Geo-Trips :: A walk around Strath Isla
Strath Isla
A walk from Keith, Tue, 21 Jul 2020 by Anne Burgess
We followed some of the waymarked routes south-west of Keith to do a circuit in Strath Isla. Most of it is on quiet minor roads, but there are some short sections of off-road paths. Compare with Link
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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Old Bridge
The bridge spans the River Isla. Built in 1609, it is the oldest bridge in the... more
Bonded Warehouses at Strathmill Distillery
These are warehouses in the traditional style, built of stone which has been... more
Hedgerow Cranesbill (Geranium pyrenaicum)
One of several species of Cranesbill that occur in this area.
Digging Drains
The cattle don't seem to be bothered by the presence of a digger in the field beside them.
Ford in the River Isla
Fortunately for pedestrians there is a footbridge alongside the ford. Compare with... more
Track to the River
Looking back towards Keith from the ford in the River Isla near Braehead.
River Isla
Looking upstream from the footbridge beside the ford at Braehead.
River Isla
Looking downstream from the footbridge beside the ford at Braehead. Compare with a... more
Ruined Mill
This isn't explicitly marked as a mill on the old Ordnance Survey maps, but the... more
Braehead Farm
The farm buildings at Braehead. The building on the right is probably much older... more
Great Willowherb (Epilobium hirsutum)
One of the easiest plants to identify, being unlike anything else that commonly... more
Old Reservoir
The first edition of the six-inch Ordnance Survey maps shows a well here, but the... more
Houses at Braehead
On the right is the traditional stone farm house, and to the left is a modern... more
Fields near Braehead
The buildings half concealed by the bank in the middle of this view are on the... more
Drainage Ditch
At this time of year the ditches are full of wild flowers.
Hazel Nuts (Corylus avellana)
There is going to be a good crop of nuts on the hazel trees beside Lowrie Bridge... more
Coldhome Farm
Some of the buildings at Coldhome Farm, looking a bit gloomy because the sun has... more
Field Access
Compare with [[[1160723]]]. The poles haven't changed.
Broad-leaved Willowherb (Epilobium montanum)
This is the commonest Willowherb around here (now that Rosebay Willowherb has been... more
Fungus
This looks vaguely like an edible mushroom, but I am not confident enough to have... more
Mains of Auchindachy
Large byres at the Mains, with a crop of barley in front.
Overgrown Path
Most of the path had been roughly mowed, but the final couple of hundred yards had not.
Auchindachy Toll House
The oblique walls show that this was originally a toll house. It would have had... more
Island in the Isla
The island may owe its existence to the lade from the Mill of Towie, which rejoins... more
River Isla
Looking upstream from the Bridge of Auchindachy.
The Grain Store
This building was for a time a restaurant, but it was very much closed when we... more
Mill of Towie
The building dates from the late 18th century, and the machinery is said still to... more
Mill Wheel
The wheel that drives the machinery in the Mill of Towie is an undershot wheel... more
Gatepost at Wester Chalder
Fors some reason, perhaps because I have normally been driving rather than... more
Wild Angelica (Angelica sylvestris)
Angelica is everywhere at the moment, growing in waste ground and here on the... more
Hogweed (Heracleum sphondylium)
Not the nasty invasive Giant Hogweed with its toxic sap, but the ordinary... more
Lesser Stitchwort (Stellaria graminea)
An unusually large and dense patch of this unassuming summer flower.
Near Broadfield
A low-lying damp meadow just down from Broadfield. The house is obviously new, one... more
Water Meadow
The plentiful cream-coloured flowers are Queen of the Meadows (also known as... more
Inquisitive Cattle
When we paused to look over the gate, the cattle came over to look at us as we... more
Douglasbrae
The Douglasbrae vehicles are a familiar sight on the roads of the North-East of... more
All images © Anne Burgess and available under a Creative Commons licence .