Wild flowers , Wildlife & Nature Golden saxifrage April 06, 2018 A pretty wayside plant that loves to have its feet in water
History , Scottish castles Carnassarie Castle in Kilmartin Glen April 06, 2018 This imposing ruin was once a fine example of Renaissance architecture - home of the 1st Protestant Bishop of Argyll …
Catkins The winner of Purdey’s PAWS Awards… and introducing Clyde! April 04, 2018 The much-anticipated result may be a shock for some! And I'd like you to meet a new friend...
Latest Feature Welcome to my new website! April 02, 2018 I'm proud to present a new look and a new logo for The Hazel Tree
History A morning in Kilmartin Glen March 17, 2018 A quiet walk around some of my favourite places - Nether Largie and Temple Wood
History Caisteal nan Coin Duibh – ‘the Castle of the Black Dogs’ February 11, 2018 With sweeping views across the sea from the Craignish peninsula, this hill fort seems to be half-immersed in legend
Wildlife & Nature Trespassing February 06, 2018 Renewing my love of hazels, and the spells that they weave...
Catkins Purdey’s PAWS Awards 2018 February 01, 2018 It's that time of year again! Polish your whiskers and get ready to cast your votes in Purdey's PAWS …
Latest Feature The Hazel Tree – now on the west coast! January 31, 2018 A new home for us, and for The Hazel Tree, on the coast of Argyll
British trees , Wildlife & Nature Sycamore: colonist or custodian? October 06, 2017 Often seen as an intruder in old woodlands, the sycamore still deserves a second glance for its beauty - and …
Wildlife & Nature 12 Trees in Autumn October 01, 2017 Celebrating the variety of seasonal colour in our best-loved deciduous trees
Wildlife & Nature Three favourite woodlands for autumn colour September 17, 2017 Looking forward to the glorious colours of these woodlands in Argyll and Perthshire
Wildlife & Nature Rosebay willowherb August 25, 2017 'Fireweed' or 'bombweed' lights up roadside verges and waste ground with a blaze of late summer colour
Photography Windows: Culross Palace July 31, 2017 Distinctive dormer windows in the roof of Culross Palace
History , Megalithic sites Standing stone near Loch Ederline July 27, 2017 Checking fields at random around Kilmartin Glen will reveal any number of cairns and standing stones. This one, right …
History , Megalithic sites Callanish: a ring to rule them all January 06, 2012 On a wind-scoured hillside in the west of Lewis, nothing prepares you for the stark magnificence of Callanish...
Wildlife & Nature A festival of fungi November 02, 2013 Encouraged by the damp autumn, these weird and wonderful fungi are having a ball in the woodlands at the moment! …
Uncategorized What’s this? August 12, 2013 This time my quiz is short and sweet – tell me what this is! Extra clues: it measures about 5 …
Wildlife & Nature Ballachuan hazel wood May 11, 2016 I've never walked through a woodland quite like this one: the ancient hazel wood of Ballachuan on the island …
History , Scottish castles Old Castle Lachlan: loyalty and loss October 23, 2016 Ghosts of horses tend to come in different guises, some of them benevolent and some of them more inclined towards …
Churches, abbeys and chapels , History Kilbride Kirk, Lerags July 04, 2017 In this mossy graveyard close to Loch Feochan, many generations of MacDougalls have been laid to rest
Churches, abbeys and chapels , History Dryburgh Abbey September 11, 2015 The pink sandstone ruins of Dryburgh Abbey stand in their own little pool of time, listening for the gentle chant …
British trees , Wildlife & Nature The holly bears the crown November 26, 2013 Glowing with colour when the year is at its darkest, holly was once thought to symbolise immortality
History , Latest Feature Rock art at Cairnbaan June 28, 2020 Enigmatic cup-and-ring markings can be found on this hillside above Crinan in Argyll
Wildlife & Nature Trees of winter January 02, 2016 On a New Year's Day walk, the sound of the wind in the trees reminded me of these words by …
British trees , Wildlife & Nature A wand of hazel February 20, 2015 For their valuable source of food and their versatile building material, hazel trees have been prized since the dawn of …
History , Megalithic sites The Devil’s Arrows: shafts of darkness August 12, 2015 The people who put up these standing stones in North Yorkshire were obviously thinking big - but what on earth …
Churches, abbeys and chapels , History St Brendan and the Garvellachs February 24, 2012 St Brendan and the Garvellachs sounds like an Irish folk group… and in a way, that's what they were! …
History Mons Meg: a damsel of destruction December 08, 2015 No one could ever accuse James II of being under-equipped. Take a look at the ultimate in big boys' …
Latest Feature Midwinter wishes December 24, 2020 Warm wishes and some inspiring books for winter reading