rain – Donich Website

Snow on the Steeple

donich_admin — Tue, 31 Jan 2017 21:25:39 +0000

The hill just between Lochgoilhead and Cnoc Coinnich is called “The Steeple” although it is not very high at 378m (it’s a nice little climb with good views but a bit muddy and pathless). I was told by a local once (well I am a local now – but I mean a long time local) that if there was snow on the Steeple it meant there would also be snow on the Rest and be Thankful. On reflection this seems odd as the highest point of the B828 is 298m and the A83 is 269m at the pass. Perhaps this takes into account the fact that the Steeple is nearer the salt air from the Loch.

Anyway – there was a sprinkle of snow on the Steeple yesterday but none on the Rest so not sure how true the story is. I checked this by looking at the webcam on trafficscotland.org which seems an altogether more reliable method.

It was very cold in general yesterday but some nice views to snowy hills.

Unfortunately today was much warmer but so dreich you couldn’t see whether the snow was gone off the mountains or not. I guess it mostly have as the Donich is in full spate at the moment and the waterfalls are a sight to see.

Heron on the pond

donich_admin — Tue, 03 Jan 2017 16:10:12 +0000

I’ve been sitting looking at the weather today trying to decide whether to go for a walk or not (R is away at a conference). Every time it looks nice and I decide to go out, it suddenly deteriorates and is pouring with rain five minutes later.

I eventually went out to walk round the waterfalls at about 2:30pm – didn’t get too wet and saw one of our resident herons fishing by our pool. They are remarkably beautiful birds – shame that so many people dislike them as stealers of fish.

In which we are entirely surrounded by water

donich_admin — Thu, 12 Mar 2015 23:22:09 +0000

The title is a quote from Winnie-the-Pooh and is a slight dramatic license as we are on a hill to the extent that we would be the last house standing if Loch Goil decided to break its banks.

But even so it is impressively flooded around here today. We went to Dumbarton this afternoon and the junction between the Donich and the Goil is under water. All along the side of the road, the Goil (which is prone to flooding) has burst its banks and is all over the fields. The little streams which normally are no more than a trickle are raging torrents, and dozens of extra (or as R calls them ‘unofficial’) streams have burst through everywhere the pressure of water can find a gap.

Out on the main road, the whole valley at the bottom of the Rest and be Thankful is half under water, and as usual the A83 by Loch Long and then Loch Lomond is under nearly a meter of water in places.

It was too wet to risk my camera taking many pictures, but the one on this post gives an idea. This stream is normally a ditch by the side of the Glen Mhor road.

Rain

donich_admin — Wed, 25 Feb 2015 18:34:21 +0000

I was doing some gardening the day before yesterday and accidentally left the wheelbarrow outside. The picture illustrates how much rain we can get in Argyll in two days.