Loch Ness Blog

New born lamb.

2012-02-01T14:41:00.001Z

We drove to the nearest Tesco at Dores Road roundabout for a few items and then down the road to Holm Mills Shopping Village to check out the new stock.As we drove down the lane towards the road for the return journey we glanced at the contented sheep in the field and did a double take.....there was a tiny lamb on very wobbly legs next to mum.Welcome to the world Larry and keep warm.

After Burns Night.....

2012-01-26T17:48:00.001Z

I am sure there are alot of sore heads this morning after the celebrations throughout Scotland of Burns Night. Burns Night is an important date in the Scottish calendar and celebrates the life and works of their national poet, Robert Burns who lived between 1759 and 1796. Burns Suppers are held every year on his birthday on the 25th January where various celebrations are conducted amongst family and friends.These include age old traditions such as piping in the guests, the Selkirk Grace, piping in the haggis which will be eaten acccompanied by 'neeps and tatties' and drinking a toast or two of whisky to his memory.

This morning there was a sharp frost on the ground which has stayed all day. The temperature is just above freezing and It has been very chilly but all this has been offset by a beautiful clear blue sky and a wonderful reflection on the water.

RockNess 2012 Initial Line Up Announced

2012-01-26T12:54:00.001Z

The initial line up for the 2012 RockNess festival in Dores from 8th to 10 June was announced today. There are some old faces and some new faces with more acts to follow as we get nearer to June. Three day tickets are on sale from today at booklochness.

Every little helps.

2012-01-15T13:28:00.000Z

Very cold over the last few days and there was a sharp frost this morning which will remain all day. The temperature is about zero with no sign of it rising much in the near future. We can keep warm and cosy and well fed but when the ground is frozen the wildlife finds it hard to cope alone. This is when we step in and give extra feeds of peanuts, sunflower hearts and suet balls, all foods rich in nourishment for them. The bird bath is frozen solid so I have put food on top of the ice there.
Today we have been visited by numerous red squirrels, the pheasant sisters as well as a wide variety of birds including the tiny male goldcrest - UK's smallest bird.

Birds need your help

2011-12-13T16:35:00.000Z

It has turned really cold lately with continuing flurries of sleet or snow. Due to the shortening length of daylight hours the birds now rapidly gorge on any food put out for them and the feeders need filling up twice a day.The bird bath is usually iced up but there are other water bowls in the garden [normally ex roasting pans as it is easier to bash the ice out of these]. In this frantic time when their natural food of insects are scarce we do see more varieties of birdlife than we normally would. The Long Tailed Tits descend fleetingly in gangs for a quick fill up and make alot of sweet noises. The larger Great Spotted Woodpecker is watched warily by the smaller birds as it flies in. We have had welcome visits by the Goldfinch and Greenfinch and a pair of tiny Goldcrests,our smallest bird,has been seen on the feeders.The female has a yellow stripe compared to the bright orange of the male.Lots of blackbirds now and chaffinches galore.The Robin is the boldest of them all and will fly on to the bird table whilst I am laying out the dish of the day.

Winter weather

2011-12-01T16:08:00.001Z

Experienced a rich variety of weather patterns during the past month of November with something different to look at each day. Started with freezing fog drifting down the loch very low over the water.

Then we witnessed rainbows reflected in the water too. At one time we saw a perfect rainbow arc reflected in the water making a circle of colours.

Yesterday was really windy and chilly and we were glad to sit by the cosy fire listening to the great gusts of wind rattling at the windows. This morning we woke up to see snow on the mountain tops opposite and a very menacing sky. Winter has arrived in all its glory.

Take a walk in Torr Woods

2011-11-11T16:53:00.001Z

Another beautiful autumn day dawned so after completing some work in Inverness we drove back and parked at Dores beach which was almost full up with people enjoying a lunchtime meal in The Dores Inn. We thoroughly enjoyed walking along Dores beach on the pebbles and then turned right in to Torr Woods. We noticed alot of the overhanging branches and prickly bushes had been cut back and there is now a new secure gate leading in to the woods with a passing gate. Met one or two people with their very energetic dogs carrying branches of various sizes and passed the time of day but mostly we were on our own in very peaceful and colourful surroundings.
There are a few small secluded beaches on this walk which lead down to the shoreline of Loch Ness so we stood and relaxed for a while admiring the wonderful panoramic views.

On the return journey we had previously noticed a newly made forest track leading down towards Loch Ness so we explored this further and sure enough it opened up onto a very rocky but picturesque shoreline. It is not possible to walk along the shoreline unless you want to get very wet so we followed a man and his dogs along a new lower forest footpath and came out at the end of the crescent shaped Dores beach. The weather was beautiful and we enjoyed an excellent walk in the November sunshine.

Wildlife in the area.

2011-10-31T15:51:00.000Z

The abundant red squirrels are daily visitors on the feeding platform at the cottage and they are often joined by a rich variety of birds. Guests this month have seen great tit, blue tit, coal tit, robin, chaffinch, goldfinch, great spotted woodpecker, greenfinch and ‘Cedric the siskin’….it is not just us who give the creatures names! This week we have initially heard and then seen a gang of long tailed tits zooming in and out of the trees.One of our guests this week was in the lounge at 1 a.m. and looked out of the window to see a badger eating the remains of food on the ground under the feeders. It was also scooping food out of the water bath on the ground which is conveniently placed there for the pheasants who visit.

We know there is a large badger sett in the forest adjoining the cottage as we have been able to photograph them [as above] but they are rarely seen. Guests staying at the cottage last week went to Chanonry Point and actually saw the Moray Firth dolphins. Even though they have been visiting us for many years they have never managed to see these wonderful marine creatures before. The predatory sparrowhawk suddenly appears from nowhere and sometimes manages to catch a bird in his lethal talons although they ignore the squirrels….too heavy to carry off. Lots of wildlife to see.

What spooked the squirrel ?

2011-10-16T13:50:00.000+01:00

While working at Aspenwood I always like to look out of the lounge window to check on the local wildlife and see if the feeders need filling and the bird bath needs cleaning. I was amused to see this young red squirrel run along the platform fence to feed and then stop in its tracks. It could hear something I couldn't and was shaking its tail in alarm and stamping its feet.....what had it seen ? Soon the mystery was solved.
Not long after there were 3 squirrels outside the lounge window eating at various feeders.
Best watched with the sound off............enjoy.

Loch Ness Marathon 2011

2011-10-03T17:52:00.000+01:00

The very popular 10th annual Loch Ness Marathon and Festival of Running took place yesterday including various events of different lengths. As well as the 26 mile Marathon there was also a 10K and 5K race as well as the 'Wee Nessie' race for pre-school children. More than 8,000 runners from 45 countries took part in these various events. More than 3,000 runners entered for the Loch Ness Marathon gathering at Whitebridge and the first group of serious runners set off at 10 a.m. in a misty drizzle from very low cloud with the intention of reaching Inverness after 26 miles. Other competitors followed running for many different charities and personal causes some even dressing up for the occasion and making it more of a fun run. We walked up to watch from the entrance to Aspenwood Cottage and offered encouragement and support plus lots of light hearted laughs to spur the runners on their way.
The winner was Great Britain International Tomas Abyu from Salford Harriers who finished the race in 2hrs 20mins. He also won this race in 2003 and 2010.

September weather

2011-09-22T15:01:00.001+01:00

The weather in September has been extremely varied with no two days exactly the same. Even during the day the weather can change enormously, one minute dull and overcast, followed by a sudden shower and later on the sun streams through and we have to close the window blinds or sit outside and enjoy....life can be very tough. The variety of weathers has produced some beautiful brilliant rainbows over Loch Ness.
There are still some hardy sailors enjoying life on the water in boating craft of all different shapes and sizes and good luck to them.

Roe deer family

2011-09-09T11:23:00.000+01:00

This week we have had a family of roe deer come to visit, a male with antlers and a female with their fawn which must have been between two to three months old and stuck very close to mum.The roe deer are one of Britain's native species and are most widespread especially in Scotland.The family have been happily munching on the grass on the front bank and, as they are one of the most timid species of deer, there was alot of silent creeping about to be able to get these shots. While filming the phone rang and they all took off at great speed.

DOLPHIN VIDEO

2011-08-22T14:05:00.000+01:00

Sit back and watch the dolphins at Chanonry Point on the Black Isle. After about ten seconds into the film you'll see a dolphin playfully flick a fish, possibly a salmon, up into the air before eating it.
A very good visit for anybody staying at South Loch Ness Side.

Dolphins at Chanonry Point.

2011-08-18T14:37:00.005+01:00

We have recently discovered the secret of just when to be sure of seeing the pod of bottlenose dolphins at Chanonry Point opposite Fort George on the Black Isle. Although we have been many times before we rarely see them except for the odd fin rapidly disappearing under the water.

In a local Inverness news booklet a nature enthusiast wrote that the secret is to be at Chanonry Point about one and a half to two hours after low tide. This is the prime time when the smaller fish come in on the rising tide and naturally these are pursued by the hungry dolphins.

We had to chose a day when the low tide times and the weather were just right. Yesterday it was a bright day with a slight warm breeze and the low tide was at 9 am. We left our home on South Loch Ness Side just after 9 and drove on the A9 over the Kessock Bridge and onto The Black Isle. Turned off right at Munlochy,although you can drive up further to the Tore roundabout and turned right,through the village of Avoch on into Fortrose. Drove on passing the Coop on the left and just opposite the Police Station we turned right down a narrow lane leading through the golf course and down to the car park at the coast - which was surprisingly almost full up at this early hour.This is about 33 miles from our home at Inverfarigaig on South Loch Ness Side and a one hour journey. We sat at the picnic tables with our breakfast and then walked round to the beach where there must have been a crowd of nearly 100 people armed with cameras and binoculars waiting for the show. Sure enough the pod of dolphins were already coming in on the tide and gave a marvellous display lasting a couple of hours.

Even saw a mother with her calf swimming side by side and staying very close together.

People on the special dolphin viewing boat were treated to a great display alongside.

An excellent visit and we are so fortunate to be able to see these magnificent creatures a short drive away from South Loch Ness Side. We now print out the tide times and leave them in our holiday cottage in the information folder on the desk by the laptop. I am now working on the video which will be posted soon.....so watch this space.

South Loch NessTrail Maps Online For Downloading

2011-08-17T11:04:00.001+01:00

There has been a surge in camping and backpacking enquiries this summer, no idea why it should have increased in popularity so much but it is nice to see more people enjoying th egreat outdoors!. I personally love camping and have camped in some of the remotest places throughout the year in the past.

We have also seen many more touring cyclists this year especially down the south side of Loch Ness as the roads are quieter it is ideal for tourers and campers. The road on the south side is close to Loch Ness for most of the way and its easy to get down to the waters edge for a picnic or just to enloy, it really is a great place to spend a summer holiday and absolutely unbeatable when the weather is kind, though seasoned outdoor enthusiasts don't let the weather deter them!

For those contemplating a Highland cycling or camping holiday, Loch Ness area is a good place to start looking, especially now we have new waymarked trail on the south side of the loch which extends almost the entire length of Loch Ness. Before you set off for the Highlands for your summer holiday check out the new trail route and download the South Loch Ness trail maps.

New South Loch Ness Trail Launched

2011-08-11T11:26:00.001+01:00

Today is the launch of the brand new South Loch Ness Trail a new trail which covers the entire length of Loch Ness. Running for nearly 30 miles through wild country and infinately variable terrain from open moors and craggy hills to forests and villages - it will prove to be a hit with all types of walkers, horse riders and bikers (not motorised).

You can read The trail story and trail info on Destination Loch Ness website which comes with a series of downloadable maps for the entire route. Perhaps the most exciting significance of this new trail is that now it is almost possible to circumnavigate Loch Ness entirely on dedicated paths by using the Great Glen Way down the North side and this new south Loch Ness Trail on the quieter south side. The two trails are not yet linked but but for experienced walkers this should be a minor detail! which should not deter anyone from planning a full Loch Ness circuit, but it is a long term objective to link the two routes.

The new trail starts just up the hill from Fort Augustus! a very long uphill trudge on tarmac but once you get to the start it is a glorious 30 mile route with little in the way of shops or habitation for most of the way. The only shop on route is at Foyers so anyone planning to have a go at this route should carry some supplies with them and be prepared for overnight camping along the route. There is accommodation though and with careful planning you could do the walk without camping if that is not your bag! a good website to look for accommodation on the South Loch Ness Trail is www.lochnesswelcome.co.uk it is the official tourism website for South Loch Ness, other places to find accommodation on the trail is Visit Loch Ness

Happy hiking!

Loch Ness is thirsty work.

2011-07-28T15:32:00.000+01:00

A beautiful week at Loch Ness with high temperatures and blue sky days and it was good to go down to the nearby beach to sit on the seats and watch the world go by. Lots more boats and yachts have taken to the water.

It is also essential to ensure the wildlife has plenty of clean drinking water.

Dog is RNLI's new best friend

2011-07-20T21:20:00.001+01:00

Dog and four holiday makers from Leicestershire rescued on Loch Ness.

Drumnadrochit based RNLI volunteers launched to assist a group of four holidaymakers and their pet dog after their cruiser runs aground near Foyers. RNLI Loch Ness lifeboat crew, Neil Stebbings, Joy Cameron and Martin Douglas took the Atlantic 75 lifeboat, B707 Mercurius, to the scene at the mouth of the River foyers. Tourist vessel, Ness Express, skippered by Rory Brown had been keeping a watch on the cruiser until the arrival of the RNLI lifeboat.

RNLI crew member Neil Stebbings boarded the cruiser to check on the well being of the holidaymakers and to confirm that the vessel was still watertight. All was well and the cruiser was towed free and into open water before being escorted to the pier at Foyers.

Loch Ness RNLI Volunteer, Neil Stebbings says: 'The cruiser had struck a shingle bank that was covered due to the loch surface having been raised by recent heavy rainfall.'
He added: 'The holidaymakers and even the dog had life jackets on and vital reassurance was given by having Rory in Ness Express on scene until we arrived, our thanks, once again, go to the team at Cruise Loch Ness in Fort Augustus.'

Aberdeen Coastguard team directed the rescue and coordinated resources whilst keeping the holidaymakers informed of proceedings

A video of the rescue can be viewed here

New Loch Ness sign at Fort Augustus

2011-07-17T16:23:00.001+01:00

Here is a photo recently taken at Oich Pier, Fort Augustus where the community have funded this new sign. Both the new sign and the new orientation panel for the canoe trail are drawing a lot of interest with many taking the opportunity like below to have a snap taken beside the Loch Ness sign.

South Loch Ness Trail News

2011-07-06T19:51:00.001+01:00

The South Loch Ness Trail

4^thJuly

Destination Loch Ness are pleased to report that after further delays in the construction schedule caused by landowner legal requirements, the contractor finally got back on site early in June and the trail is now due for completion the first week in August.

Information on the trail route is presently available on our website http://www.visitlochness.com/south-loch-ness-trail/ but this will be added to in the next 3 weeks with downloadable maps of the trail route. The trail is for all users although a few sections are difficult for cyclists and horses to access and use.

The trail is 28 miles long stretching between Loch Tarff near Fort Augustus to Torbreck on the edge of Inverness, via Whitebridge, Foyers, Inverfarigaig and Dores.

If you have any questions or wish further information please contact Graeme@visitlochness.com

Tipsy Toddler Tasting

2011-06-23T15:43:00.001+01:00

Fiddlers Cafe Bar report "Our Tipsy Toddler Tasting last week here at Fiddler’s went very well with £550 raised for the Glenurquhart Childcare Centre.

Many thanks for the help and support from Ross Urquhart Joinery, The Clansman Hotel, Macleod IT Solutions, The Benleva Hotel, Kilmore Farmhouse B&B, Loch Ness Events & The Loch Ness Whisky Parliament who sponsored the 6 different Whiskies tasted. The Star of the night was a 5 year old Ledaig Single Malt from the Isle of Mull."

Nick Keir and Stephen Quigg

2011-06-15T13:26:00.001+01:00

Folk duo Nick Keir & Stephen Quigg former members of the McCalmans will kick off their 2011 Highland Tour by playing Cannich Village Hall on Monday 25th July at 8pm.

Although enjoying successful solo careers blending traditional material with songs of a more contemporary date Nick and Ian regularly combine to entertain audiences at home and abroad.The duo have recently played a number of gigs in Germany and a tour of Denmark is planned for the autumn.

The concert is being staged by SACC, the local community company and backed by Strathglass Marketing Group. Proceeds from the concert will go to Cannich Hall funds to aid with the refurbishment programme."

Tickets £8.80, concessions £6.60 (both including a 10% booking fee) Doors open 7.30pm.

Booking online available here

RockNess 2011

2011-06-10T09:57:00.000+01:00

As we have been driving past the village of Dores situated at South Loch Ness we have watched the preparations for the RockNess concert. It takes just two weeks for the area to be made finally ready and the concert is on for three days...today, Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th June. Although it has been showery and rather overcast this week, last night we had a beautiful sunset and today we are enjoying a clear blue sky so it looks good for all the concert goers. Hopefully they will all enjoy themselves and see the beauty of Loch Ness.

Bird Life ...big and small.

2011-06-06T12:42:00.000+01:00

The Boat of Garten Osprey Centre near Aviemore is the Scottish Spring and Summer home to EJ and Odin, a pair of ospreys who fly in from Africa every April to the same nest. They lay eggs and raise their chicks before flying back to Africa in late August as a family. The Osprey Centre is a good visit and is just an easy one hour drive from Loch Ness.At the Centre you can watch the ospreys on their nest high up a nearby tree via the webcam in great close up with the sound of the wind in the trees. EJ, the female osprey, has recently laid several eggs and two of them have now hatched and are being fed with fish by Odin, who is extremely good at fishing in nearby Loch Garten. For such large birds with large feet and talons they are so very careful around their young.
Here the garden is suddenly teeming with bird life. The male Great Spotted Woodpeckers are feeding on everything and then take beak fulls of food back to the females waiting in nests in nearby tree trunks.

At Loch Ness the swallows are now rapidly skimming over the surface of the water to catch the hovering insects. They keep zooming into the garage if it is open so we have to keep an eye on them and make sure they come out as we do not want them nesting inside.Saw these hungry dunnock chicks in the garden waiting to be fed as well as the robin giving himself a 'spring clean' in the bath before returning to the nest.

New life is starting all over again and is marvellous to watch.

Bluebells of Scotland.

2011-05-21T10:00:00.001+01:00

The wild bluebells are now in full bloom and can be seen along the road side verges and covering the floor of the forests producing a pleasant profusion of purple petals.

'SWAN LOCH' - the Scottish version of the ballet.

2011-05-05T16:58:00.001+01:00

The last two weeks have been absolutely glorious with a clear blue sky day and night. The temperature has been pleasantly warm accompanied by a mild sea breeze drifting along Loch Ness. It has been so nice to be able to enjoy sitting outside again and just watch the world go by granting the occasional wave at walkers and boaters alike. Walking down to Inverfarigaig Pier to go up to the post box we saw these five mute swans which seemed very comfortable with each others company so they are possibly from the same family as before. It was extremely reflective to stand on Farigaig Pier and look at the panoramic view down towards Inverness and see these swans enjoying the peaceful life on Loch Ness.

Red squirrels.

2011-05-01T18:34:00.000+01:00

The native red squirrels are often spotted on the feeding platform outside Aspenwood Cottage in Inverfarigaig happily munching on the peanuts and sunflower hearts. At this time of year they grow splendid ear tufts and their tails become bushier. We saw a couple of adults chasing each other around a tree trunk with a bit of spitting thrown in, no doubt claiming their territory and protecting their partners. We look forward to seeing the offspring soon as they are great fun to watch.

Easter Weekend on the Caledonian Canal

2011-04-15T22:52:00.001+01:00

Well the weather is set to be fine for the Easter week holiday. Time flies and winter looks to be well and truly behind us now. We are planning to have a walk along the Caledonian Canal probably from Fort Augustus and while we are at Fort Augustus will have a short riverside walk to look for Kingfishers. We have seen them here before but only once as are not common around here I think we are on their northernmost boundary.

The main thing is to get out there and enjoy the mild spring weather and have a nice Easter break everyone.

Lambs asleep in Dores!

2011-04-15T12:52:00.000+01:00

Last weekend we had a 'Highland Heatwave' with gorgeous high temperatures and sunshine galore. The rest of the week has been changeable with welcoming short showers to cool down the warm spring weather which allowed for plenty of work tidying up the garden. The birds, bees and red admiral butterflies appeared and the wild primroses were on show sprouting up on the woodland carpet and along the roadside verges.

In the fields near the village of Dores the lambs are enjoying their first days in the world especially in the warm sunshine although life can be rather tiring at times!

Litter louts! at Loch Ness

2011-04-13T21:01:00.001+01:00

The south Loch Ness Tourist Group and many of the South Loch Ness comunity turned out last Sunday to do a 10 mile litter pick up along the lochside. it was a great day for it too.

Now today we went for a lunchtime walk into the Farigaig pass (beautiful) and passed a Turner-Hire truck with a trailer full of lawn mowers on the back parked in the layby in Inverfarigaig. The guys inside were having their lunch and what a lovely spot to choose.

You probably guessed by now the jist of this post! When we walked back passed where they were having lunch they had gone but had left their lunch rubbish, milk bottles as well chucked all over the floor.

So Mr www.Turner-hire.co.uk if you know who these guys are I hope you would black list them as customers or at the very least give them a lecture about their loutish behaviour, its so easy to just take your litter homeand put it in rubbish bin or better stil the bottles in recycle bins. On SouthLoch Ness side your trucks will from now on be closely monitored!!

Businesses dont sell yourself short

2011-04-11T16:07:00.001+01:00

There are to many really nice high quality cottages, B&B's and even hotels who sell themselves short when it comes to showing their product on the web and in printed media.

I am regularly dismayed at some of the low quality images I am given by tourism businesses for displaying their rooms or cottages on the web. The old saying, "a picture paints a thousand words" is never truer than in tourism. Anyone thinking of putting a picture on a website or advertisement should always try to see the picture as a potential customer and ask themself, "would this picture make me book into this place or buy this product" i think in very many cases the answer would be NO.

Even amateur photographers these days ought to be able to get reasonable pictures with a modern digital camera, but to spend hundreds of thousands of pounds on property and high quality furnishings, then let yourself down with rubbish pictures is just economic suicide.

Take my advice, if you want to improve conversion rates for your accommodation then hire a professional photographer. He won't make a silk purse from a sows ear but sure a hell he won't make a pigs ear out of a silk purse either.

Look at this self catering property owned by a professional photographer - The Boys Dormitory to see exactly what i mean.

Author Andy www.tourism-site-fix.co.uk

South Loch Ness Litter Free!

2011-04-10T22:11:00.001+01:00

We had a great day today doing the annual litter pick up along Loch Ness shore from Dores to Foyers ending up with drinks and lovely buffet at the Waterfall cafe at Foyers. Not so much rubbish this year mostly plastic bottles thrown down by the marathon runners on October. They dont mean to leave them of course people go behind them clearing up but obviously they are not as thorough as the local community. Just a word for any marathon runners, please drop your plastic rubbish in the gutter, not in ditches and banks along the road becauss your clean up guys dont seem to step off the tarmac surface to pick up yout rubbish!.. We the south Loch Ness Tourist Group and members of the local community have been doing the litter pick for a number of years now and when we first started doing it there were tyres, fridges carpets, matresses, you name it we found it!! nowadays its a pleasure to do it especially on a glorious day like today.
Thanks fo revery one who turned out today it just gets better every year. It would be nice if we could expand our range in future years to take in more of our scenic places of which we have many.

Red squirrels come to feed.

2011-04-08T12:54:00.000+01:00

It was so good to see the red squirrels feeding away at the peanut feeders outside the window. We always worry that they will not make it through the harsh winters but they somehow survive and thrive.

Pine marten in the area.

2011-03-30T13:30:00.002+01:00

Had to replace all of the metal suet ball feeders as they have been demolished and scattered far and wide by the local pine martens residing in Farigaig Forest. They are now securely tied to the hooks along the fence. Guests staying in our cottage overlooking Loch Ness were fortunate enough to witness a pine marten boldly eating at the peanut feeders in the early evening a couple of years ago and took this video.

Snow and Sparrowhawk.

2011-03-18T17:39:00.000Z

The sudden spell of wintry weather is still with us with temperatures just above freezing during the day and minus at night.There is thick snow on the mountains opposite but luckily the snow has disappeared from around our house as we are so near the warming influence of Loch Ness. A friend came to visit us from the nearby village of Foyers yesterday and she could not believe we were snow free as they had a foot of it surrounding their farm and more snow was falling. It is amazing the change in landscape you can see in a short distance as you are climbing upwards. The birds are being well fed and so is the predatory sparrowhawk. This one was in pursuit of a siskin but both flew into the window of the conservatory as we were enjoying a quiet lunch. The sparrowhawk was really winded and kindly sat for a few minutes posing for these photos before flying off into the forest. I picked the siskin up which was shocked but still alive and left him on the bird table to recover which he did before flying off to live another day.

Bird Life

2011-03-07T18:25:00.000Z

During the past two weeks we have noticed that there are less birds feeding at the various feeding stations.

Although the predatory sparrowhawk has been in the local area looking for his lunch with his beady eyes the main reason seems to be that the smaller birds are building nests in the nearby coniferous woodlands. We can hear them noisily going about their business in Farigaig Forest but we now have a welcome break from the frenetic feeding they required during the cold winter spell.
After a brief warm spell it has become rather chilly lately with a south-westerly breeze coming along the Great Glen producing white waves on Loch Ness. This is forecast to last until the end of the week so maybe they know something we don't.

Weather or not.....

2011-02-20T10:25:00.001Z

Last week was very cold and some days maintained a clear blue sky all day. On one of these days I took a stroll down to the nearby beach for a closer look of Loch Ness and the snowy mountains opposite. All the stones on the beach were frozen together and it was extremely slippery. Managed to get to the chairs and grabbed hold of them. They had a thick frost on them so decided not to sit down and stood up to soak in the view. Found that some kind soul had left a stout walking stick next to them which I gratefully made use of on the slippery walk back home. As the week progressed it began to get a little warmer and the temperatures for next week are looking good....even reaching double figures.

Weasel watching.

2011-02-02T10:11:00.000Z

Sitting watching the birds feed one afternoon when I noticed a siskin suddenly disappear into the earth. Went out to investigate this strange phenomenon and found the dead siskin stuck head first in the mouth of a narrow tunnel. As I was digging it out and filling in the hole to ensure no more future accidents I heard rustling from underground very nearby. As I watched, luckily armed with the camera, two little black eyes and a head emerged from another hole about 2 feet away and I realised it was a weasel that we had merely glimpsed recently as it darted rapidly around under the bird table. It emerged from the hole, gave me a good hard stare of disapproval for blocking up one of his tunnel exits and disappeared back down the hole. The weasel will certainly keep the mice and vole population down but they have been known to take squirrels too. Luckily our red squirrels are not showing in this cold spell and are tucked up in their dreys in the forest only occasionally popping out for food they have stashed away somewhere.

Scottish Open comes to the Highlands.

2011-01-25T15:59:00.001Z

A golf course near Inverness in the Highlands is hosting the Barclays Scottish Open for the next three years. This has been held for the last fifteen years at Loch Lomond Golf Club but it is now coming to Castle Stuart on the Moray Firth between July 7-10th. There will be live coverage of the event, which is part of golf's European Tour, on Sky Sports and BBC and it is the most northerly British venue to stage a European Tour event. The Castle Stuart Golf Links club only fully opened last year and has already been voted one of the best new links courses in the world. It has an unusual art deco clubhouse overlooking the Moray Firth and is within easy distance of Inverness Airport and should be very good for a variety of businesses in Inverness as well as the surrounding area. It is perfect preparation for The Open Championship which this year will be staged at Royal St. George, Kent from July 14th. Last year the Scottish Open at Loch Lomond was won by Italian Edoardo Molinari.

Click for more information.

Snow on tops

2011-01-12T15:35:00.010Z

More snow has been falling mainly on higher ground making Mealfourvonie, the highest mountain around Loch Ness, look very picturesque. The clear skies overnight have caused an extra problem of the recent snow and sleety rain icing up and the driveway is a glistening sheet of ice so we are not venturing out today for anybody. More snow is forecast for this morning and below zero temperatures for a few days and nights ahead. The good news is that by Saturday the temperature is expected to be a tropical 10C so we might be taking a dip in the loch....not!

Skating on thin ice.

2011-01-08T13:58:00.000Z

Driving by one of the smaller lochs near Loch Ruthven, which has a famous RSPB Nature Reserve because of the breeding pairs of Slavonian Grebes, we noticed there was still thick ice on the surface especially by the waters edge. The sun shining on the icy surface of the loch produced a very picturesque scene. More snow fell last Thursday and the temperatures are below zero during the day with a clear night sky full of stars.

Journey through the seasons.

2010-12-30T12:55:00.000Z

We have lived on the south side of Loch Ness now for many years and are still amazed by the wonderful things we see. The ever changing scenery and the wildlife is fantastic. So sit back and relax, turn up the volume and take a 'Journey through the Seasons' at just some of the sights we have seen this past year.
Wishing all viewers a HEALTHY AND HAPPY 2011.

Feeding time.

2010-12-15T13:29:00.000Z

During the last week most of the snow and ice on lower ground has melted in the warmer temperatures although there are still some white patches on higher levels. The deer and stags are now able to get to the grass and moss easier and are filling up before the coming cold snap which is forecast very soon.

Red squirrel in the snow near Loch Ness...

2010-12-09T21:40:00.000Z

A white Christmas for this red squirrel outside Aspenwood Cottage on Loch Ness by Inverfarigaig forest.

Winter scenes

2010-12-06T15:19:00.001Z

Snow arrives at Loch Ness

2010-11-27T15:07:00.000Z

It has been snowing here on South Loch Ness Side since Wednesday afternoon off and on although not as bad as in other parts of the UK. Even neighbouring villages situated on higher ground are experiencing much worse weather conditions than we are and we seem to be in some sort of 'happy valley' at this lower level by South Loch Ness Side. The scenes surrounding us have been very picturesque and the walk this morning up to the post box was relaxing with many stops along the way just to admire the small wonders of the natural world.
Sit back and enjoy the walk too....do turn the sound up ..but not if you are supposed to be in the office working !

Monopolising the board.

2010-11-12T11:01:00.000Z

The new Highlands & Islands edition of MONOPOLY is now in Aspenwood Cottage overlooking Loch Ness waiting for guests to enjoy trading in the local property market. We are very pleased to see that Loch Ness features as the most expensive asset. Among those included on the board are the Highland Wildlife Park, Aviemore, the Glenfinnan Viaduct, the Cairngorms, the Isles of Skye and Mull as well as our local Inverness Caley Thistle Football Club to name but a few.

New polar bear at the Highland Wildlife Park

2010-11-08T11:42:00.000Z

A new 23 month old male polar bear has now moved into his own enclosure at the Highland Wildlife Park near Kingussie called Walker. He has been transported from Rhenen Zoo in the Netherlands and has settled in well investigating his new surroundings and playing about in the mud.....so he has now become a brown bear for a while. Walker's mother Huggies is expecting another litter so zoo bosses decided it was time to find him a new home before she gives birth.
He has seen his new companion, 28 year old 'Mercedes', until now the UK's only resident polar bear, who is not too sure of this new young addition but will calm down in time and they will be introduced gradually. In the long term it is hoped that Walker will become the park's breeding male with the introduction of a new young female once Mercedes has passed away.
Find out more about Walker and the Highland Wildlife Park - a good day out from Loch Ness and only a pleasant 50 mile trip passing by Aviemore.

VPS a great a success with visitors to Loch Ness | Visit Loch Ness Blog

2010-10-28T00:13:00.000+01:00

VPS a great a success with visitors to Loch Ness Visit Loch Ness Blog

Waxwings sighted

2010-10-27T13:37:00.000+01:00

There has been a sudden influx of migrant blackbirds from Northern Europe who are very hungry and thirsty and spend alot of time eating, drinking and splashing about in the bird bath. Not sure exactly what weather conditions they left behind them.

Birdwatchers in the north have been reporting large invasions of exotic waxwings, a bird the size of a starling that breeds in Russia and Northern Scandinavia. They have a silky grey-brown plumage with waxy red,white and yellow markings on each wing, a prominent crest and a black throat. These invasions are quite erratic, possibly due to a failure in the crop of their favourite food of rowan berries or a population explosion after a particularly good rowan harvest. Flocks this week have been sighted in Sutherland, Nethybridge, at the RSPB nature reserve at Abernethy and, not far from here, a flock of about 150 at Burghead in Moray.
We have actually seen waxwings once before about ten years ago when a large gang suddenly descended on the nearby rowan trees in late September and rapidly stripped the trees bare of berries. Think we might have seen a flock of them in Inverness today.

Autumn arrives

2010-10-17T12:48:00.000+01:00

The leaves on the trees are beginning to change into many different shades before they tumble to the ground and the top road is now looking very colourful as we drive into Inverness. From Monday we have been experiencing extremely low cloud and freezing fog with temperatures in single figures and poor visibility. This contrasts sharply to the weather we had last weekend when the sky was a clear blue and it was unseasonably mild with temperatures in the mid 60F on the west coast and the Isle of Skye in particular. I don't suppose we will experience mild weather for some time.

2010 Loch Ness Marathon

2010-10-04T14:50:00.002+01:00

Walked up to Aspenwood Holiday Cottage on the Inverfarigaig road yesterday to watch and cheer on the Loch Ness Marathon runners pass by en route from Whitebridge to Bught Park in Inverness. This year has the largest entry field in the history of the Baxters Loch Ness Marathon and Festival of Running with more than 8,600 runners from 41 different countries.There are several events as well as the 26 mile Marathon - the River Ness 10K, the 10K Corporate Challenge, the 5K Fun Run and, new this year, the Wee Nessie 400m for pre-school children.

First past the winning post was a Great Britain International, although originally born in Ethiopia, Tomas Abyn who first won this race 7 years ago. He finished in 2hrs 20mins and 50secs. The winning female was also from Ethiopia and was competing for the first time and finished about 20 minutes later.

Even though it was raining we all cheered on the runners, some very colourfully dressed, as they thundered or limped along in front of us. Last year one of our guests took part in the Marathon and completed it. This year a guest staying at Aspenwood Cottage was intending to participate but sadly had to pull out due to an injury but he did walk up from the holiday cottage to watch and cheer on his two friends who were able to compete.

As we walked back home the rain stopped and the sun came out so the rest of the Marathon was completed in sunshine which must have been alot easier-if that is possible- and much more pleasant and scenic for all concerned.

Dores

2010-09-27T16:21:00.000+01:00

A bright weekend but very chilly with reports in the local newspaper of a 2 inch covering of snow on the Cairngorm Mountains, enough for children to enjoy but not enough for skiing just yet. Took a trip into Inverness on Sunday and stopped at the Dores Inn on the way back for a walk along the beach and to enjoy the view...this is one of our favourites. The car park was quite full of people having Sunday lunch and the resident ducks were, not surprisingly, full up too. The Jacobite Queen came into view sailing along close to the opposite shore after taking passengers on a trip to Urquhart Castle and back to Inverness.

Kayaks.

2010-09-15T12:02:00.001+01:00

The sport of kayakking is proving to be very popular and we see alot of groups of kayaks and canoes out on the water of Loch Ness. Most are sensible and respect the water but we do see some rather reckless people out on the water and the RNLI is often called out to help them in difficulties.Guests in our cottage this week have brought their kayak on holiday and we allow them to park it in front of our house for easy access to Loch Ness.

Filming on Loch Ness

2010-08-27T12:14:00.000+01:00

The following information and photo was posted to us by the Loch Ness RNLI.

"Timothy and Shane Spall filming with Loch Ness RNLI today.

Timothy Spall (Harry Potter, Alice in Wonderland, Auf Wiedersehen Pet) and his wife, Shane, will be filming on Loch Ness today as part of their adventures for Spalls At Sea, a documentary about life aboard their 50 foot Barge as they travel around the coast of Britain.
They have a film maker embarking during the day today and Loch Ness RNLI Lifeboat will be on the water during this event.
Tim and Shane are great supporters of the RNLI and have been calling in at RNLI stations and meeting the volunteers as they travel.
Loch Ness has been a very much anticipated highlight for the duo and they plan to be in the area for the Glen Urquhart Games and Gathering on Saturday.
Last night they met the crew of the lifeboat and witnessed a training exercise.

Pictures are Timothy Spall, Loch Ness RNLI member Gordon Menzies and Shane Spall."

The 'Ness Express'

2010-08-27T08:09:00.001+01:00

The 'NESS EXPRESS' RIB [Rigid Inflatable Boat] is operating in its second year and is again proving to be very popular for those who enjoy a thrill on the water of Loch Ness. The 'Ness Express' One and Two both seat 12 people and are safe,comfortable, very fast and operate from April through to November.
They now do various trips, the most popular for our holiday guests has been the hour and a half trip from Fort Augustus up to Urquhart Castle and back.

Environment We Green The Great Glen with Sustainable Tourism

2010-08-22T19:57:00.000+01:00

Environment We Green The Great Glen with Sustainable Tourism

Business booms at Waterfall Cafe

2010-08-13T14:13:00.000+01:00

Passing the newly refurbished Waterfall Cafe in Foyers this lunchtime we saw cars parked along the side of the road and the car park was crammed full. The Cafe was buzzing with no empty tables left inside and groups of tourists were sitting outside with food and drinks. This is really good to see and we are pleased for the new owners - Jan and Simon - who have put alot of time,effort and money into this new project.

New owners open Waterfall Cafe in Foyers.

2010-08-05T09:59:00.002+01:00

The new Waterfall Cafe opposite the Falls of Foyers in the village of Foyers [formally known as The Red Squirrel Cafe] opened again for business on Monday 2nd August. Several famous Foyers residents cut the ribbon at the opening ceremony. The new owners - Jan and Simon Hargreaves - live in the apartment above the cafe and adjoining stores and hope the cafe venue will once again be used as a community centre for the village. The large outside decking area allows diners to eat and enjoy the views and the inside of the cafe has been completely renovated during the past six months. Locally produced food including soup, cakes and fish will be sold on the premises which has housed a cafe for more than 100 years. The local squirrels have not been overlooked and feeding boxes for the red squirrels, commonly seen in the area, have been placed outside and will be regularly topped up with peanuts so everyone will remain happy now.

Double trouble

2010-07-23T15:55:00.000+01:00

The red squirrels have had a good breeding season in Farigaig Forest and we often see two or even three feeding together - a good sign of a healthy family. They can be great fun to watch as they scamper from the forest into the garden trying out all the various feeders and chasing each other around the bushes and trees.

Life on Loch Ness

2010-07-12T16:25:00.000+01:00

No matter what the weather there are usually yachts to be seen on Loch Ness now. The last few days have been very interesting weather wise and certainly never boring. Even though it has been pleasantly warm with temperatures just below 20C we have experienced sunshine, drizzle, rain showers and quite high winds.
Last Wednesday was extremely viscious with wind speeds of about 50mph. Even so some intrepid sailors would not give in and braved the elements bumping up and down on the white water. We were quite surprised to see this yacht on the rough water flying the Swedish flag and making spray everywhere.

In the evening the nasty weather seems to magically scurry away somewhere and the sun shines down so we have been able to sit outside and watch the sun setting over the mountain opposite.

A Tail of woe.

2010-06-30T17:32:00.002+01:00

A very frantic lady parked her car at the bottom of our driveway this morning and rushed up our drive with a tale of woe..or 'tail of woe'.She was a local lass from the nearby village and while walking her dogs along the forest track in front of our house one of her Jack Russell terriers had broken its lead and escaped into the woods.We were working ourselves up to go on a walk anyway up to Easter Boleskine so we said we would look out for it and call its name.The dog in question was unfortutately called 'Kipper' so we had great fun walking through the woods calling out 'Here Kipper' every now and then as if we were fish merchants..we expected people to appear with their money for the local fish van.We looked high and low as we strode up into Farigaig Forest passing the Easter Boleskine Wetlands project which now has a new wooden jetty built by a group of 35 officer cadets from Tayforth University Officers Training Corps army cadet officers recently.

Come here...there's more.....The story does have a happy ending.
After our uneventful walk we phoned up the lady owner to say we had not had any luck so far and she breathlessly but very happily informed us that 'Kipper' had been seen by German tourists.She had talked to them while they were sitting having a picnic at Farigaig Forestry Picnic Site and they said a dog answering Kipper's description had being taken in to a cottage in Inverfarigaig and the cottage owner had phoned her up and reunited the pair.Both were very, very happy and so were we.

Young woopeckers visit.

2010-06-25T14:08:00.000+01:00

More young Great Spotted Woodpeckers have been to visit the various feeders in the garden area. Although they are almost the same size as adults they are very obvious by their prominent red crown sitting on top of their heads rather like a hat. Just before taking this photo it landed on a rather thin branch nearby but was unable to grip it tightly so it dangled rather ungainly upside down for a while before managing somehow to grasp onto the suet ball. The juvenile and female do not have the prominent red mark on the nape of the neck which is so obvious on the adult male in the photos below. Both male and female do have red markings on the abdomen and undertail.The female is rather elusive and we have only seen her once so maybe she is looked after by the family after all her hard work.

Boleskine Wetlands Project update.

2010-06-15T19:18:00.001+01:00

A group of 35 officer cadets from Tayforth University Officers Training Corps have recently constructed a new jetty stretching out into the pond at the Boleskine Wetlands Project at Easter Boleskine near Foyers.This is part of an annual scheme to carry out community initiatives.

The new jetty will enable children to safely go pond-dipping without disturbing the edges of the pond where many delicate insects live.This jetty is the final part of the scheme to turn a piece of barren farmland into a thriving wetland.Treasurer of the wetland scheme Frank Ellam of Easter Boleskine said the jetty looked 'splendid' and the cadets had done a wonderful job.Hopefully the wildlife will continue to flourish and also be more visible to pond watchers young and old.

RockNess 2010

2010-06-10T14:10:00.000+01:00

The RockNess Music Festival is based at the village of Dores at the eastern end of Loch Ness and take place on Friday 11th June through to Sunday 13th June. We have watched them setting up the big blue and red tents used as stages as well as the rows of sleeping tents that people can hire for the three day event. The line-up includes Fatboy Slim who was the driving force behind the original RockNess event four years ago. Some of the other turns on show are Friendly Fires, Leftfield, The Strokes, Ian Brown, Doves and Blondie as well as many more. The weather is set to be fair over the weekend so the beautiful backdrop of Loch Ness should be amazing, hopefully with a smashing sunset.

Canoeists on Loch Ness

2010-06-01T12:38:00.000+01:00

The sport of canoeing on Loch Ness has really become very popular recently - possibly helped by Fred MacAuley and friends when the TV showed their progress from near Fort William to Inverness during the coldest winter for years. We see quite a few canoeists pass by, some are being sensible but others we worry about. They do come in all shapes, sizes and ages. A pensioner from Lower Foyers has just completed a 71 mile trip paddling round Loch Ness on a fund raising mission. Recently a 28-strong group of Asda employees from stores throughout the UK completed the 21 mile paddle along the length of Loch Ness in just 5 hours and 19 minutes claiming a world record for this event.Their feat means they have raised a sizeable amount of money for the Tickled Pink initiative supporting breast cancer. They started at 7am and crossed the finishing line at Dores beach just after noon....we were tired out just watching them!

Walking at Loch Ness Creating a new Loch Ness Trail | Visit Loch Ness Blog

2010-05-26T16:54:00.000+01:00

Walking at Loch Ness Creating a new Loch Ness Trail Visit Loch Ness Blog

Spring time.

2010-05-15T16:37:00.000+01:00

Several young red squirrels have been regular visitors to the garden lately and enjoy playing about in the wild primroses. All the plants are flowering later this year after the harsh winter we experienced but we are thrilled to see the new batch of squirrels in the Spring sunshine.

Wild primroses in bloom.

2010-05-05T15:46:00.000+01:00

The cold Winter and the rather wet start to Spring has delayed the opening of many of the native wild flowers. This week the wild primroses have just started to appear on the woodland floor and line the roadside verges from Inverfarigaig to Dores on the south side of Loch Ness. The next to appear will be the wild bluebells but not for a few weeks yet.

Red squirrels

2010-04-27T15:55:00.000+01:00

We were concerned that the extremely severe winter weather had affected the red squirrel population around South Loch Ness but we have seen several lately. This cheeky chap arrived outside the cottage and really enjoyed himself on the nut feeders. Notice the lovely long ear tufts - very useful for the cold weather.

Cruises on Loch Ness.

2010-04-20T12:09:00.000+01:00

Yesterday was very wet and windy making the water of Loch Ness extremely choppy.Several cruisers passed along the loch bobbing up and down like corks on the white waves.The 117ft 'Scottish Highlander' barge seemed to take these weather conditions in its stride and glided smoothly by. This spacious luxury barge sleeps 8 and is available for hire for a 6 night trip. It cruises along the Great Glen from Inverness towards Fort William and uses a minibus for excursions along the way to Cawdow Castle and Culloden Moor.The temperature dropped overnight and we woke up to see a covering of snow on the mountains opposite although the wind had died down and the rain had stopped. Along came the Jacobite Legend,one of three boats which form the Jacobite fleet offering cruises on Loch Ness. It was very close to the house and not on its usual route cruising along the Caledonian Canal to view the ruins of Urquhart Castle. It was possibly a corporate event as there were lots of people inside,and a few brave ones on the top deck,who seemed to be having a good time.

Lambs at Dores.

2010-04-13T07:57:00.001+01:00

On the way back from Inverness this afternoon we saw our first lambs in the field at Dores where gangs of them were playing and leaping about in the warm sunshine. The weekend weather has been gorgeous with temperatures nearing 20C and the week is set quite fair.

Lochan Torr an Tuill.

2010-04-07T20:18:00.000+01:00

After the final blizzard of a dying winter last Wednesday we are now experiencing Spring at last with the temperature into double figures. All 5 Ski Centres in the Highlands have had their best season for a long time and they are all staying open until May. Good Friday was literally a good friday, chilly but with a clear blue cloudless sky. It encouraged us to go on a 6 mile walk. We strode out along the forest road beside the river and up to the bridge, through Farigaig Forest trails and up to the 'wee pond' as it is known by locals which is alot easier to say than its official name of Lochan Torr an Tuill. We were surprised to see all the damage done on the trees by the weight of the snow and ice during the earlier months of the year and the forestry staff must have worked flat out to keep the road clear. The 'wee pond' was very calm and peaceful but still surrounded by patches of snow. The scene from the top bench viewpoint overlooking Loch Ness and Urquhart Castle was awesome and well worth all the huffing and puffing to get there. The Easter weekend saw a variety of boating craft on the loch - cruisers, the Fingal barge, the Ness Express RIB, private yachts and even a few kayaks. It is good to see the boats and walkers out again and it is so pleasant to be able to sit outside and watch the world and his wife go by.

Birds...little and large.

2010-03-29T16:19:00.003+01:00

A few private yachts and cruisers have been braving the elements this week on Loch Ness as well as the usual trawlers and working craft. The cruise ship 'Lord of the Glens' glided quietly by with passengers looking forward to their Easter break. I don't think they will be doing much sunbathing on the upper deck though as the temperature has dropped to single figures again and snow is forecast for next week on lower ground. When we moved up here 14 years ago it was snowing in late April then and we thought it was really wonderful as we still do.

The birds have been singing their hearts out lately and it can be really noisy at certain times of the day, making you feel as if you are in the tropical rain forest somewhere. Flocks of colourful green and yellow male siskins have arrived along with their rather dowdy female companions and are gorging on the sunflower hearts.

Down at Loch Garten Osprey Centre EJ, the female osprey, has recently returned to the nesting site for the 8th season and is awaiting Odin her mate to arrive from Africa, a journey of 3,000 miles. The Osprey Centre opens on April 1st and is a good visit as you can watch these magnificent birds of prey up close on the giant webcam as they dive for fish and rear their young chicks.
We will be looking out for Ollie - the osprey who has a nest somewhere near Loch Ness and we often see him from April onwards hovering over the loch looking for a fishy lunch.We have seen him dive into the water and emerge with a fish and also seen him chased off by a brave gang of hooded crows.

Spring is here at last.

2010-03-24T16:47:00.001Z

The weather has been improving this week and we have been able to sit outside although a jacket is required due to the slight chill off the water of Loch Ness. The temperature has been into double figures and the forecast is for it to stay that way but with the possibility of a ground frost some nights. Had a few welcome rain showers which has washed alot of the snow away from the mountain tops opposite and the roads are now quite clear. Last Friday was very windy here and a spectacular wind speed of 113mph was recorded at the top of Cairn Gorm...luckily we did not have it that bad!

The level of the loch has been very high although the family of resident swans near Fairigaig Pier seem to be enjoying life... Fred MacAulay should have chosen this week to camp on the pier. We met some young lads eager to fish off the pier after seeing the TV programme. Looking forward to this Sunday when the clocks go ahead one hour so it will be lighter later.

Sport Relief Challenge.

2010-03-14T18:15:00.001Z

On three of the coldest days of the worst winter for 30 years Fred MacAulay and Dougie Vipond set out on a Sport Relief Challenge. Their challenge was to paddle a tandem kayak the length of the Caledonian Canal from Fort William on the west coast to Inverness on the east coast of the Highlands of Scotland. Unfortunately at 8am on day one [22 Feb] they found the Canal at Neptune's Staircase near Fort William was frozen solid with thick ice so they had no option but to carry their 25 ft boat and paddles and walk alongside the canal. They covered more than 7 miles by lunchtime mainly by foot and managed to pitch their tent near Loch Oich for the night. On day two we just caught sight of them as they passed our house in their kayak with a TV crew in the parallel orange craft.They made better time than we expected and nearly caught us out. Above them was a TV crew in a helicopter filming scenes of the Great Glen for the forthcoming TV programme. Although the temperatures were well below zero day and night the sky remained a clear blue so the Great Glen and Loch Ness should look spectacular in the film.

Unbeknown to us they actually camped on Farigaig Pier for the night...we thought they would stay in Dores village or camp on the beach - so Farigaig Pier could be famous at last!
This TV programme is called 'Up a long Creek' and is to be shown this coming Wednesday 17th March on BBC1 Scotland from 9 to 10pm - so do take a look.
Loch Ness has increasingly become a very popular holiday destination for kayak enthusiasts.

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2010-03-12T21:08:00.001Z

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Chanonry Point dolphin display.

2010-03-05T11:32:00.002Z

Guests staying in our holiday cottage on South Loch Ness Side went to Chanonry Point on the Black Isle where they were lucky enough to see about 15 bottlenose dolphins.
It is one of the best dolphin spotting sites in Europe with a large resident population of bottlenose dolphins.
Chanonry Point is a spit of sand that juts out into a narrow but deep channel of the Moray Firth opposite Fort George. Here different currents converge bringing fish close to the surface and thus the dolphins close to the shore. Prime dolphin spotting time is the hour or so before high tide as the dolphins come in on the tide in their hunt for food.
Bottlenose dolphins are very adept at leaping clear of the water often in unison with other dolphins in their group and can sometimes put on a spectacular display. Although we have been to Chanonry Point several times we have not always been lucky enough to see them as they cannot be guaranteed to show. Even so - there are picnic tables to sit at and enjoy lunch while watching and hoping for them to appear.

Construction works commence on Fort Augustus village improvements.

2010-02-24T09:47:00.000Z

Construction works commence on Fort Augustus village improvements.
It's nice to see the local authorities recognise that Fort Augustus needs to be kept looking loved!

By the light.....

2010-02-20T06:38:00.000Z

The snow returned this week and is still lying thickly on the higher ground although it has melted on lower ground . The mountains opposite and the high fields are covered again. It has also been very frosty at night and the freezing temperature continues throughout the day. The clear night sky allows for a good showing of the stars and the silver crescent moon reflected in the water of Loch Ness.

Reflections in Loch Ness.

2010-02-12T18:25:00.000Z

Witnessed this beautiful sunset reflected in the water of Loch Ness the other evening and we went out to watch the ever changing colours in the sky and in the water. Had thick coats on as it was below freezing but the 'wee dram' clasped tightly in our hands helped keep us warm inside.

RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch

2010-01-29T16:40:00.002Z

The snow which started falling on December 19th finally disappeared last week along with the thick compacted ice underneath and we breathed a huge sigh of relief. We were able to get back to normality after 5 weeks of extreme weather conditions and actually drive our car into Inverness. Unfortunately we did wake up this morning to a white out blizzard and a new layer of snow everywhere...what a nice surprise! Luckily we ordered more peanuts, fat balls and bird seed in the week as delivery vans are now able to drive along the lane to our house once more. This food all arrived very promptly so all the birds have returned for nourishment in this new snowy period. The water in the bird bath has frozen over again due to a very chilly wind from the north making the temperatures feel like -5C. The RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch is this weekend so should have quite a few bird species to count over a one hour period in this weather.

Thaw beginning

2010-01-16T13:23:00.003Z

After 4 weeks of extreme weather conditions - well below zero temperatures,blizzards,freezing fog,thick ice - the thaw has finally arrived. We have all suffered in some way but also there has been a great feeling of togetherness from friends and neighbours. Some of the scenes have been truly magical but it will be nice to get back to normal. Guests really enjoyed the White Christmas but alot of us had to cancel guests for the New Year due to very bad road conditions.
A prosperous 2010 to all.

Woodpecker rescue.....

2010-01-04T16:33:00.003Z

We were enjoying a nice relaxed breakfast looking at all the birds gently feeding when the great spotted woodpecker descended on the suet ball hanging from the tree near the window. He is always a joy to watch as he is rather large and colourful and not seen very often due to his occasional fleeting visit. Suddenly the predatory sparrowhawk swooped from behind and surprised him and us. The woodpecker crashed into the window and the sparrowhawk flew off to seek another target.Luckily the woodpecker bounced off the glass and landed in the pile of softish snow head first. Quickly donning wellies and a coat I found the stunned bird and attempted to lift him out of the snowdrift. He ungratefully showed his thanks by squawking at me so loudly that I thought gloves would offer me more protection from his sharp long beak. I quickly carried him across to the safety of the bird table and even put the suet ball in reach in case he was hungry.Several birds attempted to land on the table but were quite amazed to find it occupied by a rather unusual species. He was really stunned and we were quite worried although we did see his head move now and again. He sat for a good hour before a big fat blackbird landed and caused him to come to his senses. We were very pleased to see him actually move up the strut of the bird table even though he did attempt to peck at the wooden structure. After a few minutes he flew across to the trees nearby and we breathed a sigh of relief...Woody Woodpecker lives to fight another day.

White Christmas

2009-12-31T11:33:00.002Z

It started snowing on South Loch Ness on Saturday 19th December and we have had flurries and heavy showers ever since, even snowing on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. It was really magical especially as we were watching the Bing Crosby film 'White Christmas' as the snow actually fell giving us and our guests a real White Christmas. Our guests have had to leave their cars at the top of the lane leading down to the holiday cottage as the snow is just under one foot deep. The temperatures are well below zero during the day now with the threat of -10C tonight. Look at the forecast for the Highlands. Beautiful as it is we have not been able to get out in the car since last Tuesday as the driveway is sheet ice and the side roads are treacherous. Birds have been well fed and the deer and red squirrels have turned up now and again. HAPPY NEW YEAR to all who enjoy reading this blog.

Red squirrel in the snow.

2009-12-20T15:33:00.002Z

While we were preparing the cottage on Saturday for our Christmas guests the snow began to swirl and then fall quite thickly. We were very surprised to look out and see a red squirrel on the nut feeder outside the lounge window. The longer he stayed eating the more snow gathered on his bushy tail until he looked a bit like a Christmas decoration but he ignored it and just carried on enjoying his lunch. The red squirrels do not hibernate and need feeding all year round. Enjoy seeing him playing in the snow.
HAPPY CHRISTMAS EVERYBODY.

Freezing fog.....

2009-12-13T12:21:00.002Z

Could not see anything out of the windows yesterday morning except a very thick fog which stayed for most of the day. Could just make out the trees in front of the house but no sign of Loch Ness and we felt really cut off. The whole of the east coast had it very bad and Inverness airport was closed for a while due to the extreme foggy weather. At 5pm a mountain rescue team were called out to an area known as the Lost Valley in the Three Sisters in Glencoe in the Highlands to assist two climbers who had foolishly ventured out in these atrocious conditions. Unfortunately one of the climbers had died after falling in the mountainous area and the other is now recovering in Fort William Hospital. Today the fog has lifted slightly and we can see a little more of the loch and Urquhart Castle looming eerily out of the mist on the opposite shore. It will be below freezing all day and promises of -4C tonight. The log fire beckons.

Scenic route home.

2009-12-07T13:55:00.001Z

On our way back from Inverness this morning we took the scenic route home passing by the lochs on the top road, a road which used to be the main route from Inverness to Fort Augustus. This is always a pleasant ride which we never get tired of as there is always something new to see and my camera is always at the ready for snapping birds,wildlife and scenes such as these.

Long tailed tits arrive.

2009-12-04T16:51:00.002Z

Very cold today with freezing fog drifting down the Great Glen from the west. For a few hours in the late morning the fog cleared revealing a clear blue sky with snow still laying on the mountain tops enveloping Loch Ness. We wrapped up warm with the intention of clearing our gutters of debris but found that the leaves in the gutters were actually frozen to the plastic pipes and also the hose was frozen. We had a quick vote and abandoned the idea and decided to wait until the temperature was at least over zero. While we were inside warming up with a special coffee we noticed a flock of long tailed tits arriving on the nut feeders and suet balls...their first appearance this winter. See them in action.

Snow on St Andrew's Day

2009-11-30T14:53:00.001Z

The weather has been turning much chillier lately so we were not surprised to wake up on Sunday morning to see a layer of snow covering the mountains opposite. More snow fell overnight and the temperature today has not risen above 4C with the threat of a freezing -4C tonight.
Today is St Andrew's Day, the patron saint of Scotland, so we will be celebrating tonight by the fire with a few wee drams.... cheers.

Sparrowhawk

2009-11-27T17:41:00.003Z

While we were doing the changeover at the cottage yesterday we noticed this magnificent sparrowhawk sitting in the aspen tree outside the lounge window. He was watching the bird feeders along the fence with anticipation but all the birds had seen him coming and were well away. He stayed for a while and dried himself off by fluffing out his tail feathers. The male sparrowhawk is quite smaller than the female of the species which is rather unusual in animal life.
While we were at the cottage we had arranged for two new bathroom blinds and a new vertical blind to be fitted in the main bedroom. As we were taking down the old fittings in the master bedroom a red squirrel ran along the fence during an interval in the showers and munched away at the peanut feeders. Unfortunately the fitter drew up in his van and this noise was enough to scare away Cyril the squirrel...but at least they are still about.

Spot the Buzzard.

2009-11-19T19:19:00.000Z

Yesterday dawned clear and bright so we went into Inverness to collect a few items. As we were driving back home along the shoreline of Loch Ness a buzzard swooped low in front of the car and quickly disappeared into the woodland. They are unmistakable as they have a wingspan of between 3 to 5 feet depending on their age. A bit further on we passed another one sitting absolutely still in a tree, only spotting him as we drove past. By now I had the camera actually ready and sure enough another buzzard flew across the road and rested on a nearby branch in the forest. He remained absolutely motionless and blended magnificently into the woodland scene with perfect camouflage.

Kincraig Wildlife Park

2009-11-12T17:08:00.003Z

Enjoyed a very good day out at Kincraig Wildlife Park, about 7 miles beyond Aviemore passing the Loch Insh Watersports Centre. Even though it was cold [the temperature was -6C at Aviemore earlier in the morning] with a sharp frost on the ground the park was very busy for the time of year. The new arrivals must have encouraged visitors. These 3 Amur tiger cubs were born earlier in May this year.Also a baby Japanese snow monkey arrived and of course Mercedes the polar bear...who had just been fed and was fast asleep when we saw her. After a drive round the animal reserves we then explored the rest of the Park on foot seeing other animals at close quarters. We enjoyed some much needed hot soup in the restaurant.
For more information visit the Kincraig Wildlife Park website.

Some Pheasant !!

2009-11-10T17:48:00.001Z

Luckily ths type of pheasant does not frequent our garden as it is extremely large and brightly coloured and very likely to scare the local wildlife - as well as us!....and it sits in trees!
We saw this species of pheasant - the Himalayan Pheasant [Satyr Tragopan] - or Crimson Horned Pheasant on our visit to the Kincraig Wildlife Park this week. It lives in the upper cooler reaches of the Himalayan Mountain of India and China at about 10,000 feet making the Highlands seem quite warm ..... more about our visit to follow.....watch this space!!

Berry nice

2009-11-08T13:36:00.001Z

The flock of mistle thrushes have now migrated south after swarming around and gorging on anything tasty for the past week. The last few remaining rowan berries have finally dropped to the ground where they are being devoured mainly by the blackbirds and the odd passing pheasant.

Migrating Mistle Thrushes.

2009-11-04T15:50:00.004Z

Over the last few days we could not fail to notice abnormally large flocks of birds flying about. Some would eventually settle down on the trees around the house,especially on the rowan trees, and on the path loch-side. Anybody walking casually along the front path would trigger this swarm of birds to take off en masse, enough to frighten most folk on a quiet stroll. The birds have been eating the remaining rowan berries left on the trees and generally filling themselves up with any food available, sometimes looking and listening very intently to underground sounds on the grassy front bank.
We did wonder if they were waxwings which would be a sign of a cold winter but on closer inspection we discovered they were mistle thrushes. Apparently some of the Scottish species swarm about in large flocks in late Autumn to gorge themselves and then migrate south, across to Ireland or even to France for the winter. They are also known for their loud song, which we can verify as we could not believe the constant birdsong noise this morning, even though it was raining. Their loud song can be heard during stormy weather hence their alternative name of 'Stormcock'. They came quite near the house in their search for grubs on the front bank and driveway and a few stopped for a splash about in the rain puddles

Scottish Highlander barge.

2009-10-28T10:59:00.003Z

Whatever the weather certain passenger cruise craft have to carry out their business and entertain their guests. During an interval in the recent misty weather we saw the Scottish Highlander barge go up to Urquhart Castle in the afternoon on one of its 7 day cruises.The 117ft long craft travels from Inverness to Fort Augustus on the first day of its cruise where it docks for the night and the entertainment begins. The following day it journeys back up Loch Ness to Urquhart Castle allowing passengers to view the ancient structure at close hand from the loch whilst enjoying drinkies and lunch prepared and cooked by a master chef . By the time the barge returned to Fort Augustus, passing our house en route, the night was beginning to close in and it looked quite magnificent lit up in the darkness. The Scottish Highlander barge caters luxuriously for 8 passengers and cruises along the Great Glen from Inverness to Fort William stopping for day trips to various sites of scenic or historic relevance along the way.

Loch Oich

2009-10-18T13:02:00.002+01:00

On our journey down to Fort William recently we drove alongside Loch Ness for a while and over the mountain passing Loch Tarff. Skirted the village of Fort Augustus at the end of Loch Ness and enjoyed a leisurely journey to Loch Oich noticing all the time that the cloud base was getting lower. We had to stop at the swing bridge which was shut to allow the 'Lord of the Glens' cruise liner to pass through the Caledonian Canal from Loch Ness and onto a very mysterious misty Loch Oich.

2009 Loch Ness Marathon

2009-10-05T15:46:00.004+01:00

We woke up to a clear blue sky this morning which was a welcome change from the rather blustery weather we have been experiencing lately. Very pleased about that as the 2009 Loch Ness Marathon starts at 10 a.m. this morning. Walked up the grass track passing the holiday cottage to the top road to wait for the runners entering the Baxters Loch Ness Marathon this year and to look out for local celebrities...Graeme Ambrose is still up and running and doing well.The race starts at Whitebridge and they run the 26 miles - initially along the south side of Loch Ness, up the punishing undulating uplands beyond Dores and eventually finish in Inverness by the River Ness. One of our guests was entering the Marathon for the first time so we watched and waited with Michelle and their dog Nikita. It was very chilly but great fun and we had some good laughs with the competitors as we tried to keep their spirits up. This year there were 3521 entrants for the Marathon and it was won by Simon Tonui from Birchfield Harriers in Birmingham in 2.20 + 13 secs.

Some chick !

2009-09-25T18:27:00.003+01:00

The windy weather we have been experiencing this week has now begun to subside. Although it has been very breezy with alot of white water on the surface of Loch Ness it has been a warm westerly wind. No doubt the birds are pleased as they were really whirling around on the circular sunflower feeders as well as contending with the predatory sparrowhawk who was doing overtime for his family nearby. This young greenfinch chick was often seen enjoying a drink at the bird bath.