When I am imagining and building a trip from pictures and imaginations and urges, these days much of that is for wildness and open air. Space for the winds to blow and be seen in the grass. No humans for as far as my eyes can stretch. It was on this type of hunt, I went down rabbit trails of reviews, pieces of media, and snippets from social, and somehow, this all led me to Alladale Wildness Lodge, which I started mentioning in the previous post.
![20191123_100805-_D5A9487 20191123_100805-_D5A9487](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/5720a331bffa6abd17b26c7ff3f5853e/20191123_100805-_D5A9487-900x900.jpg)
Alladale's owner and staff have been working hard for decades to re-wild the landscape with original species of foliage and fauna. And for a property with hills, glens and wilderness filling over 100 square kilometers, this is an impressive task. The lodge is usually reserved for small groups and retreats, but a few weeks of the year, rooms are let on a hotel-basis. I had carefully planned our trip for a few nights there to line up with these weeks. How glad we are! The staff welcomed us, despite our late arrival, with a multi-course, warm meal, drinks in the drawing room, and even an evening introductory chat about the mission and motivation behind Alladale. Lest this become straight up advertising, I'd love to just show you around, as we did.
And the first non-person we met was Logan, the wolf dog whose sidekick was the general manager of the estate. We'll come back to her.
![20191123_100728-_D5A9484 20191123_100728-_D5A9484](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/73c85227a1d622e4cf5a9fb26b082459/20191123_100728-_D5A9484-900x900.jpg)
We spent two full days at Alladale, and the first, we took a tour of the property with gamekeeper Ryan, and the second, followed Ryan's guidance on a suggested hike. The directions were mapless, but Walker knew just where to go (I have no internal compass to speak of. Or the one I have is severely misguided.)
![20191123_101739-_Z7A9260 20191123_101739-_Z7A9260](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/8d43a366958a428be7d195f31e32082e/20191123_101739-_Z7A9260-900x900.jpg)
![20191123_101942-_D5A9491 20191123_101942-_D5A9491](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/453b10bcf15d4c176cd801ccef05684f/20191123_101942-_D5A9491-900x900.jpg)
The landscape at night had looks a bit like the moon, and in daylight, revealed thick, orange ferns so effusively bubbling across the land.
![20191123_104459-_Z7A9271 20191123_104459-_Z7A9271](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/062158dfef083c17cd2fc94a3f2ee033/20191123_104459-_Z7A9271-900x900.jpg)
![20191123_102001-_D5A9495 20191123_102001-_D5A9495](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/40786565cfc09927311237b72716423a/20191123_102001-_D5A9495-900x900.jpg)
From the valley, or glen, floor, we slowly gained height, up
![20191123_103558-_D5A9496 20191123_103558-_D5A9496](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/95d32be975e091b48fe07af8fe301182/20191123_103558-_D5A9496-900x900.jpg)
![20191123_104723-_Z7A9273 20191123_104723-_Z7A9273](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/fbf010c3ff8b6d757d64a578fddb7e4c/20191123_104723-_Z7A9273-900x900.jpg)
closer to the clouds and fog.
![20191123_104939-_D5A9497 20191123_104939-_D5A9497](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/8f6b527f3616396171c24d8bfdd73f35/20191123_104939-_D5A9497-900x900.jpg)
Ryan had taught us that the shape of these wild trees was caused by deer eating the saplings before having a chance to gain their height, and they reminded us so much of trees on safari.
![20191123_105002-_Z7A9276 20191123_105002-_Z7A9276](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/3a71ef0a2f8d207ad4cbb7bbb5542801/20191123_105002-_Z7A9276-900x900.jpg)
![20191123_105131-_Z7A9277 20191123_105131-_Z7A9277](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/d84de4a93e7b5da16c72303ee84529c1/20191123_105131-_Z7A9277-900x900.jpg)
Parts of the hike were pretty steep, so I acquiesced to photos more willingly than normal.
![20191123_105201-_Z7A9282 20191123_105201-_Z7A9282](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/419cfa34e6e13bc8646e657e0d94d497/20191123_105201-_Z7A9282-900x900.jpg)
![20191123_105301-_Z7A9283 20191123_105301-_Z7A9283](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/e2a26b1afdbea16dc5031eb75800d27d/20191123_105301-_Z7A9283-900x900.jpg)
Another safari tree aka pine.
![20191123_110011-_D5A9501 20191123_110011-_D5A9501](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/81368c79cbe70a9dbaeb7f6a6db8c4d4/20191123_110011-_D5A9501-900x900.jpg)
![20191123_110022-_D5A9502 20191123_110022-_D5A9502](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/792b0756823cba0123e8b089632e79ab/20191123_110022-_D5A9502-900x900.jpg)
And more acquiescing.
![20191123_110159-_Z7A9288 20191123_110159-_Z7A9288](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/919db4b617c0f6aae3470e141f0f7df7/20191123_110159-_Z7A9288-900x900.jpg)
The rainbow of rusts and forests as we rose stretched even more diverse.
![20191123_110935-_Z7A9294 20191123_110935-_Z7A9294](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/d53b1050498592c789b690a601da4f2b/20191123_110935-_Z7A9294-900x900.jpg)
![20191123_111335-_Z7A9296 20191123_111335-_Z7A9296](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/314cc170198397e67ec11e050f709165/20191123_111335-_Z7A9296-900x900.jpg)
And yet, my eyes were apparently looking down, finding breath.
![20191123_111853-_Z7A9301 20191123_111853-_Z7A9301](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/dbdcf8ff5ce034a0fd2a8e71fa56043a/20191123_111853-_Z7A9301-900x900.jpg)
We were taking this solitary photo, on a hike with no others,
![20191123_112142-_Z7A9310 20191123_112142-_Z7A9310](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/7a4c189402c721325d7f968565c3b6d9/20191123_112142-_Z7A9310-900x900.jpg)
when here comes Logan, looking very wolf-like indeed. She was friendly, and behind her, the Lodge's manager, out for a full-day hike.
![20191123_112546-_D5A9529 20191123_112546-_D5A9529](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/c6c396eae17ea416866dc7e1647388bb/20191123_112546-_D5A9529-900x900.jpg)
Walker's jealousy at the manager's 8+ hour hike was bursting, watching Logan and him head out into the vast wilderness.
We stayed where we were to take a few photos, and knew we had to turn back for lunch.
![20191123_113059-_Z7A9315 20191123_113059-_Z7A9315](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/142f500a65a6936428d87760deef19f4/20191123_113059-_Z7A9315-900x900.jpg)
Behind every photo is a photography wife begging her husband not to take another step than necessary closer to the edge of the steep, steep hill.
![20191123_113152-_Z7A9319 20191123_113152-_Z7A9319](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/8111bbf07625e6ee5c4639ab9874d732/20191123_113152-_Z7A9319-900x900.jpg)
The view and the heights took my breath, yet again,
![20191123_113250-_Z7A9320-Pano 20191123_113250-_Z7A9320-Pano](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/28b197c3a00587e31c3744ff0ebdf71d/20191123_113250-_Z7A9320-Pano-900x900.jpg)
And just as we turned back from the view, we saw the fog, pouring like steam over the path we'd just walked.
![20191123_113306-_D5A9543 20191123_113306-_D5A9543](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/ca47662aeb4988e446e2b6b156b9d2ab/20191123_113306-_D5A9543-900x900.jpg)
![20191123_114212-_Z7A9335 20191123_114212-_Z7A9335](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/f580aee1f8862fd647e9005889db3786/20191123_114212-_Z7A9335-900x900.jpg)
![20191123_114357-_D5A9548 20191123_114357-_D5A9548](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/91575b40004bbf27530dc3d2f77e8782/20191123_114357-_D5A9548-900x900.jpg)
One quick photo, despite the very cold fog. Walker looks unfazed. I am shivering, for sure.
![20191123_120107-_Z7A9356 20191123_120107-_Z7A9356](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/d6da575484b2a47605cca9b0db65e20b/20191123_120107-_Z7A9356-900x900.jpg)
![20191123_121630-_Z7A9362 20191123_121630-_Z7A9362](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/c0418342ecc05b3414c5b0f2654837d3/20191123_121630-_Z7A9362-900x900.jpg)
![20191123_121653-_Z7A9364 20191123_121653-_Z7A9364](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/d1ff5038a4efb57488b39b77308786e5/20191123_121653-_Z7A9364-900x900.jpg)
The view we'd just seen was completely clouded over.
![20191123_121904-_Z7A9366 20191123_121904-_Z7A9366](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/b3cacb1d9613a2e089bdbd47dc4aaa20/20191123_121904-_Z7A9366-900x900.jpg)
![20191123_122027-_Z7A9371 20191123_122027-_Z7A9371](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/ee78c0774bea6de34a34fbe09a6b2620/20191123_122027-_Z7A9371-900x900.jpg)
And we walked back down in much more MacBethian climes.
![20191123_123809-_Z7A9381 20191123_123809-_Z7A9381](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/78d8321308270ceb61d87416954724ca/20191123_123809-_Z7A9381-900x900.jpg)
All of this remote and wild scenery is not entirely without drama. I am very cold in these photos. And very hungry. And perhaps racing down the hill to get back to lunch.
![20191123_123918-_D5A9566 20191123_123918-_D5A9566](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/9f834beba62aa089c1453c3db7cab397/20191123_123918-_D5A9566-900x900.jpg)
![20191123_125203-_Z7A9383 20191123_125203-_Z7A9383](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/7f31ad4abfb11b5145dd606d8e9d86ee/20191123_125203-_Z7A9383-900x900.jpg)
![20191123_132401-_D5A9569 20191123_132401-_D5A9569](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/894a37c22be13b1f2f0c205328bfec42/20191123_132401-_D5A9569-900x900.jpg)
The wildness of Scotland is what draws us back, our travel north star in many ways.
![20191123_130417-_Z7A9399 20191123_130417-_Z7A9399](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/a0fb4a3c6606334012afc985e230128a/20191123_130417-_Z7A9399-900x900.jpg)
Lunch was warm bisque and fresh salad, and the afternoon drew dark around 3pm. We cannot rave enough about Alladale's commitment to the land and its ecosystem, from plates of incredible food, to these unmatched views.
![20191123_125826-_Z7A9394 20191123_125826-_Z7A9394](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/16f6297fd010c85f18cea162e0c0ed24/20191123_125826-_Z7A9394-900x900.jpg)
![20191123_133218-_Z7A9411 20191123_133218-_Z7A9411](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/313853fcbdb93008c680d2e1736ddd8d/20191123_133218-_Z7A9411-900x900.jpg)