the field changes the view a little, but then you see the first glimpse of the cottage chimneys as you go uphill towards the highest point…

See - just to the left of the track?

Over the crest of the hill and there is Kettle Cottage - Hoglan Bay down to the left, and the headland stretching off behind. Blue skies just starting to peek through too, promising better weather to come!

The cows never quite get used to seeing us coming and going on foot - and always give us a good curious stare! In the spring the Croft surrounding the cottage itself usually has sheep on it - they take a few days to get used to us but then also get remarkably curious, particularly the lambs which are clearly intrigued by these humans who talk to them! 

The final turn, and nearly back. Just a little under 15 minutes door to door, allowing for time to take these pictures and stop and look at things. Time to finish packing the car then set off back along that track in the car this time, with Kettle disappearing in the rear view mirror. 

Robyn

An unexpected treat...

 

I had promised the Lady Anne Boat trips crew that I'd have a go at getting some shots of them going out, and coming back from trips - not a particularly taxing task, and all the easier when I realised that on Wednesday they were running two trips back to back in the afternoon. Simple - I could shoot them coming back from the 3pm one, and going out on the 5.30pm. 

Naturally things were complicated a little by the arrival of two fish farm vessels at the pier I was working from immediately before "Amarisa" was due back in - but my usual method of just proceeding with purpose while also being sure to avoid getting under people's feet worked well enough and I was able to get some shots I was pleased with. 

We spotted that Nick, founder of "Lady Anne Boat Trips" as it was then, and skipper of the "Lady Anne" herself was about, and having not seen him for a good while we headed down for a quick chat with him, Nye & Rosie before they headed out again - and that was when things got interesting!  Rosie had mentioned that there were a couple of spaces on the trip - they weren't certain they weren't waiting for people, but as far as Nye could see everyone booked had arrived, and suddenly the offer was made that we were welcome to jump aboard for the trip if we wanted? Well, yes please! 

A quick flurry of activity - Mr EH headed back to the car quickly to grab jackets and binoculars, and once he was back we climbed aboard - all the while keeping a watchful eye ready for anyone else to turn up, but sure enough the briefing was done, we waved farewell to Nick, and off we went for a completely unexpected boat trip!

The weather was certainly not a patch on what we had last week - after several days of higher winds there was a decent swell out on the open water - Nye headed that way first which is the first time we'd been on a trip in that direction, but it was perfect timing as once back in the sheltered area around Ronay the tide was perfect to enable us to get right into the channels around the little grassy islands - a different and very pleasant view of things. We did encounter one heavy rain shower which sent most of those on board scampering for the cabin, quite sensibly, but as so often happened after that it turned to a beautiful evening with positively golden light - lighting the Red Deer in particular beautifully.

The Sea Eagles played obligingly as well - along with Golden Eagles giving good views although at more of a distance out. We couldn't be more grateful to Nick, Nye & Rosie for giving us the opportunity to get out again - it was hugely appreciated and very much enjoyed!

Robyn

Rueval…

 

Very much a favourite this one - long time readers will I’m sure remember me mentioning our favourite little hill on Benbecula previously, it’s a walk we make sure to do at least once each trip over here and I have almost certainly blogged about it before. Just 124m in height, but still presenting a moderately challenging walk up due to the steepness in places, it is also surrounded by low lying land meaning great 360° views across to Skye in one direction and St Kilda in the other - and yes, yesterday was a “clear enough to see St Kilda” day! 

Not the most promising of starts to a walk as the parking is right outside the not-very-glamorous Recycling Centre, but once past the cattle grid and striking out along the track things rapidly become a lot more scenic. There are usually good bird sightings here too - indeed we used to help with sightings on the RSPB “Bird of Prey” walks here years ago - although as ever there was never any certainty of what would be seen, and on one particularly barren evening I do recall us deciding that Stonechats eat insects and so counted as “birds of prey”! 

Before long you come to the first of the Hebridean Way markers on the hillside, with another in view just beyond - these appear to lead you up through the heather but a few steps further on you spot the rough track next to a small quarry which makes the first short section up hill substantially easier.

Even from part way up the views are already impressive - above you see the route we have just walked with the Waste Transfer station on the right, across to the west coast of the island beyond. 

The waymarkers provide a reliable indicator of the route - when we originally did this walk it was using vague directions like “follow the sheep-path to the fence junction then head directly up towards the summit” - the Hebridean Way route now passes right over Rueval though so the way marking is good. 

In the steeper spots rough “staircases” have formed in the peat which although hard going are definitely easier than wet heather! There are plenty of boggy spots so it is as well to keep a good eye on where your feet are going - generally speaking you can spot grassy tussocks which can be hopped from one to the next, and if you see heather, it is almost certainly dry enough to step onto! 

Finally we hit a crest which gives a view up to the summit - you can see the trig point and the cairn above.

From there the final stretch to the top is actually fairly straightforward - and there is that view of St Kilda I mentioned. Faint but just visible on the horizon. The cluster of buildings on the left hand side are Balivanich- the largest settlement in this part of the Hebrides with the airport, hospital and a quite large school plus shops and other facilities.

 

The path you can see heading across the moor is the road to Rossinish - no longer inhabited but famous for being the spot where “Bonnie Prince Charlie” headed “over the sea to Skye” when making his escape after the failed Jacobite rebellion. We’ve walked out there - I think I blogged about it - and it’s really a very special feeling place. 

Another view, across to the hills of North Uist this time, and really showing Uist’s “drowned landscape”!

Time to head down again then - keeping an eye as we go for the various different plant species which can be found up here…

This is Bog Asphodel - “Am Bliochan” in Gaelic I believe - providing a bright splash of colour on the hillside.

Another view across to Balivanich as we carefully pick our way down- with numerous slippery spots going down is almost trickier than going up a! 

Back to the track then - and time to retrace our steps. If following the Hebridean Way you would have continued at the summit and descended on the other side of the hill - we keep saying we will have a go at that route one day, but will probably choose a time of year when it it less wet underfoot! 

There we are nearly back to the car - just under 2 miles walked so by no means a long walk but a thoroughly enjoyable one nonetheless. It was surprisingly warm - even at the top although I was carrying my jacket I didn’t need to put it on, and after a few days of wild weather the wind had dropped off to almost nothing as well which was good timing - doing this one with a headwind on the upwards stretch is always entertaining! 

Robyn. 

Croft No.8

 

Also known as Arinaban Wooodland, this lovely place can be found at the very end of the road at North Loch Eynort on South Uist. It is a favourite of ours regardless of the time of year we visit, but autumn with the heather in flower does make it extra pretty. We start out by heading along the lower track parallel to the shore until we reach the boundary fence for the end of the Croft, then it is a left turn and the start of the climb upwards…

On the lower paths we were absolutely surrounded by beautiful dragon and damsel flies - tricky to photograph at the best of times, and I only had the iPhone with me, but this Sedge Darner did stay still for long enough for me to sneak up on it…

The walking trails were created by the owner of the Croft - Archie MacDonald - and there is around 6km to explore here. He has also planted a huge number of trees - meaning that in addition to the plantation down at the shore there is also a surprising mix of native trees, we even saw some oaks - very probably the only ones of that type we will see here! 

After a brief stop at a picnic table we continued up the hill - not hugely high but the path is plenty steep enough and the views other on the way up and at the top are stunning! I say “the top” but in fact this “seat with a view” which marks the end of the trail is actually below the summit - we have been right up in the past but it tends to be boggy underfoot at best, and after the amount of rain that has fallen here recently it wasn’t for us this time. 

We were sad to see that this lovely bench has finally succumbed to the weather- we have sat on this one so many times, indeed we have a large canvas print on the wall at home of a photo that was taken while sitting on it. I perched carefully on the very right hand end this time but it will be the last time I’ll do so as the left hand side is completely detached - fingers crossed it gets replaced. 

A re-trace of steps part of the way down before turning along the path which runs down through the centre of the Croft, gently meandering its way down before joining the main track at the bottom. Another bench can be found along this route, indeed there are seats and picnic tables all over the place! 

More heather and more stunning views! We rejoined the main track at a junction- turning right would have taken us back to the car but we opted to take the straight across option which continues down the hill to the shore - first past “Heron Woods” - the plantation, nicknamed as that by us because Herons nest there and my word do they make you jump if they take off while you are underneath! This area is also good for Goldcrests too - this time round we could hear them but it was so windy there was little chance of actually seeing them! 

Then back to the path and past a little bay with views out onto the Loch. 

The trail turns right and heads back gently uphill at this pretty little freshwater Loch- it feels as though you are almost on a level with it and always provides beautiful reflections of sky and clouds. 

Finally a left turn back to the main track and a return to the car - always remembering to pop a few pounds in the “donations” tin of course - the sheer amount of time, effort and money that has been spent creating this fantastic place to spend a few hours definitely deserves supporting! There is room for several cars to park in what used to be the turning circle for the bus - sadly no bus services have run out here for a good many years now - and all the family ask is that there is no overnight parking and that nobody blocks their access. 

Robyn.