Well, an old favourite won!! The Raider's Road offers so much. It is only about 10 miles long but there are so many places to stop along the way, not to mention what you might spot on the way!
We headed initially to Stroan Loch. Besides the peaceful views over the loch there is also the track going over the viaduct to wander along. On a lovely sunny day we have often found plenty of butterflies, damselflies and dragonflies along there. would we be lucky today? After eating our picnic lunch looking out over the loch, it was time to investigate.
We set off across the viaduct listening to the rush of water going underneath us - there was plenty of water after the rain we have had recently! The water was quite clear though, we could see the grasses under the water going with the flow.
The water was a deep dark brown peaty colour as we peered over the wall on the river side of the viaduct.
Just leaning on the wall looking at the water was a very relaxing, mesmerising way to pass the time but this was only just the beginning of our walk, so we had to put our best foot forward! However just a few steps further on we had to stop again. The vegetation at the side of the path was full of wildlife! Bees, hoverflies and both common and azure damselflies were everywhere.
We were quite surprised that many of the wild flowers were still as fresh as they were. Many of our wild flowers at home are fading and going to seed.
However, as we wandered - (our walks are more of a wander than a walk, there is always so much to look at!) - along the track another butterfly began to appear at every step! The Scotch Argus was suddenly everywhere - in front, behind and next to us! They seemed quite amenable to having us on the track with them and consequently we have rather a lot of photos of them!
We were lucky enough to see other species as well ... Painted Lady,Small Tortoiseshell, Red Admiral, Common Blue and Meadow Brown.
It was quite a good job we weren't striding out along the path as we also kept disturbing tiny froglets. We had seen tadpoles in the ditches and puddles earlier in the year so it was nice to now see the froglets.
All in all a very productive wander along quite a short part of the track - but on the way back we also found a couple of fungi and a few day flying specimens of Udea lutealis (I think)
We didn't even get to wander down by the river on this occasion as we often do. It is a nice little walk by the water as these photos from a previous visit show.
Moving on from the loch we drove further along the Raider's Road, calling in at the Otter Pool on the way. Often we are the only people at the pool - but not today! With the sunshine and the fact it is still school holidays for children from England - it was really, really busy. We drove on - just remembering the times we had been to the Otter Pool when it was quiet!
Another short pause before we exited the road happened so that we could identify the small birds we found feeding on the thistle seeds. They were very flighty and flew around furiously from bush to bush. Binoculars did help us to identify that they were young goldfinches, young siskins and young chaffinches.
We continued to the end of the Raider's Road thinking that the small charge you pay to use the drive is well worth it. The drive is open to vehicles between April and October although as a walker, cyclist or horse rider you can use it all year.
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