Geo-Trips :: Alves and Roseisle

Laich o' Moray

A walk from Alves, Mon, 2 Mar 2020 by Anne Burgess

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As the land was still very wet, we decided to explore the network of minor roads north of Alves, sticking to those apart from a short forest section that was as muddy as we had anticipated. We did about eleven miles, depending on whose techie distance measuring gadget we believe. Mine (Garmin Etrex) clocked up 17.2 kilometres.

Click the blue circles to see a photograph taken from that spot and read further information about the location. The blue lines indicate the direction of view. There is also a slideshow of this trip. ( )

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NJ1362 : Car Park and Recycling by Anne Burgess
Car Park and Recycling
This small car park serves the school across the road.

NJ1262 : Biomass Digester by Anne Burgess
Biomass Digester
This is new enough not to be on the maps yet, but the hedge is old enough to make... more

NJ1262 : Wester Alves by Anne Burgess
Wester Alves
The farm house at Wester Alves faces south, an from here there is a glimpse of... more

NJ1262 : Wester Alves by Anne Burgess
Wester Alves
Functional farm buildings seen from the entrance to Wester Alves Farm.

NJ1262 : Wet Field by Anne Burgess
Wet Field
At the far side of the field is the embankment that carried the Burghead Branch... more

NJ1263 : Common Polypody (Polypodium vulgare) by Anne Burgess
Common Polypody (Polypodium vulgare)
The top of the dyke is well colonised by this fern.

NJ1263 : North Alves by Anne Burgess
North Alves
Between me and the pair of stone cottages is a cutting which is part of the... more

NJ1263 : North Alves Holiday Park by Anne Burgess
North Alves Holiday Park
The entrance to the caravan site, which is closed for the winter. The sign also... more

NJ1263 : North Alves Holiday Park by Anne Burgess
North Alves Holiday Park
A small but popular caravan park. Web site at https://www.north-alves-holiday-park.co.uk/.

NJ1263 : Burghead Branch Line by Anne Burgess
Burghead Branch Line
Looking south from the road overbridge at North Alves. Interesting that the rails... more

NJ1263 : Burghead Branch Line by Anne Burgess
Burghead Branch Line
Looking north from the road overbridge at North Alves.

NJ1263 : Cottages at North Alves by Anne Burgess
Cottages at North Alves
The view from the road here, like so many others in the vicinity, is dominated by... more

NJ1263 : Cottages at North Alves by Anne Burgess
Cottages at North Alves
If you can manage to avoid the wheelie bins [[[6403629]]], these traditional stone... more

NJ1163 : Coltfield by Anne Burgess
Coltfield
Looking across flat land to the line of cottages and houses along the side road at... more

NJ1263 : Near Coltfield by Anne Burgess
Near Coltfield
On the left is the road bridge over the disused Burghead Branch railway line, and... more

NJ1163 : Coltfield by Anne Burgess
Coltfield
Cottages at the Coltfield crossroads. The large-scale map names Kishmul, which I... more

NJ1263 : Near Coltfield by Anne Burgess
Near Coltfield
A busy-looking place but I don't know what goes on here.

NJ1263 : Ephemeral Pond by Anne Burgess
Ephemeral Pond
The ephemeral pond shows just how waterlogged the ground is after some fairly... more

NJ1263 : Looking towards Coltfield by Anne Burgess
Looking towards Coltfield
The cottages at Coltfield crossroads are just in the next square but the... more

NJ1263 : Burghead Branch Line by Anne Burgess
Burghead Branch Line
Looking north from the road overbridge near Coltfield. If anything the cutting is... more

NJ1263 : Burghead Branch Line by Anne Burgess
Burghead Branch Line
Looking south from the road overbridge near Coltfield towards the cottages at... more

NJ1263 : Kirkhill Farm by Anne Burgess
Kirkhill Farm
Kirkhill is a large farm with extensive outbuildings, standing on a slight rise... more

NJ1263 : A Multiplicity of Gates by Anne Burgess
A Multiplicity of Gates
Several field gates close off the entrances to fields from the minor road south of... more

NJ1263 : Gate at Kirkhill by Anne Burgess
Gate at Kirkhill
The zoom lens greatly reduces the apparent distance from the roadside gate to the... more

NJ1263 : Near Kirkhill by Anne Burgess
Near Kirkhill
A stand of Scots Pine tops the low hill at Kirkhill Farm. What interested us,... more

NJ1263 : Ramshackle Gates by Anne Burgess
Ramshackle Gates
This collection of disintegrating rusty gates would surely never contain a herd or... more

NJ1363 : Trapped Wool by Anne Burgess
Trapped Wool
Fine strands of wool have become caught on a withered sourock stem. This may help... more

NJ1364 : Cattle in the Woods by Anne Burgess
Cattle in the Woods
For some reason these cattle were all crowding together at the fence alongside the road.

NJ1364 : Limousin Cattle by Anne Burgess
Limousin Cattle
The farmer confirmed to me that these bonny brown beasts are Limousin cattle. This... more

NJ1264 : Wood Pile by Anne Burgess
Wood Pile
These look like the outer slices of tree trunks after the inner parts have been... more

NJ1264 : Bruntlands Farm by Anne Burgess
Bruntlands Farm
The original farm house and buildings are to the left, and a new and no doubt... more

NJ1264 : Bruntlands Farm by Anne Burgess
Bruntlands Farm
The original farm house and buildings are to the left, and a new and no doubt... more

NJ1264 : Interesting Entrance by Anne Burgess
Interesting Entrance
The original farm entrance has been almost closed off by two curves of drystane... more

NJ1264 : Bruntlands Farm Cottages by Anne Burgess
Bruntlands Farm Cottages
The original cottages are now mostly obscured by new houses built around them.... more

NJ1264 : New House at Bruntlands by Anne Burgess
New House at Bruntlands
This seems to be the newest house at Bruntlands Farm Cottages.

NJ1265 : Drain at Roseisle by Anne Burgess
Drain at Roseisle
Although it's mapped only as a drain, this ditch is containing a significant... more

NJ1265 : Entrance to Equus by Anne Burgess
Entrance to Equus
An extensive equestrian enterprise has developed at Buthil crossroads.

NJ1265 : Wester Buthil by Anne Burgess
Wester Buthil
Behind the 'for sale' sign is another phalanx of the virulently coloured wheelie... more

NJ1265 : Entrance to Equus by Anne Burgess
Entrance to Equus
From this side of the entrance to the flourishing equestrian business at Buthill,... more

NJ1266 : Field at Buthill by Anne Burgess
Field at Buthill
The house in the trees is one of several new builds in the woods around Buthill.

NJ1366 : North Buthill by Anne Burgess
North Buthill
A very small field and a stand of Scots Pine.

NJ1366 : Oh Deer! by Anne Burgess
Oh Deer!
A fairly recently dead Roe Deer lying by the side of the minor road near Buthill.

NJ1366 : Forest Path by Anne Burgess
Forest Path
The signpost indicates that it's three miles to Burghead by the path through the woods.

NJ1366 : Building Land by Anne Burgess
Building Land
A rather shabby sign at College of Roseisle advertises plots for building.

NJ1366 : Drainage Ditch by Anne Burgess
Drainage Ditch
One of a maze of ditches that criss-cross the flat farmlands.

NJ1366 : Ploughed Land at Roseisle by Anne Burgess
Ploughed Land at Roseisle
Looking across a recently ploughed field to Tappoch Hill and Westbank.

NJ1366 : Crab Apples by Anne Burgess
Crab Apples
Many of the trees in this hedgerow are crab apples, and each of them is surrounded... more

NJ1467 : Colaird House by Anne Burgess
Colaird House
A new house in an ideal situation beside Westbank.

NJ1366 : Signposts by Anne Burgess
Signposts
A cluster of signposts at a minor road junction at Roseisle.

NJ1466 : Westbank Farm House by Anne Burgess
Westbank Farm House
There's going to be a good display of daffodils here in a week or two, in front of... more

NJ1466 : New House at Midbank by Anne Burgess
New House at Midbank
One of the many new houses that have sprung up in recent years.

NJ1466 : House at Midbank by Anne Burgess
House at Midbank
A traditional stone-built house at Midbank Farm.

NJ1466 : Midbank Farm by Anne Burgess
Midbank Farm
The modern house on the right is called Sueno, and to its left is the farm house... more

NJ1466 : Eastbank Steading by Anne Burgess
Eastbank Steading
The steading is being converted for use as housing.

NJ1466 : Eastbank Farm House by Anne Burgess
Eastbank Farm House
A traditional stone house with decorative finials on the dormer gables.

NJ1466 : Safety Mirror by Anne Burgess
Safety Mirror
The mirror allows drivers coming out of Eastbank to see if there is any traffic on... more

NJ1566 : Glendale by Anne Burgess
Glendale
A new house with solar panels beside the minor road at Roseisle.

NJ1566 : Bungalow with Holly Tree by Anne Burgess
Bungalow with Holly Tree
We noted that there were still lots of berries on the holly tree beside this new bungalow.

NJ1566 : Pile of Stones by Anne Burgess
Pile of Stones
You can barely see them, but this slope is covered with boulders overgrown with... more

NJ1566 : Cone Stalks by Anne Burgess
Cone Stalks
These trees are firs, because the cones grow up from the twigs rather than hanging... more

NJ1566 : Complete Cones by Anne Burgess
Complete Cones
See [[[6404064]]] for a description of the stalks. Behind the bare stalks are... more

NJ1566 : Conifer Plantation by Anne Burgess
Conifer Plantation
This youngish plantation threatened to confuse us as it's not on the map, but our... more

NJ1566 : Way through the Wood by Anne Burgess
Way through the Wood
The plantation is laid out with plenty of wide gaps, so there is no problem... more

NJ1566 : Track into Spindlemuir Wood by Anne Burgess
Track into Spindlemuir Wood
Looking back the way we had come, out of Spindlemuir Wood towards the house at... more

NJ1566 : Entering Spindlemuir Wood by Anne Burgess
Entering Spindlemuir Wood
This is the point where the track leaves the edge of the open field and enters the... more

NJ1566 : Muddy Road by Anne Burgess
Muddy Road
We had stuck mostly to tarmac roads, expecting any field or forest tracks to be... more

NJ1566 : Crookies Moss by Anne Burgess
Crookies Moss
Strictly speaking this is a field beside Crookies Moss rathen than Crookies Moss... more

NJ1566 : Shelter Belt by Anne Burgess
Shelter Belt
The buildings in the distance, beyond the fields on the other side of the shelter... more

NJ1566 : Easter Crookies by Anne Burgess
Easter Crookies
There not much left of Easter Crookies - just a few feet of walls which were once... more

NJ1566 : Spindlemuir Wood by Anne Burgess
Spindlemuir Wood
The wood is mostly of Scots Pine, and it contains pheasant rearing pens.

NJ1565 : Track near Spindlemuir by Anne Burgess
Track near Spindlemuir
The track crosses open fields between the wood and the cottage at Spindlemuir.

NJ1565 : Spindlemuir by Anne Burgess
Spindlemuir
The cottage is quietly situated by the track. Interestingly, the first edition of... more

NJ1565 : Spindlemuir by Anne Burgess
Spindlemuir
Interestingly, the first edition of the six-inch Ordnance Survey maps shows... more

NJ1565 : Field near Starmoss by Anne Burgess
Field near Starmoss
Starmoss is on the far side of this field, which is viewed from the minor road... more

NJ1564 : National Cycle Route Waymarker by Anne Burgess
National Cycle Route Waymarker
National Cycle Route No 1 follows the minor road from Westfield to Coltfield,... more

NJ1564 : Drannac House by Anne Burgess
Drannac House
The name outside this new house is made up of horseshoes.

NJ1564 : Drannac House by Anne Burgess
Drannac House
A new house not yet on the maps.

NJ1464 : Field near Easterton by Anne Burgess
Field near Easterton
Looking across the fields towards Easterton Farm and associated cottages, though... more

NJ1464 : Morland by Anne Burgess
Morland
A smart new house, with the obligatory row of Moray Council's garish wheelie bins... more

NJ1464 : Wet Field by Anne Burgess
Wet Field
Although the field has been ploughed, this corner of it is obviously very wet.

NJ1464 : Farm without a Name by Anne Burgess
Farm without a Name
Although these large sheds are on the maps, the name of the farm is not, unless... more

NJ1464 : Remains of a Badger by Anne Burgess
Remains of a Badger
At least we think it was a badger. There are plenty of them around.

NJ1464 : New Houses at Longhillock by Anne Burgess
New Houses at Longhillock
These modern houses are built on the site of the steading belonging to Longhillock Farm.

NJ1364 : Burn Brae by Anne Burgess
Burn Brae
The name on the elaborate gate is Burn Brae, but the large scale map appears to... more

NJ1364 : Request to Drivers by Anne Burgess
Request to Drivers
At the end of the road to Standingstone Farm is a notice asking drivers to spray... more

NJ1364 : Wheel Spray by Anne Burgess
Wheel Spray
There is indeed a bottle of some sort of spray beside the notice asking drivers to... more

NJ1464 : Longhillock by Anne Burgess
Longhillock
This is the traditional stone-built farm house at Longhillock.

NJ1364 : Standingstone Farm by Anne Burgess
Standingstone Farm
This is a large farm with extensive outbuildings and cottages.

NJ1364 : Dumped Earth by Anne Burgess
Dumped Earth
Hummocks of earth from somewhere and dumped in a field at Standingstone Farm.

NJ1363 : Minor Road near Kirkton by Anne Burgess
Minor Road near Kirkton
This is a narrow road with passing places. On the right is a deep ditch. We had... more

NJ1363 : Sparrow Castle by Anne Burgess
Sparrow Castle
The building bears the date 1776, and was altered and renovated in the 1970s.

NJ1363 : Kirkton Crossroads by Anne Burgess
Kirkton Crossroads
This is where National Cycle Route 1 crosses the minor road, seen here, from Alves... more

NJ1363 : Kirkton by Anne Burgess
Kirkton
The house and steading at Kirkton are becoming ruinous, but the house must have... more

NJ1363 : Sparrow Castle by Anne Burgess
Sparrow Castle
The building bears the date 1776, and was altered and renovated in the 1970s.

NJ1363 : Sparrow Castle by Anne Burgess
Sparrow Castle
The building bears the date 1776, and was altered and renovated in the 1970s. I... more

NJ1363 : The Cottage by Anne Burgess
The Cottage
According to the name on the gate, this is simply 'The Cottage'. It is in the fork... more

NJ1362 : A Massive Tree by Anne Burgess
A Massive Tree
I'll have to go back later and find out what this massive tree is. Behind it is... more

NJ1362 : Kirkton Cottages by Anne Burgess
Kirkton Cottages
A pair of old cottages, probably originally tied cottages belonging to Kirkton Farm.

NJ1362 : Boulders by Anne Burgess
Boulders
Although there is a row of large boulders along the roadside, I don't think they... more

NJ1362 : Palm Trees by Anne Burgess
Palm Trees
A trio of palms, flourishing in the benign microclimate south of the Moray Firth.

NJ1362 : Carden Close by Anne Burgess
Carden Close
Carden Close is a development of modern bungalows on the outskirts of the village... more

NJ1362 : Carden Close by Anne Burgess
Carden Close
Carden Close is a development of modern bungalows on the outskirts of the village... more

NJ1362 : Carden Close by Anne Burgess
Carden Close
Carden Place is a development of modern bungalows on the outskirts of the village... more

NJ1362 : Carden Close by Anne Burgess
Carden Close
Carden Place is a development of modern bungalows on the outskirts of the village... more

All images © Anne Burgess and available under a Creative Commons licence external link.

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