From Hidden Circles to Ancient Waterfalls.
Day 3 – Bridges, Stone Circles & a Castle.
I was looking for a bridge that was called The Roman Bridge, although it was probably built in the 18th century. I remembered that there was no real path to it,
but you first had to cross the Lyon River on a rope bridge and then walk through fields to get there.
I decided to embark on that search today. It was hard to locate the rope bridge as the road of the Glen is narrow and with turns and twists, while on both sides grow impressive trees that block the sight of what’s beyond them and take your breath away with their grandeur and beauty.
I stopped several times where I could and walked up and down the road to see if I could locate it. I finally found it. Parked the car and crossed the rope bridge.
Now where? Left or Right? The field was stretching to both sides. I decided to trust my intuition and went right.
Within 5 minutes of walking, my shoes were wet, and I could feel my socks getting wet too. And that’s just from the dew on the grass; the sky was clear and blue.
I could imagine what it would feel like on a typical Scottish day with rain throughout, and I was grateful for my good fortune.
After 10 minutes of walking, I could hear the waterfall, and I knew I was in the right direction; sure enough, within seconds I could see the old bridge.
What is it with bridges that makes them so attractive no matter what period of time they are from? Is it their shape? Is it the wonder of how it holds itself
(no matter how many times architects and builders will explain to me the techniques and the physics, I still find it magic). Or, is it the fact that they connect two points
that are separated from each other and bring them together, allow them to meet in the middle?
I guess, for me, it’s the latter that makes it remarkable for me.
Sitting in this magical place, listening to the sound of the waterfall and the water flowing down to the river, I couldn’t help thinking how the world could be a
better place if we built more bridges.
Everywhere you look, there is so much separation and division. We need more bridge builders than wall builders. Bridges connect; walls separate and create fear and wars.
Spent 2 hours on the site of the bridge and the waterfall. The weather was kind, and the sun was shining. I fell asleep. Woke up 2 hours later and decided to search for 2 Stone Circles we used to visit… NO, not the Craig Nah Dun, for those Outlander fans… REAL ones.
The first I found was just outside Fortingall, but it was surrounded by fences and seemed like they planted around the stones, so I couldn’t get to them.
So, I decided to look for the 2nd one. After driving for hours on all kinds of small roads in the area, I gave up. I couldn’t find it. On the bright side, my little wild goose chase wasn’t a total loss! Instead of ancient rocks, I stumbled upon an absolute gem of a gallery packed with incredible garden sculptures.
And not far from it a shop boasting selling the best chocolate truffles on the planet. Naturally, I couldn’t resist a taste test in the name of “adventure research.”
It just goes to show that not all who wander are lost, sometimes you’re just being lovingly detoured toward art and chocolate!
I returned to my B&B, but it was not even 16:00; I decided to go for a coffee, then had the idea of Googling stone circles Fortingall in the hope of finding
one more than the one I knew, AND… I found it… only a 6-minute drive from my B&B!
I drove there, and this one was accessible. I entered and felt as if nothing had changed in 20+ years since the last time I was there.
I sat to meditate with my back to one of the stones and probably fell asleep or transferred to another dimension. I didn’t hear a whole group of Polish people
stop by and come to look at it. When I woke up, it was 40 minutes later & I saw them sitting on the other side eating their sandwiches, staring at me.
I guess I did look strange.
I got up and drove back only to discover a castle on the way to end my day. I guess it was a day that started with a Bridge and ended with a Castle, another form of a Wall.
Day 4 – Hermit’s Cave, Waterfalls & Climate Change.
After a restless night, when I hardly slept, I finally gave up around 5:00 am and decided to do a long meditation & a Yoga session, hoping it would energise me. It did.
So, by 10:00 I was ready to leave for my day. I was determined to find the trail that we called The Hermit’s Cave & 7 pools.
The folklore says the place was where ancient Druids would come to be initiated, meditate, and dip in the 7 pools created by the waterfall, each connected
to a different Chakra in the body. I remember once braving the cold water and taking a dip in one of those pools, and I can say your body absolutely vibrates after it…
But it can be just because the water is FREEZING cold.
So, I was on my way and found it without a problem. Again, the climb up to the Hermit’s Cave, which was built actually in the 18th century, was easier than I remembered. Maybe I’m used to climbing these types of hills, living for 8 years now in the mountains of Tenerife, while back then I was used to the flat land of Holland.
From the Hermit’s Cave there is a fantastic view of the lower falls; I was looking forward to it. Imagine my disappointment when I emerged from the cave onto the observation balcony and discovered that even Scotland is affected by Climate Change. The waterfall that once was full of water even at the end of August and in September was now just a small drizzle. My heart was broken.
The same went on for all the pools that once were overflowing and now were small, dark and hardly existing. Though their magic was still in the air. All the way down,
I contemplated how nature can adjust to whatever happens, and how we should learn from it.
When I realised it, I looked around and noticed the beauty of the trees, the amazing views of Loch Tay in the distance and watched the beauty of the small things.
Like the “poet” said – Don’t sweat the small stuff… Look at the bigger picture… LIFE IS!
