Ben Lawers Dam

Early morning wakening as the daylight came in, and for once no sound of wind or waves. Blueish skies above the trees which swayed gently in the remaining breeze. Warm under the thick duvet, it wasn't long until sleep returned. The next wakening was to the sound of wind and waves and the pair of ducks which sit grooming outside the patio door.

Will I swim? Motivation for movement is low, and I know the air and the water will bite at bare flesh. As the weather descends the hills disappear. And with them, the mobile phone signal. Download today's paper only when the sun shines. We delay thoughts of cycle ride to study the red squirrel and the oystercatchers perched on the rocky plinth to the water.

As the rain and wind continue, we decide to do the cycle route, but by car. Through Glen Lyon and alongside Ben Lawers, it would be a wonderful journey by bike. Moorland, a reservoir that comes sharply into view, the fading snow patches just above road height. From the cocoon of the car it seems we made an error in judgement. From the three minutes in biting wind in search of a decent photograph it's clear there was no error.