I had often heard my mother’s family talking about the Rocks of Solitude in Glen Esk in Angus, but it was never any place we went to visit on day trips from Brechin where we lived when I was young.   I knew this was a gorge on the River North Esk which my geography teacher at Brechin High School told us marked the line of the Highland fault which runs from Stonehaven to Dumarton. What I had seen was the river rushing through the rocks where the Edzell to Fettercairn road crosses the river at the Gannochy bridge, quite spectacular.
During our recent stay a the Glen Esk Caravan Park I had in my mind to try to take a picture from the bridge but driving back down the Glen after a visit to Invermark I spied a tiny sign pointing to the Rocks of Solitude. The next day we went back to explore.
There was a path here leading along the river, which rushed through rocks far below. There was not a great view to be had, but pushing my way through some trees covered with dead grass which had clearly been carried thereby the river during the December floods, I had a sight of the top of a waterfall. Clearly the water had been very high to leave its traces on the trees.
On our way home I hoped to stop at the Gannochy bridge to add another photograph to the collection, but no such luck, the only parking place available big enough or our van was deep in mud.

When I was home, a bit of research on the Internet informed me that there is much more to see at the Rocks of Solitude than the small part we had visited. There is blue door to look out for giving access lower down the river to he Burn House Estate and a network of paths past the Rocks of Solitude. Clearly this is another site added to the “needs further exploring” list.
As I wrote his I remembered a crime novel read many years ago. Our neighbour when we lived in Aberdeen was Frank Lyall, a law professor at the University who also dabbled in crime fiction. One of his books is set at the Burn House where an academic conference is taking place, and I am sure the Rocks of Solitude feature. I can’t recall the name of the book, but I wonder if it is A Death in Time. I have ordered a copy from a second hand book seller. We will see if I am right!