Dingwall Field Club eyes winter programme with invite to new members
DINGWALL Field Club is now anticipating its winter programme following its final outing from the summer one.
The group brings together people with an interest in natural history, history, architecture, geology and archaeology and is open to all.
The final outing of our summer programme was to Altyre Estate, near Forres. On a lovely, sunny day, participants parked at Dallas Dhu Distillery, crossed the main road and onto woodland tracks for the walk. The large trees were beautiful “but too many were unknown to us”, said a spokeswoman. Limes, poplars and oaks but not the usual ones: “Why did we leave our reference books at home?!”
RELATED: 'A delightful daunder'
Also, growing well in the mild, early autumn were the fungi. Coloured fly agaric, pointed stinkhorn and the bright orangey/yellow of chanterelles were spotted amongst them. There were not many flowers on show at this time of year but blue water forget-me-nots and alkanet were in the ditches.
Eventually members arrived at the very spectacular Italianate Blairs farm buildings,built in the 1830s but recently renovated and now used by Glasgow School of Art as a country venue.
The tower was inhabited by hundreds of house martins gathering before their return to warmer climate for the winter. Here, where there were some picnic tables, we enjoyed a relaxed lunch in the sunshine.
Continuing on our circuit we passed Altyre House, home to the Gordon-Cumming family – not such an old house as their previous name, Comyn, a family known in the area for at least 800 years and very much part of our Scottish and British history too. Also seen on the return trip were diamond-windowed farm cottages, the gardeners house and other buildings very interesting to those who like architecture.
There’s lots more to see on this interesting estate so it is well worth another visit in the future.
Dingwall Field Club’s new programme starts on October 1.
Details are on the website which can be found at http://www.spanglefish.com/dingwallfieldclub/index.asp?pageid=728736 or phone 01349 864661.
New members are welcome.
