We finally took a walk up the Dumyat Hill behind the university - we've been saying we're going to do it for months (I have a view of it from my office window - well, if I crane my neck!). Although it was cold (bitingly cold wind at the summit) and we had a bit of rain the view from the top was amazing and we could see right across to the Trossachs, all of Stirling, the nearby villages and the uni campus. I was amazed by how many people had also chosen to do the walk on a cold January day- even small kids! It was very muddy though and boggy in places. Michael slipped on the way down and got a cold muddy backside for his efforts.
On the way up we startled a grouse- first wild one I've ever seen!
This is a picture of me being blown by the wind at the top wearing Michael's favourite one of my hats (think Peruvian knitting with tassels) - he usually won't be seen in public with me when I wear it. You can see the snow on the hills behind me -think they're the Ochil Hills but don't quote me on it!
You can see the River Forth winding its way through the valley in this one- oh and my hat! As I told Michael, to his fascination and delight, Stirling lies in a u-shaped glaciated valley (well it is as far as I recall from O-grade geography...).
