Royal Mile to Scottish Parliament to Arthur's Seat

Phone box by Lauren: Harry Potter birthplace by Sydney:

Edinburgh Old Town by Roxanne:

Buskers by Roxanne:

Chocolate Soup, Christine, Kirstina, Matt, by Sydney:

Christian on Calton Hill:

Hopkins quote, photo by Jon:

Arthur Seat, by Jon:

Photo by Christian:

Art Photo of the Week by Marshall:

Christian!

Arthur's Seat by Chris B:

Bentley by Jon:

The statue of David Hume is next to St. Giles Cathedral, which seems ironic to me (probably because I don't understand Hume):Scottish dairy farmers were staging an extremely low-key protest of the unsustainably low price of milk in front of the architecturally interesting Scottish Parliament. As I was chatting with a demonstrator, one of the pretty little heifers peed on the ground, spattering slightly, as such liquids do. I bet there are not many people who have been peed on by a cow at the Scottish Parliament! Everyone climbed Arthur's Seat but the van driver (me). Fearless leader, by Chris B, Photo of the Day :

Totland, IOW

Hiking from the ferry (I think we take the coach this time):

Totland Youth Hostel, with some of the best cooking facilities on the trip:

Picnic:

While the Others Walk Over the Moor

In honor of the heather, I am using a purple pen. John just called and said they're still two miles out. They're on a new path called the Millennial Way and he's not sure how it matches up with his maps. Some white-haired ladies just walked by with packs on. Maybe I can learn to be old like them. "It's only ten to four, there's no need to stop," said one to the other. "I could go on like this to ten o'clock," said the other. Our walkers certainly get the wuthering part of Wuthering Heights today. The clouds blow over, past and past. Sun clouds sun clouds cold warm cold warm. Donna and I sit on a bench in the shelter of a wall here at Haworth and wait. (2007)

Dale to Moor

The Pennine Way to Earby

Stretching after the walk:

And planning the walk to Haworth, across the moors:

The Yorkshire Dales

Malham is a pretty little village in the Dales where we stay only one night before our first long trek over the Pennine Way in Yorkshire. My own literary association to this area is the James Herriot veterinarian series beginning with "All Creatures Great and Small."

Malham Cove is just a mile up the path, a nice walk after supper. To see photos of the top of this large limestone formation, see the blog from 2007.

Janet's Foss was a pretty stopover for people who took the slightly longer route:

Ben Lomond

The start of the trail:

Rest stop:

A bit breezy:

Photos at the summit:

John:

Loch Lomond:

Triumph!

Now we just have to hike back down.

Note: if the weather looks variable, it is--but I'm including photos from all three previous trips. I think you'll get a chilly breeze whether it's sunny or raining.

Ye Take the High Road...

..to the bonnie bonnie bank of Loch Lomond. Our first major walk, from Balmaha to Rowardennan.