Yesterday, Eve and I spent the day hiking through Loch Ard Forest behind the beautiful Loch Ard. With Storm Bert predicted by the Met Office to hit us today, we wanted to escape the walls of the house before the weather closed in. 

We spent the day walking towards Aberfoyle from home. Why? To meet Sarah out of work! We loosely followed the ‘8-mile loop’, trying to keep as close to Loch Ard as possible. It’s a simple route, but we made many detours down trails and to follow animal tracks to ‘explore’. Ard Forest is beautiful this time of year!

Most of the forest trails were frozen solid. Large sections of the trail were covered in thick black ice, making walking treacherous at times. Eve loved it. She was skating over it like she was on ‘Dancing on Ice’ but with less elegance. I was left holding my breath, hoping she wouldn’t fall over and land on her face! She didn’t.

The frost and ice crystals clung to the withered remains of ferns and grass, growing outwards, creating miniature ice forests. Eve and I spent a lot of time getting some good macro photographs. None of them does the intricate beauty of the formations any justice. We tried, however!

On the 8-mile loop is a small section of trail (behind Loch Ard) that the tourists usually miss. Whether they don’t realise it’s there or avoid it, I don’t know. We both think it’s one of the nicest sections of trail around Loch Ard. It’s also one of the quieter sections. There is also a small bench that, even on the busiest days in the national park, is (usually) free of people! It was a regular spot for a break or lunch when Eve was a lot younger! We had our lunch there yesterday. 

The number of robins we spotted was surprising. We counted at least 20 and one red squirrel. A very friendly robin came within touching distance as we ate our lunch. Eve and I fed it some of our sandwiches. 

We met Sarah in Aberfoyle at about 3:30 p.m. As the light faded, it was starting to get much colder.

As I sit and write this report today, Storm Bert is raging outside.  Getting outdoors yesterday was a good idea.

I think I’m going to plan a night out for Eve and me next week in the tent, and I hope we get some snow!

Enjoy the pictures, and thanks for reading.