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Primary 7 arrived at Lockerbie Manor on Monday to begin their week of adventure and exploration. The children were extremely excited as they drove through the countryside and approached their home for the next week.

Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park is a hive of activity, from day trippers escaping the smoke of Glasgow to the heavily laden ants making their way up the West Highland Way. Balmaha is a stop on the ‘Way’, with walkers heaving for oxygen after making their way over Conic Hill. A short, really short, boat journey takes you over to the beautiful island of Inchcailloch - and an escape from the crowds. The Island forms part of the Highland Boundary Fault and we sat quietly on the edge of the Lowlands, with views on a clear autumn day to the big hills of the Highlands. A five minute boat journey back to the crowds, but, an ocean away from the busyness of life. The island doesn’t represent wildness, human influence has left too significant a mark, but, the old Oakwood has outlived the old lady, and in that, there is comfort.

Warout Primary 7 got started on the conservation element of their John Muir Award this week with a litter pick. They all worked so hard and collected a ludicrous amount of litter. Their efforts have definitely helped clean up their local woodland and they've really given something back to nature. Well done to everyone in primary 7 from myself and the natural world!

Warout Primary 6/7 got started on some conservation work this week with a litter pick in their local woodland. They all got stuck in with a practical task in their hands and were astonished at the amount of litter they collected. They've done something truly amazing for their local woodland and really helped benefit the natural environment. Well done from me and the woods!

Warout Primary 5/6 got started on their conservation work with a litter pick in their local woodland. The kids were astounded at the amount of litter they collected, they worked so hard to help clean up Warout woods and have really given something back to nature. Members of the public passed by and told them 'Thank you, you're doing a great job here'. Well done to everyone in P5/6!

Scotland in autumn is a special place. The days shorten, as winter approaches, and the light casts a special spell across the hills. As the green fades, the forests provide a tapestry of reds and oranges that lift the onset of melancholy that the shortening of days press upon the human spirit. The untimely breaking of an ankle whilst out hill running meant that this autumn would involve much slower adventure. Sometimes an enforced reduction in activity is the stimulus for seeing nature in new ways. The mountain tops often call but the ancient Caledonian forests are where the real magic of nature happens. Our West coast tour continues... Mull, Oban, Kerrera, Seil, Jura, Luing... the pace remains slow.

One of the great joys of ‘van life’ is the ability to wake up to a new view everyday. Calgary Bay, looking out to Coll and Tiree - the most westerly of the Inner Hebridean isles, provided the perfect sunset and the perfect location to begin our John Muir journey. The car park was busy with tourists, maybe seeking that ‘touch of nature’ or, maybe, just ticking off the must see locations of Mull. But, within a short walk, we left the crowds and found our quiet place - a place to read and reflect.

I have designed a plan for the future hedgehog homes which I plan to build as hedgehogs are endangered in our local area.