From a distance, this may not seem a likely setting for a species-rich walk, yet the last 120 metres leading up to the Loch Fad road has more than 57 different flowers and grasses all within a few feet of the footpath.  The walk starts at the top end of the High Street near the UCB church (NS086637) and, after traversing the Kirk Dam, follows the line of one of the Thom’s cuts up to the road leading to Loch Fad. [NOTE: this walk now also features as a springtime walk - Walk 33]

Although the whole walk (under a mile) has abundant scenic and historical interest, botanically I shall focus on the final section.  (It is, of course, quite possible to make the walk into a longer, circular one by turning left on reaching the road and returning to the starting point via the Loch Fad causeway).

White is the dominant floral colour and the last few metres provides a good opportunity to compare and contrast three of the most common umbellifers (think ‘umbrella’!) at this time of year.  The largest and most abundant is Hemlock Water-dropwort , a poisonous plant with its large flowerheads almost globular in shape; the next largest, Hogweed, has a much flatter flowerhead; thirdly, around the gate, there is a patch of Ground-elder, sometimes a troublesome weed in gardens.  Look carefully at the leaves of these three species; they are all quite distinct.

Hemlock Water-dropwort

Hogweed

Ground-elder 

Elder flowers are fully developed about now, whereas the creamy heads of Meadowsweet are only just beginning to appear.  In amongst the dominant taller flowers and grasses, you can find Common Mouse-ear, Marsh Bedstraw and Lesser Stitchwort.

Mimulus (‘Monkey Flower’) is a well-established garden escape which provides much of the yellow colour, but note also the occasional examples of Corn Marigold and, just coming into flower, Greater Birds-foot-trefoil and Yellow Rattle.

The tallest grass that you see is Reed Canary-grass; other tall grasses are Cocksfoot and False Oat-grass.  There are extensive areas of Yorkshire-fog with its distinctive often pinkish-purple spikelets. 

A full list of all the species I noted on this section of the walk is as follows: