Birgidale Crieff Belt

Looking down on the beach from the viewpoint by the main road.

A view north eastwards along the hillside towards Loch Quien. There's nothing in the landscape to indicate that the view is across the Highland Boundary Fault, with the camera point being on grits of around 500m yrs date, whilst all the lower land, and the distant hills are of sandstones and conglomerates of the Devonian period, some 100m years younger, and part of the Scottish lowlands.

The West Island Way at Upper Stravanan

Brigdale Crieff Butts - Isle of Bute

Brigdale Moor

Looking towards Arran from the West Island Way

This former trig point provides a bird’s eye view of the surrounding area. Usually sited on high ground within view of two similar markers, these pillars helped map makers to survey the terrain. Although now redundant, there are two points on the island of Inchmarnock, Windy Hill - Bute’s highest point - and on the top of Barone Hill behind Rothesay. On a clear day, Arran unfolds its majesty, dominated by the granite mass of the Sleeping Warrior. The birds flying over Scoulag and Brigdale Moors need no navigational aids. Skylarks soar high above, filling the air with their song. Lapwings tumble on warm air currents or fluttering as if injured to protect their young by distracting birds of prey. Occasionally a buzzard circles overhead, its Latin name, Buteo buteo, recalling its current whereabouts. Nearby there is a network of moorland walks. Char-a-bancs on the island tours once travelled Lord James’ Ride, now a grassy track that links up with Drumreoch footpath further down the hill. An easy circuit on horseback from Scoulag Lodge on Bute Estate towards the west coast, the routes name suggests its popularity with the young Critchton-Stuart. Take the opposite direction to join the Moor Road towards Rothesay, from which a branch leads to the grounds of Mount Stuart. The scattered community of farms around Brigdale once had its own school, now a private house. As in many rural parts of Bute, the school teacher in Brigdale had to eke out a living wherever he could. As well as teaching the rudiments of reading, spelling, arithmetic, writing, Bible knowledge and character building, one teacher around 1850 was also the local pig killer. “At stickin’ pigs and lockin’ weans, none can excel the domine”.

Quien Burn breaks across Scalpsie Beach at low water, Arran is visible in the background.

The path leading to the gate on Scalpsie Beach, Arran visible in the distance.

The seating beside the signpost on the parking area for the footpath leading to Scalpsie Beach.

Birgidale Knock Farm

Ardnahoe Farm

Gallachan Farm

Ambrismore Farm

Kerrymenoch Farm