Blethering Ben - Released from lockdown!

FREEDOM! Yep. Five months after travel restrictions confined most of us to our local authority areas (in my case Fife), and more like six months since I set foot on....or even looked at....a big hill up close, lockdown has finally eased and we're able to get to the hills again! I did ponder various options but really, it was never in doubt where my first post-lockdown walk would be. The Cairngorms, and specifically..... Mar Lodge Estate. Cos where better to restore my broken connections with nature than the place where nature's broken connections are being restored?
So here you are, a joyous return to Creag Bhalg and Clais Fhearnaig, and a heavenly sunny walk out of beautiful Glen Quoich. I freely admit I'm in blethering overload on this one, not just because the easing of lockdown means there's plenty to say, but also because Glen Quoich is such a good news story for conservation. So yep, it's a long one....but hope you enjoy! :)
PS - Glen Quoich section starts about 22mins in if that's all you're after ;-)

[@russellwhyte806]

A guided tour Ben, that’s what that was, a free guided tour of the dynamic ecology of Mar Lodge Estate. I met you once in Glen Lui when you were working there and we spoke for 20 minutes or so about this very thing, well you spoke while I stood there fascinated. For all the mountain vlogs that I follow, and they’re all good, yours invariably are the most informative and interesting with regards to the mountain ecology and environment. Your passion for this land shines through, thank you.

[@BenvironmentBlog]

Cheers Russell, yep I remember it well, speeding past in the 4x4 and then backing up ;-) Thanks for the encouragement, the 'guided walk' thing is really what I'm going for in these vlogs rather than a straight up & down the hill, so that's nice to know that's how they come across. Hope you're making the most of the city being out of lockdown now!

[@russellwhyte806]

@@BenvironmentBlog Thanks Ben, I’ve been out a couple of times since lockdown was lifted but I made the mistake of heading for popular areas, Creag Meagaidh and Glenshee. Lots of fellow walkers but on a positive note it was good to see so many likeminded folk out in the hills. It’s almost our national pastime. I was in Breamar today and you’re lucky to have gotten the good weather, it was heavy rain, sleet and cloudy tops. Keep vlogging Ben, in my opinion you’re getting it spot on👍

[@onion_wind]

Brilliant stuff 👍

[@davidmiller816]

Hi Ben, I've enjoyed your films for a few years now. You've given me some great ideas for places to walk in Scotland. Me and my three sons take our respective hats off to you. Great fun following your guidance. You've been a bit absent over the last few months. I trust that this is just a rest from filming rather than a crisis. Anyhow, from one outdoors man to another, stay well. I'm always here for a chat. David

[@jonnyanderson2271]

Paradise for dark skies and wildlife. Another awesome video! 🤙😎👊

[@BenvironmentBlog]

Cheers Jonny!

[@YONDERMOUNTAINADVENTURES]

Absolutely fantastic!! So much information and knowledge as always. Quite captivating. Thanks 👍 learned loads .

[@BenvironmentBlog]

My pleasure :)

[@mawebb88]

Beautiful

[@kisilvan]

We were up Glas Maol and beyond that very day and it was alot quieter than we expected which was lovely. To see the Cairngorm hills again after month's brought alot of emotions. Learnt alot from this vlog thank you.

[@BenvironmentBlog]

No worries :) Yeah that was a lovely day, perfect weather with warm sun and cool wind.

[@MUNROSnCORBETTS]

Fantastic film Ben no surprises this is where you ended up going when restrictions eased ;) It is my favourite place for walking and i always love your vlogs of the place and how you open it up and i hope you end up working there again soon :)))) Thanks Ben loved watching and i will watch again tonight take care, peter.

[@BenvironmentBlog]

Thanks Peter. Yeah I did consider heading further west to something more pointy, but those bigger, wilder landscapes were too lovely to pass up ;-)

[@hendrikjanriesebos1293]

Dear sir! You provide ears and eyes for folks like me, who are from continental Europe and long for the hills. Hopefully, it will be possible soon for me to return. Until that time, clips like yours are balm to my soul. Thanks very much and keep it coming.

[@BenvironmentBlog]

Thanks very much :) I've been out a couple of times since but I'm afraid I haven't been filming anything :(

[@michaelatkinson8291]

Hi Ben. Really interesting vlog. You are so right about re-engaging with the smells as well as the scenery. Those Scots Pines are so aromatic. Can't beat the Cairngorms in my opinion. Can't wait for the next one. Take care mate.

[@BenvironmentBlog]

Cheers Michael! Sensory overload in that glen :)

[@alistairthow1384]

Felt like another day out with you Ben, learnt a lot today.

[@BenvironmentBlog]

Glad I could help :)

[@mrlionrocks]

Nice one ben, enjoyed this

[@BenvironmentBlog]

CHeers. So did I ;-)

[@frankbrooks3875]

On another note, my bro and I came this way some years ago en route to Beinn a’ Bhuird. Just before we emerged from the final trees we had the privilege of watching a very sizable wood ant colony mound. It looked fantastic. We were passed by some gobs on so called mountain bikes. When we returned later in the day the ant hill had been kicked to buggery! Now I wonder who by...

[@BenvironmentBlog]

Depressing.

[@mark...onwardsandupwards8766]

Great, good riddance to lockdown ! West Highland way for me again this summer

[@DAoutdoors]

Welcome back Ben. We had a similar experience on our first weekend back in the Lakes. We were expecting it to be mobbed and it was really quiet considering. Which like your good self we were not complaining about at all!

[@BenvironmentBlog]

Yeah it was a nice surprise ;-)

[@hettyvanderklis]

Thanks for all the enthusiastic tales and interesting lectures. Really enjoyed it, but also envy you! It was at this time of year - May holiday - that I was in Scotland in 2018 and 19. To the Torridon Hills and Ben Lomond/Buchaille respectively. You mentioned having 'hill legs' at some point in your video and that was a real challenge for me. How do you prepare for mountain walking in a flat country if you don't want to go to the gym? By walking as many kilometers as is possible on grassy paths - which is easy here - and doing lunges at home :-) and it worked!

[@BenvironmentBlog]

My pleasure :) I know what you mean. I had that same problem when I was in Ontario for a spell. Pancake flat. The best workout I could find was walking along the sandy beaches of the great lakes, as that at least got the thighs working ;-) Hope you get to come over soon :)

[@sogullible1974]

I’ll keep this short & sweet your channel is wonderful 🙏🥰👏. So informative & relaxing. Ps where would you like the cake 🍰 sent to.

[@BenvironmentBlog]

Aww, thanks very much. Mmm, cake!!!!

[@douglasthomson4550]

Becoming my favourite Scotland blog. The eco-nomy stuff is interesting (and perhaps uniquue) and the fire warning should be put on posters at the start of every track.

[@BenvironmentBlog]

Cheers :) Yeah there are already fire advisory notices on every access point and main track, and at known problem spots....but people still do it. "It won't happen to me" is the general response. Or....they even remove the signs so they can plead ignorance. Seriously!

[@retrospective77]

I'm surprised you have so few subscribers Ben, the KZbin algorithm not doing you any favours I suspect. Hopefully Netflix give you your own show soon! Looking forward to more videos over the summer, Cheers.

[@BenvironmentBlog]

Ha ha! Cheers. I probably talk more than most folk want to hear. And don't have music. Or graphics. Or modern tech . I'm just a bit sedate and boring really ;-)

[@HikingWithMartin]

Hi Ben, just wanted to drop you a comment as im going through a lot of your videos, Im really enjoying them and your narration as well. I find that you enjoy looking at the same things I do and find excitement in the same types of scenery so im connecting well with a lot of what you are looking it. Its great also that the videos are mostly long form as it helps with the immersion. I wish you would get a wider angle camera like a go pro or a osmo pocket so we could see more of the background that would really be cool. anyway all the best.

[@BenvironmentBlog]

Thanks for the feedback :) I get mixed opinions on them being long form and I used to get up tight about it, but now I don't really care and just do what feels right ;-) So I'm glad that other folk enjoy it. I'd love to be able to have a better camera. Mine's really old now but they're so bloody expensive to upgrade. But I'd also never upgrade without first finding an external mic with good wind reduction that works as well as my current one.

[@HikingWithMartin]

@@BenvironmentBlog understandable, wasnt a criticism, just would love to see even more of whats around you :) going to watch a few more of your vids now.

[@kodiak64]

Mate, I would have been doing it anyway. A wild man needs to be in wild places. It's a need, just like food and water. No spurious pandemic should ever be allowed to infringe on that.

[@frankbrooks3875]

Re the camp fires Ben, let’s just hope the sensible campers and those who care outnumber the idiots who either haven’t got a clue or just don’t care. I live in Fintry Dundee and frequent Caird Park, (great for wild life photography) to sit among the pines and watch. But wherever I roam amongst the trees I see campfire sites and blackened tree boles. Mostly teenagers I’m afraid. We actually had to chase a bunch of youths out of the woods and then do our best to extinguish their fire.

[@jonnyanderson2271]

Does Mar Lodge region have any eagles or ospreys?

[@BenvironmentBlog]

I've seen golden eagles, white tailed eagles and ospreys, yep.