![20191126_103756-_Z7A9670 20191126_103756-_Z7A9670](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/014fd5e08b7cbab7239245994dba865b/20191126_103756-_Z7A9670-900x900.jpg)
The winter has not been long, and I think for the first time, I have realized how much I love this season, when life is simpler and quieter. But sometimes, still, even in the calm, when I see my face after the day, I wonder: where are the promised green pastures? Where is the rest that metaphor implies?
![20191126_122732-_Z7A9741 20191126_122732-_Z7A9741](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/8af76d87bcc67e8e4b4d10e86608884c/20191126_122732-_Z7A9741-900x900.jpg)
And then I think about a green pasture and the buzzing of activity, the frenzy of growth, and the bright sunshine and think: ok, maybe that will come someday, but today, this Scottish brownish golden hue is ok. And not just ok, but superior. Exactly what I need right now. This early or end of a dull season has beauty so undiscovered.
![20191126_101722-_D5A9685 20191126_101722-_D5A9685](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/43c24df1513a3f27f745fe8070d76081/20191126_101722-_D5A9685-900x900.jpg)
Our third day at the magical farm of Killiehuntly, deep in the Scottish highlands, we took a guided hike with one of the estate's gamekeepers, Ben, and his dog, Jay. (Jay was named by Ben's daughter, "Jason". But she is female, hence the nickname.) Her enthusiasm for being alive brings me joy even now, sitting on a beige couch on a mild winter night without much excitement.
I can't say I knew what to expect on this hike, but I didn't realize that walking through the heather, spiny and dry on top, but spongy and slippery below, would be such work.
![20191126_102314-_D5A9692 20191126_102314-_D5A9692](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/bbcdd1a3648749f8a41bd7004f32f4c2/20191126_102314-_D5A9692-900x900.jpg)
![20191126_103139-_Z7A9668 20191126_103139-_Z7A9668](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/ce866ef0e869fa7dde2988d6cb5b84b4/20191126_103139-_Z7A9668-900x900.jpg)
![20191126_103322-_D5A9698 20191126_103322-_D5A9698](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/5d64bfcd2035dd220c1592fbb678f66d/20191126_103322-_D5A9698-900x900.jpg)
But with the trudge up the hills, the views and colors morphed: blues and browns, oranges and militia greens, olives and forests.
![20191126_104005-_D5A9736 20191126_104005-_D5A9736](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/f07fe28a8339620c2e898d3df8ab4f2e/20191126_104005-_D5A9736-900x900.jpg)
![20191126_104207-_D5A9749 20191126_104207-_D5A9749](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/386e790de9bab1bf941f7205d3de3839/20191126_104207-_D5A9749-900x900.jpg)
I'd been a bit worried of the winds in Scotland, and they weren't mild. But as mild as November could be, they were. Absolutely the chill we wanted for hiking, but without a strong bite.
![20191126_104302-_Z7A9671 20191126_104302-_Z7A9671](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/e0084317a2b273b94ea968a91b720098/20191126_104302-_Z7A9671-900x900.jpg)
Ben showed us the variety of plants melding into the heather. I think this was a type of juniper, used for gin, if I remember right. Meanwhile, Jay loved scratching on the heather.
![20191126_104327-_Z7A9673 20191126_104327-_Z7A9673](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/ffa83578550988ed6de811c62bff7e65/20191126_104327-_Z7A9673-900x900.jpg)
![20191126_110910-_Z7A9683 20191126_110910-_Z7A9683](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/d931f46207e9b142f25a1d271cf8e8a2/20191126_110910-_Z7A9683-900x900.jpg)
There were thin fences along ridges here and there, reminders of the hard work the estate is doing to regenerate and rejuvenate the land by managing the deer population, who eat the sapling pines that need to grow.
![20191126_105414-_Z7A9676 20191126_105414-_Z7A9676](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/cdc039839cfae5cfe8a0facc228f298c/20191126_105414-_Z7A9676-900x900.jpg)
![20191126_110601-_D5A9832 20191126_110601-_D5A9832](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/e800c29368bb7e226e9c08b9c6094f0c/20191126_110601-_D5A9832-900x900.jpg)
![20191126_105902-_D5A9826 20191126_105902-_D5A9826](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/b28e5c42fe17a1fc5dd71694e66b3f08/20191126_105902-_D5A9826-900x900.jpg)
Even in the middle of the island where we were, the fogs and mists seemed to materialize in just moments. I'd turn one way to see the view, turn back, and there was my view: poof! Gone!
![20191126_110610-_D5A9834 20191126_110610-_D5A9834](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/18dbaca4aceaca9a3253c2f487f1c59f/20191126_110610-_D5A9834-900x900.jpg)
And then back again.
![20191126_110758-_Z7A9682 20191126_110758-_Z7A9682](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/ffc331d261a4a19d2f595dabe53d1694/20191126_110758-_Z7A9682-900x900.jpg)
This dollhouse is also now owned by the same estate that owns Killiehuntly, I believe Ben said.
![20191126_110933-_D5A9837 20191126_110933-_D5A9837](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/1fba80113db06e82d16064c8a65ab503/20191126_110933-_D5A9837-900x900.jpg)
Ok, no green pastures, but there were rainbows,
![20191126_113557-_Z7A9689 20191126_113557-_Z7A9689](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/48e83153d04164eaaa6f1eb6438a3966/20191126_113557-_Z7A9689-900x900.jpg)
and still waters.
![20191126_114249-_Z7A9693 20191126_114249-_Z7A9693](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/e80c16614febfad21be73431ba6fb8af/20191126_114249-_Z7A9693-900x900.jpg)
The density of the boggy landscape was incredibly surprising from the look of the dry browns everywhere. And water being held high up in the hills still yet another surprise.
![20191126_114318-_Z7A9695 20191126_114318-_Z7A9695](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/36615ffe82749eb8af51e3bbfe75ad0e/20191126_114318-_Z7A9695-900x900.jpg)
![20191126_114726-_Z7A9697 20191126_114726-_Z7A9697](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/b5b510ace243c66c79ea0ad1f8dbe33f/20191126_114726-_Z7A9697-900x900.jpg)
![20191126_115120-_Z7A9699 20191126_115120-_Z7A9699](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/9c9d017983742814e28b0e1a9fa00b7a/20191126_115120-_Z7A9699-900x900.jpg)
We hiked a ways along this ridge, the fog leaving and returning, blowing through us it felt.
![20191126_120435-_D5A9848 20191126_120435-_D5A9848](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/6a7bde93f75b79788e74fa9bd463e7ce/20191126_120435-_D5A9848-900x900.jpg)
And then we were at this sheer expanse of a view. It's hard to tell from photos, always, how expansively far we could see, and how high we felt. It looks like I was also feeling a little wet, as I'd pulled out my rain layer.
![20191126_120505-_D5A9853 20191126_120505-_D5A9853](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/bab89b7e4764750f7683b920ec1c8147/20191126_120505-_D5A9853-900x900.jpg)
Watch this transformation, as we did, from the drizzle,
![20191126_120836-_Z7A9714 20191126_120836-_Z7A9714](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/df9e3718a9b59610edc3b86c127d5e36/20191126_120836-_Z7A9714-900x900.jpg)
![20191126_120632-_Z7A9705 20191126_120632-_Z7A9705](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/456a239acf10475ef0362a7a27f041e0/20191126_120632-_Z7A9705-900x900.jpg)
![20191126_121043-_Z7A9717 20191126_121043-_Z7A9717](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/73a90b9c786705558a8ee6ea34a6153f/20191126_121043-_Z7A9717-900x900.jpg)
![20191126_121132-_Z7A9719 20191126_121132-_Z7A9719](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/bb4146d95ec97bad86efc52c25823b65/20191126_121132-_Z7A9719-900x900.jpg)
to the sunshine, and crystal views.
![20191126_121628-_Z7A9721 20191126_121628-_Z7A9721](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/46511f644126633fabebe1f3a4a73ce2/20191126_121628-_Z7A9721-900x900.jpg)
The warm sun on our backs as we (slowly, very slowly) scrambled down the deep heather, a very, very long way.
![20191126_121933-_Z7A9729 20191126_121933-_Z7A9729](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/ccd7d6407d71c4b3de4cd05f4ac62afa/20191126_121933-_Z7A9729-900x900.jpg)
It's hard to tell, but the angle of this hill was only less terrifying because the thigh-high heather caught our skids and slides. Yes, I did slip down a few times.
![20191126_123246-_Z7A9745 20191126_123246-_Z7A9745](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/68f1783e674df1eeeca31873dee6496f/20191126_123246-_Z7A9745-900x900.jpg)
To be honest, it was a bit of a slog, but the views all the way down, all the way, were stunning. Ben was much more adept than we at the heather-trekking.
![20191126_123629-_Z7A9749 20191126_123629-_Z7A9749](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/6ce4960d3bbdf5cc1fb26e32247b44f5/20191126_123629-_Z7A9749-900x900.jpg)
I consoled myself on the leg strength I was building.
![20191126_124904-_Z7A9752 20191126_124904-_Z7A9752](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/8cf4e07bada0d57f6bd265d1244f47fd/20191126_124904-_Z7A9752-900x900.jpg)
When we reached the bottom, we saw a small bothy, the Scottish word for hut, and were given a quick tour of the restored building.
![20191126_125842-_D5A9876 20191126_125842-_D5A9876](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/7b92e1201af96ce04ecc433885c9373d/20191126_125842-_D5A9876-900x900.jpg)
It was easy to imagine an older life; now the space is used for small gatherings and remote parties.
![20191126_130045-_Z7A9754 20191126_130045-_Z7A9754](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/8488e8608cc1a3af58e5565d2e691e15/20191126_130045-_Z7A9754-900x900.jpg)
We walked back through fluffy fields and along still moving streams. Jay bounded along and beside.
![20191126_132133-_Z7A9762 20191126_132133-_Z7A9762](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/3f5dfa76f8f67788baa05c516774faed/20191126_132133-_Z7A9762-900x900.jpg)
![20191126_132747-_D5A9878 20191126_132747-_D5A9878](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/911fb4511173d689d3a6d2fce2873ac7/20191126_132747-_D5A9878-900x900.jpg)
![20191126_132907-_Z7A9765 20191126_132907-_Z7A9765](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/14d17de3d60c7932f7297f0834d59c3f/20191126_132907-_Z7A9765-900x900.jpg)
![20191126_133529-_Z7A9768 20191126_133529-_Z7A9768](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/94170f267f88bd2ecec8815a55e9bba2/20191126_133529-_Z7A9768-900x900.jpg)
![20191126_135416-_D5A9886 20191126_135416-_D5A9886](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/d638ddcd8e0f150219e3cbcb8c7b1a52/20191126_135416-_D5A9886-900x900.jpg)
Walking home along the golden trail, truly, I felt grateful to be able to share the beauty of this land, so varied, so still.
![20191126_141903-_Z7A9769 20191126_141903-_Z7A9769](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/df0d06fb4a13d6411f311f021ccdc1b0/20191126_141903-_Z7A9769-900x900.jpg)
![20191126_141931-_D5A9891 20191126_141931-_D5A9891](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/300b281c8ec8682996617207b3771e0e/20191126_141931-_D5A9891-900x900.jpg)
As if the passing of time was nothing to fret over, the land was there with us, truly goodness and mercy.
![20191126_142812-_D5A9892 20191126_142812-_D5A9892](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/e5acdeee906c61d81cd9a7182f5a1285/20191126_142812-_D5A9892-900x900.jpg)
![20191127_114153-_Z7A9773 20191127_114153-_Z7A9773](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/58e1cb3a013045c84289dd6156fdabce/20191127_114153-_Z7A9773-900x900.jpg)