There are some glorious walks on Reelig Glen Forest. The paths and bridges are well-maintained.
The name Reelig is thought to be derived from the Gaelic word for "burial ground" - a possible reference to a site in nearby Reelig House. At the top end of the forest trail, look out for the 19th century stone bridge and grotto which were based on works admired by the owner while travelling on the continent.
The stone bridge is noted for its very shallow arch.
We are now visiting Reelig Glen. Reelig Glen Wood is a mixture of old conifer and broadleaved trees, set in a narrow, steep-sided glen with the Moniack Burn running through its midst.
This old policy woodland had been in the same family of Frasers for some 500 years until it was sold to the Forestry Commission in 1949. The present character of Reelig Glen owes much to James Baillie Fraser (1783 - 1856) who planted many of the trees which are found here today.
Approximately 10 minutes from Inverness, take the A862 west towards Beauly, and after eight miles, turn left onto a minor road signposted to Reelig and Moniack. Carry straight on for about one mile to reach the small car park.
Here we have a glorious view of Inverness (photo not taken in January!) as seen from Ord Hill Forest. Prominent in the photo is the magnificent Kessock Bridge.
The Kessock Bridge is a cable-stayed bridge across the Beauly Firth, an inlet of the Moray Firth, between the village of North Kessock and the city of Inverness in the Scottish Highlands.
The bridge has a total length of 1,056 metres (3,465 feet) with a main span of 240 metres (787 feet). Designed by German engineer Hellmut Homberg it is similar to a bridge across the Rhine in Düsseldorf. The Beauly Firth is a navigable waterway and hence the bridge is raised high over sea level. The four bridge towers dominate the Inverness skyline, especially at night when they are lit.
The bridge carries the A9 trunk road north from Inverness to the Black Isle. It is the southernmost of the "Three Firths" crossings (Beauly, Cromarty and Dornoch) which has transformed road transport in the Highlands. It has proved a key factor in the growth of the city of Inverness.
Today we hear about Jesus worshipping in the synagogue at Nazareth on the sabbath day.
Hail to the Lord’s anointed, great David’s greater Son!
Hail in the time appointed, His reign on earth begun!
He comes to break oppression, to set the captive free;
To take away transgression and rule in equity.
He comes in succor speedy to those who suffer wrong;
To help the poor and needy, and bid the weak be strong;
To give them songs for sighing, their darkness turn to light,
Whose souls, condemned and dying, were precious in His sight.
He shall come down like showers upon the fruitful earth;
Love, joy, and hope, like flowers, spring in His path to birth.
Before Him, on the mountains, shall peace, the herald, go,
And righteousness, in fountains, from hill to valley flow.
Arabia’s desert ranger to Him shall bow the knee;
The Ethiopian stranger His glory come to see;
With offerings of devotion ships from the isles shall meet,
To pour the wealth of oceans in tribute at His feet.
Kings shall fall down before Him, and gold and incense bring;
All nations shall adore Him, His praise all people sing;
To Him shall prayer unceasing and daily vows ascend;
His kingdom still increasing, a kingdom without end:
O’er every foe victorious, He on His throne shall rest;
From age to age more glorious, all blessing and all blest.
The tide of time shall never His covenant remove;
His Name shall stand forever, His Name to us is Love.
We are going to visit some of the forests around Inverness. Our first post of call is Ord Hill Forest.
Ord Hill is an attractive wooded hillside lying just north of Inverness across the Kessock Bridge.
The main feature of the hill is a vitrified Iron Age Fort, which is particularly interesting because of its extent and because of the views it commands across the Moray Firth to Inverness and the Grampian Hills beyond.
Ord means a 'rounded hill' in Gaelic. Many people have walked these paths before you - this large Iron Age fort has stood watch for over 2,000 years. Ord Hill would have been an impressive sight once. Its stout stone walls and wooden palisade signifying strength and power.
If you are lucky, you may be able to catch a glimpse of the bottle nosed dolphins which are regularly seen in the waters of the inner Moray Firth.
For our final stop during this Week of Prayer for Christian Unity we find ourselves at Inverness Methodist Church.
The attractive buildings put up on the Inverness riverside during the 1960's. They replaced a former building in Union Street that had been destroyed by fire on 7th December 1961.
This had originally been a music hall. It had become the Methodist Church in the 1920's when their earlier premises at the junction of Inglis Street and Academy Street had become unable to hold all those attending services.
The precise origins of Methodism in Inverness are lost in the mists of time. Undoubtedly the visits of John Wesley to the city were of great importance. His first visit was in June 1764. He was prevented from preaching outdoors because of the rain but was invited to preach in the High Kirk.
When he arrived he found it full. He remarked in his Journal that he, 'seldom found a greater liberty of spirit.' Impressed by his visit he also wrote, 'Were it only for this day, I should not have regretted the riding an hundred miles'. This sentence is reproduced in the Wesley Memorial Window in the present church.
Wesley was complimentary about Inverness. At the end of his visit he said that it had, 'all things needful for life and goodliness.' He described the people as being of a friendly, courteous behaviour.
Father,
your love reaches out to all mankind,
and you have commanded us to follow your Son our Saviour:
Give us grace to do your will,
and to share in your Church#s mission
to proclaim the gospel of your love to all the world;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Almighty God,
you caused the light of the gospel
to shine throughout the world
through the preaching of your servant Saint Paul:
Grant that we who celebrate his wonderful conversion
may follow him in bearing witness to your truth;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Of all the churches, it is the Methodists who are most fond of hymn singing. Perhaps I should join them!
1 Born in song!
God's people have always been singing.
Born in song!
Hearts and voices raised.
So today we worship together;
God alone is worthy to be praised.
2 Praise to God!
Sing praise to the one who has made us.
Praise to God
whose image we bear.
Heaven and earth are full of God's glory;
let creation praise God everywhere.
3 Christ is king!
He left all the glory of heaven.
Christ is king!
Born to share in our pain;
crucified, for sinners atoning,
risen, exalted, soon to come again.
4 Sing the song!
God's Spirit is poured out among us.
Sing the song!
We're created anew.
Every member part of the Body;
given God's power, God's will to seek and do.
5 Tell the world!
All power to Jesus is given.
Tell the world!
He is with us always.
Spread the word, that all may receive him;
every tongue confess and sing his praise.
6 Then the end!
Christ Jesus shall reign in his glory.
Then the end
of all earthly days.
Yet above the song will continue;
all his people still shall sing his praise.
