Dingwall Field Club makes for Rosehaugh estate on the Black Isle for a step back in time that offers glimpse into changing seasons
It was good to be back in the great outdoors when Dingwall Field Club’s first trip of 2022 took us to Rosehaugh estate on the Black Isle.
Starting on a straight track near Templand, the mixed open woodland of our surroundings became denser after a while, with large conifers and vivid green mosses lining the way.
In time we turned left at an estate cottage. A variety of large and lovely old trees lined the route from here and we diverted to have a look at the impressive mausoleum designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens.
Returning to our track, we passed outside the high wall of the old kitchen garden and the remains of old chimneys could still be seen where immense glasshouses once stood. Pineapples, melons and grapes were grown here in the heyday of Rosehaugh. A ton of coal a day was burned at the enormous Italianate mansion to satisfy all heating needs.
To complete our circuit, we bore left at a junction, noting the beauty of bare branches, trunks and bark at this time of year. The individual shapes and textures of deciduous specimens were conspicuous without their leaves. Plenty of young trees were thriving, including a baby monkey puzzle and a cluster of little saplings by a patch of parent hollies.
No snowdrops were visible yet, but on our next outing - a morning walk at Brahan estate on February 3 we hope to see some.
Step out invite from Dingwall Field Club
