The Ordinary versus the Extraordinary – A year of travelling with three children: 17 August 2015

Welcome to Monday! AND it was a sunny warm morning, perfect for a walk with Tim and Annika down the road to the school passing by the barley fields – a good start to the day!

View of Mither Tap from our driveway

The big kids had great feedback from their last week’s work from their teachers which is encouraging. We have limited Wi-Fi here so we feel a bit stressed about our usage but we are really reliant on it. Luke is really enjoying online books which have comprehension questions and now that he is really loving reading I don’t want to stop his enthusiasm. It isn’t like home where there are books galore and libraries close by.

Morning shadows

The glorious weather suited us well as we planned to walk up to Oxen Craig, the highest hill around here at 528 m. When we got to the Back O’ Bennachie carpark and read the signpost, Tim requested we do the 9 ½ km Mither Tap Quarry Trail and we thought “Why not”?! This time we were prepared for inclement weather and had a few extra snacks.

Mither Tap Quarry Trail

Sunshine and heather!

Among the heather

Heading for Little Oxen Craig Quarry

The walk up to the heights was really beautiful through the shady forest and then up through the heather and snacking on wild blueberries as we went. As we walked we could see the path snaking before us and we felt like we owned the mountains! Our first stop was an old granite quarry at Little Oxen Craig. The quarry closed down in 1891. We could see unused lintels and other granite blocks still on the ground at quite a height. How they ever transported these huge heavy blocks down the hill is a mystery. The view was marvellous and we could see the other peaks we were aiming for.

See the mighty granite slabs

Climbing to the top of Little Oxen Craig

Scene from the Lion King

The big climb over - now more gentle slopes...

View over the heathery moors

Try to drink in the panorama

Loving it all!

Trail to Oxen Craig

We made it to Oxen Craig, and had a snack and a rest and took in the view – rolling hills which go on and on, chequered fields, little villages and distant wind farms.

On the right track

Unused granite lintel

Was I really there?

Of course Annika finds a good spot for a handstand!

The rolling heathery slopes...

We could see forever!

Oxen Craig - self timed family photo

Higher than the highest point!

Luke thinks he is the King of Lukeland!

Windy but very lovely

Track to Mither Tap

The path was well signed and we walked back to Mither Tap and up to the top again. Today, although windy, was not as cold or as windy as the other day when we were there and as the weather was better, so was our outlook. Luke was brave enough to go up to the summit today and we had the whole place to ourselves! What a feeling!

Nature's kitchen - a cloudberry - delicious!

Mither Tap

Our path snaking below

Snack time Mither Tap

Family selfie - Mither Tap

The last peak on the route was Craigshannoch which was again a little different. The rocks were like giant layers of cowpats in clumps! Again the view was a bit different from another perspective.