Falls of Foyers.

Attended a lively and informative meeting of our South Loch Ness Tourist Group at The Foyers Bay House in Lower Foyers. A very good turn out and after dealing with various business matters we all enjoyed a lunch in their conservatory dining room looking out onto Loch Ness and watching the red squirrels chase up and down the garden.

The famous Falls of Foyers are located close to the rear of the property and can be easily reached after a five minute stroll along a nearby path.

The village of Dores.

After a rather blustery few days we welcomed a calm sunny Sunday so took full advantage and escaped in the car for a run around. Stopped at Dores village on the way home and walked along the beach watching the waves crash on the shingle shore.This small village has an interesting history and included at one time a timber mill and a thriving pottery [where the village hall now stands]. Dwellings used to be close to the church originally but they are now stretched out along the shoreline. The focal point is now The Dores Inn which overlooks one end of Loch Ness with its eye-catching crescent shaped beach.

Nothing goes to waste.

The birds have been on a feeding frenzy and the 'dawn chorus' has been much earlier than other years. Put up a nut feeder and a hanging fat ball from a branch quite near the back of the house and it is the favourite haunt of the various birds of the tit family. Chaffinches love the sunflower seeds provided and the robins and blackbirds aim for the bread. The blackbirds tend to make a right mess with the bread and flick in over the side. They then grab a large piece and zoom off noisily into the forest. Nothing goes to waste. Wood mice and voles silently appear under the bird table clearing up any remnants of food.

Dolphins at Chanonry Point.

The weather has been really beautiful all week with crisp clear blue skies so we took advantage and drove to Chanonry Point on the Black Isle hopefully to catch a glimpse of the Moray Firth dolphins. Luckily we spotted two dolphins very close to the shore. We had our lunch sitting on the picnic tables in the sunshine watching several seals pop their heads up now and again before diving back under the water looking for their lunch. Folk at the next table were talking about the otters they had seen that morning catching fish and playing in the seaweedy shallows nearby. We realise just how fortunate we are to be able to witness such wonderful wildlife on our doorstep.

Inverarnie Esker Trails.

After a chilly night full of stars the day dawned with a clear blue sky and a walk beckoned. We drove past Inverarnie and parked on the right at Littlemill Woods. In these woods are the recently opened Inverarnie Esker Trails. There are three walks of varying distances that are well signed and the views at the top were well worth the climb. Along the trails were relevant information signs and we learnt alot as we strolled along. Apparently 'esker' means a ridge formed as a result of streams running under glaciers when The Great Glen was one giant glacier during the Ice Age. These ridges can still be seen quite clearly today.We passed several bodies of water which we initially thought to be wee lochs, but on reading the information signs we learnt that they were technically 'kettle holes'. These were formed when blocks of ice,left by glaciers,are buried under sand and gravel. When the ice finally melts, the sand and gravel on top collapse into the hole to form a hollow - or kettle hole - which then fills up with water.We came across something very strange and would welcome any inside knowledge about these weird piles of large stones carefully arranged on tree stumps. We met a forestry worker but even she didn't know what they meant or how they arrived there. Any ideas ?

Trip to Pitlochry.

Looking at the weather forecast we saw that Wednesday was going to be a cracking day which would be a real treat after all the winter snow and rain of late. We decided to pack a picnic and journey 2 hours down the A9 to Pitlochry.
The reason being that whilst surfing the net last year we came across a fantastic butcher in Pitlochry specialising in Aberdeen Angus beef [which is our favourite] as well as all the other meats. We gave an order on-line and were very pleased with the food and the service so we were very keen to visit the actual shop in Pitlochry and come home with more food. A successful trip all round. The sky was blue and the magical scenery of the enormous snowy Grampian Mountains was stunning. Passed Loch Insh and Insh Marshes - a National Nature Reserve, Aviemore, Dalwhinnie Distillery, drove through the high Pass of Drumochter with the snow poles on either side of the road. Strange to think that only last Friday this Pass was closed off with its gates because of the amount of snow and blizzard conditions. Passed the bright white stonework of Blair Castle and on to the village of Pitlochry. The butcher's shop was amazing with a fantastic range of meats and we came away laden with goodies. Found a wonderful secluded peaceful place for a picnic on the way back home. A very good day out.

Aspenwood Cottage in the snow.

Lots of snow overnight, making Aspenwood look very cosy nestling in Farigaig Forest overlooking Loch Ness. Found deer prints criss-crossing the paths and very near to the cottage.

Even Cyril the red squirrel was covered in a smart white coat as he sat guarding the property on the front doorstep.

February arrives with snow..

The snow clouds scuttled along The Great Glen from the Atlantic on Thursday and also swept down the glens from the north making Urquhart Castle on Loch Ness stand out against the ominous snow laden clouds. Experienced an extremely windy night with rain and snow lashing at the windows. On Friday morning we were a little afraid to look out of the windows in case we were greeted with a white outlook, but luckily the ground around the house was clear. Lots of snow though on the higher hills and mountains opposite and a yellow mountain rescue helicopter has just flown past very low over the loch on its way back to Inverness. Heard on the local news that there were lorries stuck in the snow on the A9 and that the road was shut at Daviot which is on higher ground. Had flurries of snow showers today but nothing has laid here. Expecting a very chilly night and a sharp frost tomorrow with temperatures below zero most of the day. Brrrrrrrrrr.