Speyside.

Tomintoul and Granny Pine, Abernethy wood.

High pillowed clouds in the bluest sky in May, recedes to violet and smalll patches of snow still visible on the northern facing mountains. A tottering lapwing, worries its patch of earth. In the woods the towering Scots Pines, a few Grannies as they are known – the oldest, tallest, gnarliest of them, wild and unkempt in their dotage and beautiful. The sun slants to the forest floor picking out dog violets. Meet an elderly couple who walk here every day – he was head forester way back when. They have been married sixty two years. He talked about the once thriving capercaillies and the small woodland birds that would feed from his hand. Butterflies dart and birdsong fills the pine scented air.