I love that we have seasons. They might be a little bit out of season these days, but we’re still lucky to see the changing landscape around us here in Scotland. I think of it as a natural magical changing land.
The once green leaves on the trees are showing us their true autumn colours. They fall off their branches and carpet our land in red, gold, brown and yellow.
The autumn colours where I live in Ayrshire are still finding themselves though … so many green leaves and fern are still lingering in the hope that they can stay a little longer. Don’t they know that winter is coming! It has been really mild weather, so possibly this is confusing nature a little.
At the beginning of October we drove up north to Perthshire for the day. I’d heard that Perthshire is a must see place, especially in autumn. This shire is also known as big tree country. Autumn wasn’t quite ready for us, so we returned at the end of October to capture its stunning magic. I’ll show you a mix of photos from both trips.
Watch a video of Perthshire
You can also have a wee look at a video I made of our visit to Perthshire. I hope you enjoy it along with my story and photos below.
The Hermitage
The Hermitage in Dunkeld is one of the oldest tourist attractions in Scotland. It has been a popular place to visit for over 200 years and was designed as a pleasure ground in the 18th century for the Dukes of Atholl.
This area is totally big tree country with Douglas Firs being some of the tallest in Britain. The woodlands are looked after by the National Trust for Scotland and it’s free to explore.
As soon as we arrived I don’t know how many times I said the word ‘wow’. I planned to practise with my camera using manual settings and a tripod. Every corner I turned I had to stop and take photos.
There are a variety of walks to choose from with longer walks being an option if you wish. This part of Perthshire has over 30 miles of trails to explore.
As I walked through the woodlands, surrounded by the tallest of trees, I felt like I was in an enchanted wood. It reminded me of childhood stories I read by Enid Blyton about the magic faraway tree.
Autumn at The Hermitage is a contrasting mix of greens, yellows, golds and browns.
As I wandered deeper into the woods it became even more beautiful.
I walked under this magnificent bridge and couldn’t believe there was yet more breathtaking beauty in front of my eyes. I took far too many photos, but you can see why! My husband took many photos too, so it was a joint effort.
As I approached the folly Ossian’s Hall, built in 1757, it looked like you couldn’t open the door at first.
Then I walked into the most amazing real life picture of the Black Linn Falls.
If I was living in Middle Earth I would have thought I’d found the Eleven Realm Rivendell. The powerful water was rushing down the River Braan very loudly.
There was going to be a wedding taking place here that day. I started to wonder if the couple would hear each other saying “I do” …
If you’re lucky you might even see salmon jumping up the falls. I did see one but didn’t catch it on camera.
I started to wonder who or what Ossian was? This year I’ve saw this name appear in a few places. There was Ossian’s cave at Glencoe, Ossian’s cave on the Isle of Arran, now Ossian’s cave at the Hermitage. There’s also Loch Ossian.
Dictionary.com has this definition:
“a legendary hero and poet and son of Finn, who is supposed to have lived during the 3rd century a.d., represented in Gaelic poems and in imitations of them written by James Macpherson in the 18th century”
Can you see anything unusual about this tree stump?
Look at all the coins wedged into the wood. So, money does grow on trees after all?
We followed the woodland path looking for Ossian’s cave next. Everywhere I turned the trees, fern, moss, water and rocks impressed me.
When we reached Ossian’s cave I got a bit of a fright. I peeked my head into the cave window at the back and someone was inside.
I walked round to the front of the cave and the sunlight was shining in, highlighting the back of the cave. Now, to me, the highlighted rock at the back looks like a face of a man with a beard, half closed eyes and smiling. Can you see it?
This artificial cave was built around 1785. It was added to enhance the visitor’s experience. The rocks in the photo below are known as Ossian’s Seat. They are perched on the banks of the River Braan. A large high seat with a view!
Rumbling bridge
We continued along the Braan Walk (green waymarkers) to the Rumbling Bridge.
These woods were definitely starting to look like Middle Earth … the trees have faces!
We eventually came out of the woods and into the open land. The trees and fern were slightly changing colour. I felt lucky we had this lovely day to explore, especially in October!
The Rumbling Bridge very was high. I felt dizzy looking down both sides of the bridge, but liked watching a little leaf floating down towards the water.
We found yet more beautiful woodlands near the Rumbling Bridge.
Killiecrankie
Our last stop was the breathtaking Killiecrankie woodland gorge to take some photos of the little green footbridge over the River Garry.
There’s a car park at the Garry road bridge then you have access to a beautiful river and woodland walks.
This area is known as the Linn of Tummel where the River Garry and River Tummel meet. There was a signpost under the bridge listing the following walks:
- Killiecrankie visitor centre (25 mins)
- Soldier’s Leap (5-10 mins from the visitor centre)
- Coronation Bridge (40 mins each way)
- Falls viewpoint (20 mins each way)
Sadly we didn’t have time to explore these walks but we did walk down to the green footbridge. That was an experience. There was a sign saying no more than 10 people at a time on the bridge. I was standing taking photos and four people walked past me, I could feel the bridge bounce. Beautiful though!
The Garry road bridge is a popular place to bungee jump or drop and swing. Bungee Jump Scotland is the place to visit if you fancy trying this. It’s a long drop down …
A group of people were dropping and swinging off the bridge and I recorded someone dropping:
It looked so scary but also fun, I think. Could this be a new peak challenge for me next year? I’m not sure if I could do it. Would you?
I loved it here, it was so calm and peaceful (after the screams of falling). It was mesmerizing sitting on the rocks and watching the golden leaves float down the river.
We had to leave though as it was a two hour drive back home again. You can also visit the Enchanted Forest in autumn. Faskally wood in Pitlochry is transformed into a magical experience of light and sound and well worth seeing. We’ve been twice before and loved it.
This post is a small snapshot of two day trips to this beautiful shire, there’s so much more see. Check out the Visit Perthshire website.
The heart of Scotland has totally captured my heart.
Thanks for reading.
Love, Dawn-Marie x
Love Exploring Scotland 
foe now I can’t go there….. but feel I must go
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Maybe one day, thanks 😃
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that’s awesome
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Thank you! I’m pleased you like it 😃
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like my posts please
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Wow, that was great!
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Thank you! I’m happy you like it, thanks for reading 😃
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What gorgeous Photos! must have been a lovely day!
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Thanks! Yes, for October it was a beautiful day both times we visited. So pleased you like it, thanks for reading 😃
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I like seeing it all thru your eyes, with your excitement. My woods-walking days are behind me, so vicarious is the name of the game!
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Thanks for reading Ellen! Sorry to hear you can’t explore the woods now. I’m happy that my story, video and photos helped you feel it again 😃
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Nice post! Feel free to check out my blog i just started 🙂
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Thank you! Glad you liked it Evan! Keep at your blog, it’s a great way to get your thoughts of your head. I love that you’re having a social media detox! Find something that you’ve always wanted to do and make it come true. It will open new doors for you and you’ll meet new friends too. Then you can also blog about it. YouTube is fine, it’s like watching the TV 🙂
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Wonderful and inspiring shots😍I van smell the forest just be looking at your gorgeous photos!
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Thank you! I’m so pleased you like my photos. I’m lucky to have a beautiful model, that is Scotland 🙂
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High on our list, hope to be able to visit and roadtrip soon!
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Have a wonderful time when you visit and I look forward to reading about it on your lovely magical blog! 🙂
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I am having trouble coming up with
a compliment worthy enough for you.
Do checkout
https://merakiforever.wordpress.com/2017/11/26/269/
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Thank you so much for reading! I’m pleased that you like it. The fact that you’ve commented is a great compliment. It’s nice to know I’m doing something for everyone else to enjoy as well 🙂
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Very nice 😍😍
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Thank you, I’m so pleased you enjoyed it 🙂
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Your welcome 😊. It’s my pleasure ☺.
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Your welcome
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I played the video while reading the blog, and I must say I feel mesmerized. Thank you so much for recreating your moments for us to experience the same. The pictures seem surreal, I am sure it was magic in reality.
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Thanks so much for reading and watching. I’m so happy that you liked the video and photos. I’m still learning about video and I’m trying to share Scotland in its most magical way. It certainly feels magical to me and we all need that little bit of escapsim. I felt exactly the same way as you feel when I visited here 🙂
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Beautiful images and videos. I would love to be able to visit someday.
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Thank you for your lovely comment and reading 🙂 I hope you visit Scotland one day
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Wow, so beautiful!
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Thank you, it is a beautiful place to visit. 🙂
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I definitely plan on it. My mom has been there a few times and it’s part of our heritage, runs in the blood if you will.
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wooooooooooooooooooooowwwww. I love nature and beautiful scenery…lovely sight and clicks
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Thanks sooooo much! I’m pleased you like it 🙂
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amazing!!!
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Thank you 🙂 So pleased you like it!
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Thanks for sharing 😃
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Amazing, The walks mentioned here are defiantly on my bucket list now 🙂 I shared this post on my Facebook. Great photography.
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Thanks so much for reading and sharing. I’m pleased you enjoyed it and it has inspired you to visit as well 🙂
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So beautiful…. Lovely pictures!!!
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Thank you! I’m pleased you enjoyed it 🙂
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Wow! Breathtaking!
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Thanks for reading Matthew! So pleased you liked it 🙂
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Wow” These pictures and the heart of Scotland are so beautiful. Now I know why the Scottish settled my neck of the woods. I was hiking in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, between Tennessee and North Carolina in the USA. I feel as though I would be totally at home in the woods in Scotland. Of course, the tree species are different, but the feel, the soil, the rocks in the streams, the trees are so similar.
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Hello! Thanks for reading 🙂 It was the first time I’d seen this place and I was overwhelmed by its natural beauty. Even though I live in Scotland, I’ve a lifetime of exploring still to do! I’d read that North Carolina and Scotland were similar in landscape. Have you heard of the TV series Outlander? The story takes you to North Carolina, but they are filming these scenes in Scotland. The beautiful landscape is similar and easier as the filming studios are in Cumbernauld, near Glasgow in Scotland. I love walking in the woodlands, listening to wind through the trees, so peaceful and relaxing. Have a lovely weekend 🙂
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I’ve driven past signs for the hermitage in perthshire a few times and always wondered what it was! next time I will have to stop
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Yes, you must visit the next time! It was the first time I’d been. It was busy, popular place 😃
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My stomach plummets just watching that bungee jumping video! Beautiful place to do it though! My husband and I are planning a trip to Scotland hopefully a year from now, I will have to check in to your blog for ideas on where to go!
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Hi Lingyun, I agree 😃, tis a beautiful place to jump! I’m still not sure if I could do it though… There’s so much to see and do here. Remember and check out the VisitScotland website too for inspiration on where to visit http://www.visitscotland.com. Have a wonderful time when you visit 😃
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Beautiful
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Thank you, happy you like it 🙂
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You’re welcome
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Interesting nature in Scotland.
it looks like the air is very clean
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Thank you 🙂 Yes, the countryside air is very fresh and clean.
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Reblogged this on AS NOITES DE MR.JOHN.
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Thank you 🙂
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So beautiful! Thank you for sharing the experience and the gorgeous photos.
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You’re welcome 🙂 Thank you for reading! I’m so pleased you like it!
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nice good job…
https://wordpress.com/read/feeds/72394078/posts/1676741035
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Thank you! 😃
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Absolutely beautiful! Thank you for sharing!
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Thanks for reading Amy! I’m pleased you like it 😃
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Thank you for sharing 🙂
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Scotland …nice and beautiful ! I haven’t been to but .. nice to know here 🙂
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Thank you, so pleased you liked my post and photos 🙂
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Your writing is so spell-bounding…Loved this post! Scotland is definitely one of my favourite places.
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Thank you for reading and commenting Jana. I’m happy you liked it. I’m overwhelmed by all the nice comments 🙂
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Nature at its best…… those pictures are so beautiful…….
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Definitely nature at its best! Thank you for reading and commenting 🙂
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Thank you nice blog!
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Thank so much, I’m pleased you like it 🙂
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Wow, absolutely lovely! As a nature lover, I really appreciate the lovely photo and videos in this post. Thank you for sharing. In gratitude from New Jersey, USA 💖
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Thanks so much for reading and liking Euphoric 🙂 I was overwhelmed by its beauty too. There’s a whole Scotland out there for me to explore. I wish I could retire now and enjoy more of it 🙂
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I completely feel the same way! It’s so beautiful. I hope to visit one day
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Really so beautiful place…BTW did you sit for a while on thoses benches??
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Thank you for reading! It was my first visit and I was in awe of its beauty. Sadly I didn’t get to sit on the benches for long … we were short for time and it was busy with people. I really wanted to though. Maybe the next time 🙂
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Aha… i just felt the scene, how nice!!! surrounds by such beauty with no disturbance, as looked at the bench in the pic… it’s like feeling the life…right!
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Scotland is my dream. I absolutely adore it from what I’ve seen in pictures and the show outlander. This post is a beautiful display of the country. Thank you for sharing!
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Thanks for reading and liking! I love Outlander too! Watching the series has shown me places in Scotland I’ve never seen before. Even though I live here I’m even more inspired to discover new places. I hope you get to visit one day. Make that dream come true 🙂
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An awesome post and breathtaking photos. Hope to get there some day! Great site as well!
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Thanks so much for reading and commenting! I love sharing Scotland and if others like my posts too then I’ve achieved something good and inspiring. I hope you visit Scotland one day, make it happen 🙂
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Reblogged this on Cleaning Service in the Stockholm.
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Thanks for reading and sharing! 🙂
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What absolutely stunning pictures! I am glad you had so much fun! ❤
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Thank you! I’m so happy you like my photos. I’m still learning how to use my camera better, but Scotland really helps me capture her beauty. Have a lovely weekend 🙂
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You are very welcome! They are stunning! I bet! Thanks so much hun! You as well! ❤
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amazing post and photos ❤️
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Thank you so much! I’m happy you liked it 🙂
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The pictures were so beautiful! I miss the changing autumn colors. I grew up in New Hampshire and loved the seasons! Now I’m in Texas and don’t have that anymore. Thank you for sharing! I would love to visit Scotland one day!
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Thanks for reading and I’m so pleased you enjoyed my photos. It’s sometimes difficult to capture on camera what you see with your eyes. The changing seasons are so amazing. I hope you visit Scotland one day, make it come true 🙂
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The UK is so beautiful! I was in England last year (I’m Canadian) and I really wanted to go over to Scotland but I just didn’t have the time. I hope to visit one day 🙂 Europe is amazing.
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Thank you for reading! Canada is a pretty amazing country too from photos I’ve seen. I hope you visit Scotland the next time 🙂
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I definitely hope to as well! Hope one day you get a chance to explore Canada 🙂
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Nice one !
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Thank you! Happy you like it 🙂
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Fabulous photos! I particularly like the one of the open land after being in the woodland, it’s beautiful 🙂
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Thanks for reading Eunice! So pleased you like my photos. I love the contrast of the woodlands and then the open land too. I love sharing Scotland 🙂
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I had a camping holiday in Scotland four years ago, staying first at a site at Luss on Loch Lomond. I took several lovely photos along the road before Glencoe but I found Glencoe itself rather foreboding in spite of the sunshine so I just drove through without stopping. I stayed at a lovely beach-side site just outside Arisaig, the views and white sand beaches in that area were gorgeous and I got some fabulous shots. I’m hoping it won’t be too long before I can get up there for another visit as there’s so much more to explore 🙂
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Sounds lovely! I’ve camped at Loch Lomond, once at Luss many years ago, then at the east side of the loch at Cashel campsite. Beautiful walks there! I love Glencoe but I know what you mean, the mountains tower over you. Arisaig is beautiful, I’ve camped at Camusdarach campsite a few times. So much to explore as you say, there’s a whole Scotland out there! 🙂
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Reblogged this on spiritandanimal.wordpress.com.
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Thank you 🙂
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Beautiful… The video was Amazing 😘 with the best background..
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Thank you so much! I loved making the video. Such a beautiful place to capture and share 😃
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I love this kind of videos. Which makes me feel i am actually at that place.. Feel real ❤
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Thank you, that’s the best compliment I could wish for! I love that you feel as if you’re there 😃
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Good work ! Have a nice time ahead ❤
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Thank you 😃
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Lovely post.
I feel so lucky to have all of these places within a 30 minute drive of the house.
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Thanks so much for reading Mel, beautiful area to live. A lifetime of exploring right on your own doorstep 🙂
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Hello. Really nice account. I went there not so long ago but there were so many people it was hard to squeeze myself in.
Love this place, the ancient woodlands and the colours.
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Thank you! It was really busy for us too. We had to linger around and wait to take photos. Events were happening both times we visited too. The second time we arrived about 9am and it was starting to get busy even at that time! Beautiful place though 😍
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So true 🙂
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