Birks

The Birks of Aberfeldy is always a winner for good, but short, afternoon's walking. A beautiful wooded glen, leads to a gorge into which several lovely waterfalls pour, and through which a circular walk winds. Just below a den into which three or four falls tumble, there is a rocky overhang and a seat. According to the sign this was where Burns in 1787 was inspired to write (amongst other things):

Now Simmer blinks on flowery braes,
And o'er the crystal streamlets plays;
Come let us spend the lightsome days,
In the birks of Aberfeldy.

Bonie lassie, will ye go,
Will ye go, will ye go,
Bonie lassie, will ye go
To the birks of Aberfeldy!

The braes ascend like lofty wa's,
The foaming stream deep-roaring fa's,
O'erhung wi' fragrant spreading shaws-
The birks of Aberfeldy.

Bonie lassie, will ye go,
Will ye go, will ye go,
Bonie lassie, will ye go
To the birks of Aberfeldy!

The hoary cliffs are crown'd wi' flowers,
White o'er the linns the burnie pours,
And rising, weets wi' misty showers
The birks of Aberfeldy.

The scenery is fabulous - and the walk, although steep in places, is well within the capabilities of little Doris (aged 4). Her brother Norris (7) was the one who needed watching carefully through. He broke his collar-bone a week or so before the walk, and was one-armed in a sling, scampering up and down hills, trying to climb trees, sliding over wet rocks and generally alarming his parents! We weren't inspired by all of this to write poetry, but we were inspired to search for coffee and cake at the end of the walk -a search that was duly rewarded.