The wildlife are now back in force. Last night R and I watched our pine marten (or one of our pine martens?) eating nuts on the bird table for about 10 minutes. Then suddenly he shot off into the woods. We realized why a few seconds later when a large badger emerged under the fence […]
It turns out I made a slight error the other day when I said I had got to the summit of Beinn Lochain. It turns out that there are two summits, a secondary lower one and another behind it which is about 50m higher. I only made it to the first one and was deceived […]
I have guests coming at the weekend and the meal I am making (Cypriot Chicken) is served with flatbreads. Last time I made these I used the River Cottage recipe, and although the results were nice, it involved cooking them on a griddle which filled the kitchen with smoke. So this time I tried Paul […]
On my way out today I noticed that the two ducks (a mated pair) which paid a brief visit yesterday were back today. They were still there when I got back tonight and I think the female might be measuring the island up for a potential nest. I’m in two minds about that – I’d […]
Again the misty morning cleared to dazzling sunshine by lunchtime today, and I decided to fulfil a long desired wish and climb Beinn Lochain (the one to the right of Beinn Bheula as you look across the loch from the village). Beinn Lochain is a Graham at 703m but is moderately challenging because there is […]
The fantastic weather continues… After being a bit overcast first thing, it had cleared up by 11am, and after an early lunch I set off to walk part of the peninsula loop. The full thing is Lochgoilhead -> Coran Lochan -> Artgartan -> Top of the Rest and be Thankful -> Lochgoilhead which is 23m. […]
It was another lovely day today, and as R was testing and I was reporting, I went for a walk down to Coran Lochan at the end of the peninsula on my own. What a gorgeous walk. Bright sunshine and about 12 degrees. It amazes me now that when we first came here we were […]
Every day would be – well – like today, because I think I would call it the first day of spring proper in Lochgoilhead. I was reading somewhere that in Scotland the ‘real’ arrival of spring and summer are typically two to three weeks after the nominal ‘calendar’ start of the season. So 1st March […]
When R opened the front door today ready to set off on our morning walk, we found we had an unexpected guest. He seemed quite fine, but I was concerned the cats might get him, so I carried him down to the pond. He sat up quite calmly on my hand and looked about him, […]
The weather yesterday was so lovely that I went for two walks (R only came for one of them). In the morning it was clear and bitterly cold – our pond was frozen over. We went on the upper path – there are no heiland coos there yet but I hope Billy and his harem […]
