Ben Dolphin 🏴❄️⛰🌲
@countrysideben.bsky.social
Ranger in the Cairngorms, occasional writer, general evangelist for the great outdoors. Winter's biggest fan and prone to blethering. Definitely my own views!!
Snow showers rattling through on the brisk easterly this evening. Didn't get above 3.4C today.
November 14, 2025 at 4:45 PM
Snow showers rattling through on the brisk easterly this evening. Didn't get above 3.4C today.
11am and it’s still -1.5C here at Mar Lodge. Up from a low of -3.4C. After such a long spell of mildness, rain and/or wind it’s lovely to have something more typical of mid Nov 🙂
In the Lomond Hills the overnight low was 1.1C. Coldest night since 19th March. Chilly there too just now, at 3.7C.
In the Lomond Hills the overnight low was 1.1C. Coldest night since 19th March. Chilly there too just now, at 3.7C.
November 14, 2025 at 11:07 AM
11am and it’s still -1.5C here at Mar Lodge. Up from a low of -3.4C. After such a long spell of mildness, rain and/or wind it’s lovely to have something more typical of mid Nov 🙂
In the Lomond Hills the overnight low was 1.1C. Coldest night since 19th March. Chilly there too just now, at 3.7C.
In the Lomond Hills the overnight low was 1.1C. Coldest night since 19th March. Chilly there too just now, at 3.7C.
Trip down memory lane this evening. Between 2004 and 2010 I think I must have had the plat du jour here at least once a month. Back then it was 6 or 7 quid! Suffice to say it’s not that now, but still excellent value, as friendly and professional as ever, and still the exact same tarte au chocolat👍😋
November 12, 2025 at 9:32 PM
Trip down memory lane this evening. Between 2004 and 2010 I think I must have had the plat du jour here at least once a month. Back then it was 6 or 7 quid! Suffice to say it’s not that now, but still excellent value, as friendly and professional as ever, and still the exact same tarte au chocolat👍😋
Reposted by Ben Dolphin 🏴❄️⛰🌲
Centuries of overgrazing & muirburn for grouse moors mean Highland Scotland looks treeless & desolate. But it doesn't have to be this way. New film Scotland's Missing Forests went online y'day. Chuffed to see almost 10k views. www.youtube.com/watch?v=MuTV... @chrisgpackham.bsky.social
November 9, 2025 at 12:41 PM
Centuries of overgrazing & muirburn for grouse moors mean Highland Scotland looks treeless & desolate. But it doesn't have to be this way. New film Scotland's Missing Forests went online y'day. Chuffed to see almost 10k views. www.youtube.com/watch?v=MuTV... @chrisgpackham.bsky.social
I know it's only one week, and the first week of the month at that, but it's insane that the mean average temperature for the first week in November exceeds even the highest mean maximum daytime temperature from any of my previous Novembers. #Fife
November 8, 2025 at 8:19 PM
I know it's only one week, and the first week of the month at that, but it's insane that the mean average temperature for the first week in November exceeds even the highest mean maximum daytime temperature from any of my previous Novembers. #Fife
Reposted by Ben Dolphin 🏴❄️⛰🌲
The first week of November (1.-7.11.) was record-warm in Helsinki, Finland. The average temperature was 9.3 °C.
Records have been kept since 1882.
Records have been kept since 1882.
November 8, 2025 at 3:26 PM
The first week of November (1.-7.11.) was record-warm in Helsinki, Finland. The average temperature was 9.3 °C.
Records have been kept since 1882.
Records have been kept since 1882.
Just bonkers 😀
November 6, 2025 at 10:00 PM
Just bonkers 😀
Lovely cycle from Croick to the end of the track along the Allt a' Chlagainn. I've always wanted to pedal to the end, just out of curiosity 🐈⬛😉
November 6, 2025 at 9:59 PM
Lovely cycle from Croick to the end of the track along the Allt a' Chlagainn. I've always wanted to pedal to the end, just out of curiosity 🐈⬛😉
Insanely beautiful light this afternoon in Glen Alladale. Sometimes, when most of the landscape is wreathed in cloud and fog, you're just in the right place at the right time 🙂
November 6, 2025 at 9:55 PM
Insanely beautiful light this afternoon in Glen Alladale. Sometimes, when most of the landscape is wreathed in cloud and fog, you're just in the right place at the right time 🙂
🧵⬇️ Here's the weather data for October 2025 in the Lomond Hills.
The first third was exceptionally warm, the middle was warm, and the final week or so was cool. Result? Yet another warmer-than-average October 🙄 We haven't had a cold October since 2020. #Fife
The first third was exceptionally warm, the middle was warm, and the final week or so was cool. Result? Yet another warmer-than-average October 🙄 We haven't had a cold October since 2020. #Fife
November 6, 2025 at 10:51 AM
🧵⬇️ Here's the weather data for October 2025 in the Lomond Hills.
The first third was exceptionally warm, the middle was warm, and the final week or so was cool. Result? Yet another warmer-than-average October 🙄 We haven't had a cold October since 2020. #Fife
The first third was exceptionally warm, the middle was warm, and the final week or so was cool. Result? Yet another warmer-than-average October 🙄 We haven't had a cold October since 2020. #Fife
Just had a glance at Birmingham temperatures at around 7pm on Bonfire Night during the 1980s. None are frosty but they're definitely on the cool side.
80: 3C
81: 4C
82: 11C
83: 5C
84: 4C
85: 4C
86: 11C
87: 6C
88: 2C
89: 6C
Mean average of 5.6C. Compare that to the last 10yrs average of 8.4C!
80: 3C
81: 4C
82: 11C
83: 5C
84: 4C
85: 4C
86: 11C
87: 6C
88: 2C
89: 6C
Mean average of 5.6C. Compare that to the last 10yrs average of 8.4C!
I'll need to go back and check the records for where I grew up, but my enduring memory of Bonfire Night in the West Midlands in the 1980s is of it being cold, foggy, and struggling to clasp sparklers because of wearing mittens 😆
November 6, 2025 at 10:26 AM
Just had a glance at Birmingham temperatures at around 7pm on Bonfire Night during the 1980s. None are frosty but they're definitely on the cool side.
80: 3C
81: 4C
82: 11C
83: 5C
84: 4C
85: 4C
86: 11C
87: 6C
88: 2C
89: 6C
Mean average of 5.6C. Compare that to the last 10yrs average of 8.4C!
80: 3C
81: 4C
82: 11C
83: 5C
84: 4C
85: 4C
86: 11C
87: 6C
88: 2C
89: 6C
Mean average of 5.6C. Compare that to the last 10yrs average of 8.4C!
Ach-an-eas, yesterday afternoon in dull autumnal light. Got very wet but didn't see a soul 🙂
November 6, 2025 at 10:11 AM
Ach-an-eas, yesterday afternoon in dull autumnal light. Got very wet but didn't see a soul 🙂
I absolutely love the log cabin at Rosehall. Ten times more luxurious than our....<checks notes>.....'visitor centre' at Linn of Dee 😆
November 5, 2025 at 10:48 PM
I absolutely love the log cabin at Rosehall. Ten times more luxurious than our....<checks notes>.....'visitor centre' at Linn of Dee 😆
Menacing 😬
November 5, 2025 at 10:47 PM
Menacing 😬
Beautiful autumnal walk up and down Glen Calvie. Way too blustery to head up Carn Chuinneag, but that's okay, I've been up there before 🙂
November 5, 2025 at 10:46 PM
Beautiful autumnal walk up and down Glen Calvie. Way too blustery to head up Carn Chuinneag, but that's okay, I've been up there before 🙂
Birch and granny pines in Doire Bhraghad last week 🙂
November 5, 2025 at 9:36 PM
Birch and granny pines in Doire Bhraghad last week 🙂
Reposted by Ben Dolphin 🏴❄️⛰🌲
🥾 Thanks to Cath & Livingston Ramblers for welcoming us on a scenic day out in Fife & sharing what walking means to them.
Our amazing volunteers, alongside support from players of People's Postcode Lottery, help us run thousands of group walks across Scotland each year: ramblers.org.uk/go-walking
Our amazing volunteers, alongside support from players of People's Postcode Lottery, help us run thousands of group walks across Scotland each year: ramblers.org.uk/go-walking
November 5, 2025 at 9:04 PM
🥾 Thanks to Cath & Livingston Ramblers for welcoming us on a scenic day out in Fife & sharing what walking means to them.
Our amazing volunteers, alongside support from players of People's Postcode Lottery, help us run thousands of group walks across Scotland each year: ramblers.org.uk/go-walking
Our amazing volunteers, alongside support from players of People's Postcode Lottery, help us run thousands of group walks across Scotland each year: ramblers.org.uk/go-walking
The number of times I've driven from the Dornoch Bridge to Ardgay and wondered what that beautiful area of woodland on the north side of the firth was. Well yesterday I finally made a point of finding out 🙂
November 5, 2025 at 9:16 PM
The number of times I've driven from the Dornoch Bridge to Ardgay and wondered what that beautiful area of woodland on the north side of the firth was. Well yesterday I finally made a point of finding out 🙂
Brighter today, so everything looked vibrantly alive 🙂 Beautiful of course, but in sharp contrast to yesterday it was profoundly, unpleasantly warm...to the point where it required t-shirts, suncream and sweating 😭 Yep, 16C in Sutherland.....in November. Lovely stuff.
November 3, 2025 at 5:33 PM
Brighter today, so everything looked vibrantly alive 🙂 Beautiful of course, but in sharp contrast to yesterday it was profoundly, unpleasantly warm...to the point where it required t-shirts, suncream and sweating 😭 Yep, 16C in Sutherland.....in November. Lovely stuff.
Spent the day in Gleann Mòr and Glen Alladale. Autumn colours still hanging on up here 🙂
November 2, 2025 at 8:52 PM
Spent the day in Gleann Mòr and Glen Alladale. Autumn colours still hanging on up here 🙂
128mm of rain so far in October, here at Mar Lodge. That's the wettest month since December last year.
October 31, 2025 at 7:40 PM
128mm of rain so far in October, here at Mar Lodge. That's the wettest month since December last year.
Reposted by Ben Dolphin 🏴❄️⛰🌲
In to Corrour Bothy in the Lairig Ghru in the heart of the Cairngorms, with bothy maintenance officer Neil Reid to change the toilet bags. Someone has to do it. Working the Hazmat look...
October 31, 2025 at 5:13 PM
In to Corrour Bothy in the Lairig Ghru in the heart of the Cairngorms, with bothy maintenance officer Neil Reid to change the toilet bags. Someone has to do it. Working the Hazmat look...
Just incredible really.
Alrighty, ready to see something really cool? (and maybe a little nauseating)
The evolution of Hurricane Melissa's mesovortices at peak strength.
The evolution of Hurricane Melissa's mesovortices at peak strength.
October 29, 2025 at 9:29 PM
Just incredible really.
Ooo, forgot to say we did still have some snow on the ground at 10am yesterday morning 🙂❄️ #rangerdailydiary
October 29, 2025 at 8:55 PM
Ooo, forgot to say we did still have some snow on the ground at 10am yesterday morning 🙂❄️ #rangerdailydiary