Rufus makes a new friend

Grey Granite and Rufus went to Strichen to meet Dr. Anne and her friend J.D. at the Community Park.  After coffee at the Lodge they walked along the line towards Brucklay. It was a pleasant cold morning, with pockets of frost and frozen hailstones along the way. An attempt to visit the stone circle had to be aborted because of the impassable muddy quagmire at the top of the path. Along the Line we saw several large flocks of small birds, mainly chaffinches.

The renovated Lodge, recently developed as a coffee shop,  provides delicious scones and is an excellent meeting place.

The grim ruins of Strichen House seen from the Line.



We walked along the Line to the crossing with the A981 then doubled back to leave the Line at the bridge carrying  a minor road to Viewbank over the Line. The steepish steps were very slippery and hoar frost lingered on the vegetation.



We returned to Strichen along the road past Borrowhill Wood, with views  towards Hunters' Lodge and the White Horse on Mormond Hill.

The path through Newton Wood was obstructed by trees, some we thought victims of the recent gales, others probably deliberately felled.

Rufus, Dr Anne, J.D. and Grey Granite, all being in their primes, negotiated the obstacle without difficulty, despite the predictions to the contrary of an elderly passerby.

The swans on the lake rather haughtily turned their backs when they realised that we were not bearing gifts of food.