The Happy Hiker

02/12/2023

Some of the beautiful butterflies that I managed to capture at Stratford Butterfly Farm

30/11/2023

I took a walk along the Ayrshire Coastal Path recently, from Troon to Irvine. Perfect weather; crisp and bright, with gorgeous blue skies 🥰

30/11/2023

Walking over the hills at Fairlie and I catch a glimpse of the islands 🥰

30/11/2023

Lochranza Fairy Dell - portal to the land of the fairies 🥰

A wonderful walk!

30/11/2023

“Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore.”
― Andre Gide

30/11/2023

Lochranza, Isle of Arran.

Lochranza is the northernmost of Arran's villages and is located in the northwestern corner of the island. The village is set on the shore of Loch Ranza, a small sea loch. Ferries run from here to Claonaigon the mainland. The village is flanked to the northeast by the landmark hill Torr Meadhonach.

Lochranza has a field study centre, where schools from all over the UK come to study the locality's interesting geology and the nearby Hutton's Unconformity to the north of Newton Point, where the "father of modern geology" James Hutton found his first example of an angular unconformity during a visit in 1787.

27/11/2023

I hosted a walk in Largs up to Knock Hill yesterday. Great hill if you are just starting out with hill walking, bonus with the views at the top too 🥰 great day!

25/11/2023

Hi everyone, just thought I'd share my new You Tube channel with you.
I try to add a walk a week, so keep a look out for new walks.
My aim is to highlight walks, local and beyond, showing the route I take, giving you the opportunity to ask any questions and hopefully for you to enjoy the walk too.
I might add, video making etc isn't my forte so I'm still very much a novice, though I do love showing off the gorgeous scenery on the walks that I do. I'm looking to improve the way I format the videos, so any suggestions, please feel free to let me know.
Hope you enjoy watching the videos.
If you can subscribe, it will notify you of newly added walks.
Any questions about anything I add, please just ask.
Happy Hiking ❤️

Hello everyone, welcome to my channel. This is to document my walks and adventures in the hope they provide inspiration and /or information on how you can pe...

25/11/2023

Beautiful walk today from Troon to Irvine. A section of the Ayrshire Coastal Path.
The weather was perfect. Crisp, dry and beautiful blue skies 🥰

19/11/2023

Out walking in Lochranza, Isle of Arran and came across these two beauties 🥰

18/11/2023

Beautiful Ayrshire.
So many walks to choose from 🥰

18/11/2023

Sheep on a hillside neat Largs
Stunning views over the Firth of Clyde towards Isle of Arran, Cumbrae and Bute

13/10/2023

Culzean Castle Autumn meander ❤️

I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers".

L. M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables"


🍁

12/10/2023

Beautiful Autumn ❤️

10/10/2023

09/10/2023

Bernina Express
From Chur to Tirano

On the highest railway tracks in Europe and the steepest in the world, the Bernina Express takes its passengers on a unique journey through 55 tunnels and over 196 bridges. From Switzerland’s oldest town through wildly romantic gorges, past spectacular man-made structures such as the Landwasser Viaduct, up to the eternal ice of the glaciers and back down to the palm trees in the Italian town of Tirano: no other Alpine crossing is so spectacular.

🇨🇭 🇮🇹

09/10/2023

Beautiful hike on the Isle of Arran - Lamlash to Brodick taking in coast and countryside, heading up to the iron-age fort Dun Fionn. Stunning views south of Holy Isle and north towards Brodick Bay and Goatfell

05/10/2023

Memories of a beautiful walk along the Ayrshire Coastal Path 3 years ago. It was hard to believe we were in October!

This gentle walk follows the promenade out of Troon, along the beautiful sandy Irvine Bay to Irvine Harbour. The sights include beaches, sand dunes, a wonderful dragon sculpture atop a high dune, remains of the Bridge of Scottish Invention, the now closed Big Idea Inventor Centre, the Scottish Maritime Museum and Irvine.
The Scottish Maritime Museum has many historic vessels moored in the old jetties and the museum itself is well worth a visit.

05/10/2023

Beautiful Glen Rosa! One of my favourites ❤️ press play to watch and listen
https://youtube.com/.scotland?si=zczQDoOVUvA6vBkv

04/10/2023

“There's no better place to find yourself than sitting by a waterfall and listening to its music”
― Roland R Kemler

04/10/2023

Beautiful hike on the Isle of Arran - Lamlash to Brodick taking in coast and countryside, and incorporating two of the best views on the Isle of Arran, from the Iron Age hillfort at Dun Fionn overlooking the Clauchlands area of the island, between Brodick and Lamlash.

23/09/2023

Beautiful views from Fairlie today.
It was so clear, that thr Arrochar Alps could be seen.
To the left is the Isle of Cumbrae. To the right is Fairlie Bay. Centre right is Knock Hill abd straight ahead is Toward, Dunoon.
So tranquil. Definitely one of my favourite villages ❤️

🍁

20/09/2023

Alta Aqua Libraria

Keeping a collection of books in a city where the roads are made of water is a dangerous idea to begin with, but Venice’s Libreria Acqua Alta has nothing to fear since they just keep all their titles in waterproof basins. 

The self-proclaimed “most beautiful bookstore in the world” is composed of a number of over-stuffed rooms stacked wall-to-wall with books, magazines, maps, and other ephemera. Due to Venice’s constant flooding, however, these picturesque piles are all placed inside bathtubs, waterproof bins, and in one room a full-size gondola.

The name itself even means “Book Store of High Water.” When the local waterways rise to fill the store, the water can rise inches off the floor, which would destroy any other collection. The store’s whimsically cramped atmosphere is even reflected in their “fire escape,” which is simply a door leading directly out into a canal. To really complete the look, the store has become home to more than one stray cat, who are also able to escape the rising tides by hanging out atop the stacks.   



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20/09/2023

Venice by night!!

Venice at night is peaceful and dramatic.  It’s quiet, the day-trippers are gone, and Venetians have taken back their city.

It’s an enchanting time to see Venice!

20/09/2023

Beautiful Vernazza, Cinque Terree

I recently hiked the Cinque Terre, Italy

A bucket list dream for a long time, it didn't disappointed.

Breathtaking scenery along the route, and seeing the five villages along its route was amazing.

Vernazza has a long history as a fishing village. While there is a small beach, sightseeing is more common in this astoundingly beautiful cliffside town.

Highlights include the 16th-century Belforte Tower (which offers incredible views of the area), the 11th-century Doria Castle and the 14th-century Santa Margherita d'Antiochia church.

It involves a steep hike, but the shrine at Nostra Signora Di Reggio (Our Lady of Reggio) is well worth it.





🇮🇹 ☀️

20/09/2023

Grand Canal, Venice
Taken from Ponte dell'Accademia

Grand Canal, the main waterway of Venice, Italy, following a natural channel that traces a reverse-S course from San Marco Basilica to Santa Chiara Church and divides the city into two parts.

🇮🇹

08/09/2023

Preview of some of the amazing flights scheduled for tomorrow's Scottish Air Show, at Ayr. Absolutely amazing tonight, with the sun setting as the backdrop. Can't wait for tomorrow's programme!

03/08/2023

Hylton Castle Sunderland

03/08/2023

Breach Huts - Roker, Sunderland

days

03/08/2023

Lindisfarne Castle - Holy Island

nature

03/08/2023

Green ringed dragonfly which landed on my leg!

02/08/2023

Stunning Glen Rosa ❤️

02/08/2023

Heather in Bloom - Glen Rosa

vibes

02/08/2023

Cir Mhor, from Glen Rosa, Isle of Arran

23/07/2023

A beautiful golden ringed dragonfly laying her eggs in a puddle, in Glen Rosa, before stopping to rest on my leg.
Bad videoing skills on my part as I was hurriedly trying to capture this moment 🥰