Tayside, central Scotland

Wednesday 21st June - Monday 26th June 2023

Leaders: Bruce Brown, Alan Schofield, Neil Barrett, Robert Goodison and Nyree Fearnley

Wednesday 21st June: Former railway line near Kingshouse Hotel/ Balquhidder

Text by Susan

Photographs by Nyree and Susan

We began our Scotland holiday with an afternoon walk just north of Loch Lubnaig, on route to our accommodation in Killin. Nyree led us on a walk along a former railway line which is now a walking and cycling trail, part of the National Cycle Network. Most of us travelled to the meeting place, on a layby of the A84, straight from home, but amazingly most of us arrived in quick succession. There were good numbers of Common Spotted-orchid (Dactylorhiza fuchsii) along with the deep purple flowers of Northern Marsh-orchid (Dactylorhiza purpurella) and a good number of their hybrid (Dactylorhiza x venusta) which are very variable in their appearance. We also came across Heath Fragrant-orchid (Gymnadenia borealis). Other plants that caught our eye along the route included Sanicle (Sanicula europaea), Ragged-Robin (Silene flos-cuculi), Common Cow-wheat (Melampyrum pratense) and Wood Horsetail (Equisetum sylvaticum). Along a wall were the leaves of Marsh Violet (Viola palustris). Further along we found Bog-myrtle (Myrica gale) with their distinctive smelling leaves, and in a damp area was Bog Asphodel (Narthecium ossifragum). A good find before we retraced our steps was Pale Sedge (Carex pallescens). The sunshine brought out a number of butterflies including Red Admiral, Ringlet, Common Blue, and most excitingly, Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary which is a rare find back home in Yorkshire.

Thursday 22nd June: Ben Lawers NNR

Text and photographs by Ian and Paula

This walk was the first full day of our BBG holiday. We had arrived with the expectancy of some wet weather, having perused the weather forecast before travelling the previous day. However, today was forecast to be nice and turned out to be a perfect day to be out plant hunting.

We met in the Ben Lawers Car Park at the appointed time of 10:30am. We set off a few minutes later after a brief introduction to the walk by Neil. Ben Lawers lay ahead of us clear as a bell and we headed out towards it. Our target was the “Hanging Gardens” laying on the cliff faces a few hundred feet below the summit of the mountain.

On our walk up, Nyree pointed out Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary butterflies and asked us to watch out for Mountain Ringlet butterflies which were duly found just above the heather and bilberry line on rough grassland.

The serenity of our country walk was regularly interrupted by a helicopter bringing large bags of very large rocks to a point just below the summit where volunteers were re-enforcing the paths to combat the erosion caused by regular footfall. Bets were held as to how heavy these bags were, with good-humoured disagreements ensuing.

Meanwhile as we walked up (and up and up!) we saw a lot of interesting plants, including Yellow Saxifrage (Saxifraga aizoides), Alpine Bistort (Bistorta vivipara), Fir Clubmoss (Huperzia selago), Common Butterwort (Pinguicula vulgaris), Cyphel (Cherleria sedoides), Starry Saxifrage (Micranthes stellaris), Alpine Mouse-ear (Cerastium alpinum) and Mossy Saxifrage (Saxifraga hypnoides).

Keeping up with Alan as he pointed out things was difficult due to the group size. “What was that Alan?” or similar calls were regular throughout our ascent. There were many others we didn’t have time to study. The heat of the day made for a long climb.

After around 3 hours, and a very warm walk, the group made it to a ridge. We sat down to have a short break and eat our lunch. After our well-earned break we had a look at some Dwarf Willow (Salix herbacea), a very tiny willow species, before making our way to the “Hanging Gardens”, a few hundred yards away from our lunch spot.

On reaching the “Hanging Gardens”, our experienced members, who had previously visited the site, set about finding the species they knew to be there to show the rest of us. Among the stars were Scottish Pearlwort (Sagina x Normaniana), Alpine Forget-me-not (Myosotis alpestris), Rock Speedwell (Veronica fruticans), Mountain Pansy (Viola lutea), Alpine Cinquefoil (Potentilla crantzii), and Alpine Gentian (Gentiana nivalis).

Following the flower fest, we headed back to the car park by the same route we came up. Some members had enough energy to quickly visit a flush on the way down and found even more plants. It took around 2 hours for us to descend after which we had earned our night out in the Courie Inn back at Killin.

Below are some additional photographs by Neil and Susan from today's visit to Ben Lawers:

Friday 23rd June: The Birks of Aberfeldy

Text by Louise

Photographs by Susan

The walk at The Birks of Aberfeldy (birks meaning birches, although beech was more prominent) led alongside the Moness Burn, climbing steadily through beech dominated woodland in a steep cut valley. Oak Fern (Gymnocarpium dryopteris) was found fairly frequently.

We past a bench with a statue of a seated Robert Burns (Scotland’s National Poet), who was inspired by the natural beauty of the gorge to write the song ‘The Birks of Aberfeldy’. The area was originally known as the Den of Moness, but was subsequently renamed. The following quote from the song was carved into the back of the bench: Now Simmer blinks on flowery braes, and o’er the crystal streamlet plays; Come let us spend the lightsome days, in the birks of Aberfeldy.

Several ancient woodland indicator plants were found including Wood Melick (Melica uniflora), Woodruff (Galium odoratum), Sanicle (Sanicula europaea), Yellow Pimpernel (Lysimachia nemorum), Hairy Wood-rush (Luzula pilosa), Stone Bramble (Rubus saxatilis), Wood Stitchwort (Stellaria nemorum) and Shady Horsetail (Equisetum pratense). Beech Fern (Phegopteris connectilis) was found by a side stream feeding into the river.

A chocolatey prize had been offered by Neil for the first person to find Bird's-nest Orchid (Neottia nidus-avis) and this was found by chance by Karl, who had just come along with me for the day on his first ever BBG meeting! It was in a birch-dominated area of woodland with a grassy ground flora, a location where it had not been recorded on previous trips. Bird’s-nest Orchid is a saprophytic orchid, lacking any chlorophyll, obtaining its food through a close association with a fungus. The tangled mass of roots is where it gets its name from. Common Spotted-orchid (Dactylorhiza fuchsii) was also found nearby with some Common Wintergreen (Pyrola minor) and we found ourselves serenaded by melodious wood warblers.

As we started to climb more steeply up a series of steps we past some Wood Fescue (Drymochloa sylvatica). Further on, I spotted a couple of plants of Small Cow-wheat (Melampyrum sylvaticum), which were duly photographed, just before the path started to descend to the bridge above the spectacular Falls of Moness. Typically, further on, just before we crossed the bridge, we encountered carpets of this species!

As we started to descend on the opposite side of the river, some Chickweed-wintergreen (Lysimachia europaea) was found, although the flowers had gone over (Karl and I had seen this plant in flower the day before at Dun Coillich Community Land above Keltneyburn). Two more Bird’s-nest Orchids were found near the path, past a tree whose gnarled trunk created a face and near a dead tree with lots of impressive bracket fungi. There were many more Bird’s-nest Orchids to come with at least 20 more found!

Saturday 24th June: Ben Vrackie

Text and photographs by Nyree

It was warm and sunny as we all set off from the car park for Ben Vrackie, but fortunately the first section of path is not too steep.

We were under (fairly!) strict instructions that we were not stopping to look at plants on the way up, otherwise we may never get to the cliffs higher on the mountain, where the rare alpine plants grow.

However, we did have short breaks to let folks catch their breath, and keep together, and you couldn’t fail to see pretty flowers by the path side as you walked. These included Northern Marsh-orchid (Dactylorhiza purpurella), Heath Spotted-orchid (Dactylorhiza maculata), Slender St John's-wort (Hypericum pulchrum), Cuckooflower, aka Milkmaids (Cardamine pratensis) and Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea).

Four of us forged on ahead, as we wanted to go right to the summit. We had a quick break at the lochan, then it was a very steep, hot, climb to the summit, but with plenty of nice flowers to admire on the way, including Alpine Bistort (Bistorta vivipara), not something that we see back home in Yorkshire. 

There were extensive views from the summit, so we were pleased to have made the effort. We didn’t have far to descend before we cut across from the main path to the base of the cliffs, to join up with the rest of our group, seeing a juvenile Ring Ouzel as we made our way across.

There were a whole host of beautiful plants on the craggy rocks, including Purple Oxytropis (Oxytropis halleri), Alpine Milk-vetch (Astragalus alpinus), Northern Bedstraw (Galium boreale), Moonwort (Botrychium lunaria) and Hoary Whitlowgrass (Draba incana).

As we started to head back down, and rejoined the main path, we found Stag's-horn Clubmoss (Lycopodium clavatum), and one member knew that this species is often associated with Lesser Twayblade (Neottia cordata). A short hunt amongst the heather soon found a plant, although the flower was past it’s best, quickly followed by a couple more plants. This was a new species for me, so I was delighted, even finding my own plant.

Further down we stopped to explore a wet flush, looking for Brown Bog Rush (Schoenus ferrugineus), which was easily found in good numbers, as well as the lovely Yellow Saxifrage (Saxifraga aizoides).

It wasn’t then too far back to the car park, after another fabulous day of beautiful flowers, wonderful views, excellent weather, and good company.

Sunday 25th June: Balchroich Meadow, Keltneyburn (am) then Loch Tay (pm)

Text by Jesse

Photographs by Jesse, Mark, Nyree and Susan

We arrived at Keltneyburn on a rather dull day with a forecast of rain. I found the meadow rather overgrown with a lot of high grass compared to my last visit. However, we soon found some nice Common Spotted-orchid (Dactylorhiza fuchsii) together with Northern Marsh-orchid (Dactylorhiza purpurella) and their hybrids (Dactylorhiza x venusta). Trailing through the long grass we also spotted a nice patch of Pale Sedge (Carex pallescens) and some clumps of eyebrights, which on closer examination, were very distinctive, being bushy with long glandular hairs. I keyed these out as Roskov’s Eyebright (Euphrasia officinalis ssp. pratensis), one of the few eyebrights I can identify. Why it changed its name from Euphrasia roskoviana remains a mystery to me!

I was surprised by the good number of Greater Butterfly-orchid (Platanthera chlorantha) which seemed to appear where the grass was shorter. Also here, were a few Heath Fragrant-orchid (Gymnadenia borealis).

We seemed to be a bit late for the Globeflower (Trollius europaeus) but did manage to see a few still in flower. We also found the rather special Spignel (Meum athamanticum). Again, most of the spignel plants were in seed, but we did eventually find one in flower.

A few members decided to hunt out the Bird's-nest Orchid (Neottia nidus-avis), which had been seen in previous years growing around the birches by the roadside. They were successful, and I think four were found. The rest of the group were trying to find the Small-white Orchid (Pseudorchis albida), which we had seen on previous visits to Keltneyburn. Luckily, a rather worn out plant was spotted by Kay, just before the weather changed to rain. We had enjoyed a rather splendid morning of botany, however, perhaps plants like the orchids would benefit from a change to the grazing regime, to reduce the amount of tall grass.

Due to the rain, some members decided to retreat to cafe’s or their hotels in the afternoon, but an intrepid bunch of eight decided to join Alan in looking for the Coralroot Orchid (Corallorhiza trifida). Alan had been told that it grew in woodland by the edge of Loch Tay. After a hunt around the wood in the pouring rain we were rewarded by finding Coralroot Orchid in a couple of places by the foot of the trees. Unfortunately, they were well past flowering but it was still good to see them in fruit.

We also visited the loch side to see the many plants of a creeping subspecies of Lesser Water-plantain (Baldellia ranunculoides ssp. repens), which I had found the previous day. This rare subspecies is only found in a small number of counties in Britain. A rather good find!

Monday 26th June: Creag an Lochain, Meall nan Tarmachan

Text and photographs by Susan

We ended our Scotland holiday with a walk in an area west of Ben Lawers, parking near Lochan na Làirige. Not far from the shore of the lochan were Eared Willow (Salix aurita), Mountain Willow (Salix arbuscula) and Downy Willow (Salix lapponum). Also here were Marsh Arrowgrass (Triglochin palustris), White Sedge (Carex canescens) and the purple flowers of Marsh Lousewort (Pedicularis palustris), which has a much more upright stance than the more commonly encountered Lousewort (P. sylvatica). Most of the group then proceeded further into the hills in search of a rare fern, Alpine Woodsia (Woodsia alpina). On route we found Mountain Avens (Dryas octopetala), Alpine Saw-wort (Saussurea alpina) and the alpine subspecies of Pyrenean Scurvygrass (Cochlearia pyrenaica ssp. alpina).

We saw some of the species encountered on previous days of the holiday such as Northern Bedstraw (Galium boreale), Lesser Clubmoss (Selaginella selaginoides) and Alpine Meadow-rue (Thalictrum alpinum). It was pleasing to see Globeflower (Trollius europaeus) in flower, immediately next to a flowerhead that had gone to seed.

On some crags, we found Holly-fern (Polystichum lonchitis) and Green Spleenwort (Asplenium viride). Bruce was successful in finding more than one plant of the Alpine Woodsia and we all took turns to take our photographs. It is such a small plant, you would be unlikely to stumble across it by chance, so we were very grateful to Bruce for showing this to us.

Nyree pointed out some of the moths we encountered including Northern Eggar (aka Oak Eggar) and Wood Tiger. We enjoyed views of a soaring Peregine Falcon, which didn’t appear bothered by the sudden downpours. It gracefully flew over our heads as we clung to the crags and donned our full waterproofs. It wasn’t long before the sun was out again and we set out on the long journey home in the afternoon. An enormous thank you to everyone who helped to make this holiday such a success.

Photographs of moths, taken by Nyree:

Bradford Botany Group member Robert Goodison didn't join the group trips on 21st and 26th June and instead went on his own excursions.  Read about what he got up to here:

Bookending Killin with unofficial trips by Robert Goodison