New discoveries
With the powerline And windfarm campaigns coming to an end, earlier this year the FotO committee set about thinking what we should be doing next. Immersed in protecting the Ochils over the last few years, we realised we neglected to learn more bout these wonderful hills and — As luck would have it — we had A new committee member perfectly suited to teach us more.
Fenwick Worrall farms the hill around Glen Devon and Dunning Glen. But Fenwick is more than just a farmer; he loves the hills with a passion and sees them through the eye of a botanist, historian, geologist and hydrologist. A man o'pairts' in whose company a simple walk turns into a lesson in these wider aspects of the hills. Fenwick agreed to lead some walks over the summer months and what a delightful way of spending long summer evenings these turned out to be!
The first walk was an introduction to the quaking bogs near Pitkeathly Loch above Forgandenny. These fascinating areas of matted vegetation float on water fed by underground streams, and ripple and quake to the slightest pressure. They present a wonderful range of different flora, including, on that beautiful summer evening, many wild flowers in bloom. Our return from the bogs took us past the post medieval farm settlement of Mundy, a set of ruins hidden from view by thick commercial forestry. Originally worked by monks from Cupar, they were brought to life once more by Fenwick's description of the farm house, the byres, the stable, the garden and the cart shed. An 1861 census told of a farm of 178 acres, employing six labourers, but the old relic is now derelict and given over to the advancing vegetation.
The second walk a few weeks later took us on to Lamb Hill above Dunning Glen, where we looked at the infield/outfield system of old fell dykes and enclosures before ascending to the Bronze Age settlement on the top of John's Hill. Here the outlines of that ancient settlement are clearly defined by broken down palisade walls. Some fun was had by us with dowsing rods; we followed Fenwick's instructions in this ancient art with varying degrees of belief in its efficacy! As darkness fell and the midges homed in on us, we returned via the Corb Glen to the cars at Tonguey Faulds - goodbyes didn't take long!
The last in this trilogy of walks took us along the south side of the Water of May, again from Tonguey Faulds. We trekked through the forest to the derelict Late Green settlement, now hidden by some very intrusive commercial forestry. In spite of the collapse of most of the buildings, a marriage stone dating back to 1666 is still visible. From there we moved on to the Linnhill settlement below the hill of the same name. Again we saw just how damaging the commercial forestry has been to the setting of this once active farm. Trees have been planted right up to and even within the ruins, and old stone walls have been crushed by heavy machinery. The encroachment of the commercial forest was further evident alongside the ancient woodland that follows the Back Burn below Linn Hill. The old trees have not been given the space to flourish, yet here is an area that is home to red squirrels and pine martin; a woodland gem next to an impressive linn, in spate when we visited.
We headed back to the cars, saddened by what we had seen but full of ideas as to how things might be done better in the future so that, whatever happens to the Ochils, we don't lose the heritage and biodiversity that are an integral part of the range. Indeed, I can feel some campaigns coming on, but these are for future articles and FotO activities. Suffice to say that whatever happens to the Ochils it shouldn't be at the expense of what makes these hills so interesting. Meanwhile, thanks to Fenwick for opening my eyes and I'm sure those of others on these walks to the hidden delights of the Ochils. Further such walks will be planned for next year.
Stuart
Dean
FotO Chair
