My favourite place in Scotland is on top of the Ochil Hills.  It is right behind my house so it is like having another world in my back garden.   I like climbing up the hills and looking out over Blairlogie.

There is an amazing view to see and sometimes you can see the whole of Stirling.  The wind can get very strong and, if it does, we need to sit down.  On the way up there is a steep, beautiful waterfall and a lovely picnic area that we sometimes have lunch at.  We can see people in a caravan park sitting in tents having food.  From our watch point, we can see cars driving on the road.  Birds fly overhead and we can smell fresh air.  We can see the sheep on the hills and I feel as if there is noting wrong in the world.

On the other side, there is a hill that is even bigger.  I hope to climb it some day in the not too distant future.  Once, when I was climbing the hills, I almost fell off but my dad stopped me from falling as we were attached by a piece of rope.  He pulled me up and we reached the top.   When I am up there, I feel like I can do anything.  I feel I am free at long last.

James Ewing