City Gardener

In April of this year I had the pleasure of backpacking along a 80-mile trail in Scotland, the Rob Roy Way . Situated in the Highlands near Glasgow, the trail begins near Loch Lomond and winds its way to the town of Pitlochry on the edge of the famous Cairngorms National Park in central Scotland. My partner and two other long-time friends and hiking buddies spread the 80 miles over 8 days.  Three highlights of the trip:  the lovely Highland scenery; the weather was delightful for hiking - cool-ish and dry; and there were no major injuries along the trail. Carpet of American Sitka spruce trees overlooking a small highland lake Tree harvest activity is visible for miles Focusing in on the scenery, it struck me how much of the landscape along the trail was occupied by cultivated plantations of pine trees. Before the trip, my naive idea of the Highlands was of windswept moors, heather, and stones. But, the reality of what I saw in this corner of Scotland was much more managed, wit...