Aspenwood Cottage Diary Loch Ness

The morning after Burns Night.......

2012-01-26T17:42:00.001Z

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.

Aviemore sled dog rally 2012.

2012-01-22T14:24:00.000Z

The snow has returned and the surrounding mountains and lower ground is covered. Although it is very pretty to look at it is also very useful this weekend for the biggest husky race in Britain around Loch Morlich near Aviemore. About 1,000 sled dogs take part including Alaskan malamutes,samoyeds and Canadian Eskimo dogs. These are guided by 200 teams of human "mushers" and are encouraged by over 3,000 spectators. The first rally took place in 1984 with just 12 teams but now this annual event is one of the biggest gatherings of its kind in the world.
Although we are not going to watch we can imagine the excitement. We have been to Loch Morlich several times in the warmer weather and viewed it in the distance as we looked down from the top of the funicular railway and also enjoyed many a picnic beside the loch - even sharing it with the many noisy ducks.

Lunch is served

2012-01-15T13:24:00.000Z

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.

Nairn beach.......brrrrrrrr

2012-01-09T18:37:00.000Z

Made the most of a lovely day with a clear blue sky and headed out to Nairn for a brisk walk along the beach. Caught the tide going out and had the beach almost to ourselves. Although we had lots of layers on we did not expect it to be so cold and the wind chill coming off of the water was absolutely freezing.

We were quite glad to get back to the warmth of the car and decided to thaw out in the Cawdor Tavern where we had a great lunch beside the log fire.
On the drive home the sun was just beginning to go down and the effect of the winter light was weird and wonderful.

Reclaim the beach !

2012-01-03T16:06:00.000Z

The snow has returned along with cold temperatures enough to make your eyes water but the surrounding scenery is very beautiful. We have not had the extreme winds today that the central and southern belt are experiencing.
Took a walk down to the beach and found the water level of Loch Ness had receeded. The solid beach furniture was still there and out of the water but buried quite deep in the pebbles and surrounded by bits of tree trunk and logs of all sizes.
When the weather is more kind we will go down and try and dig out the furniture so as passing walkers and our guests can sit on and enjoy.....we will reclaim the beach !

Where has the beach gone ?

2011-12-28T13:06:00.003Z

The warmer weather lately plus the rain has caused most of the snow to melt from the mountains surrounding Loch Ness and thus fill up the loch to the highest we have ever seen it. It has also been very windy over the Christmas holidays and there is alot of wooden and vegetation debris strewn around the sinking chairs and also at the 'nearly underwater' Farigaig Pier.We were surprised when our guests went down to the beach with their dog as usual and called up to say that the beach had disappeared !
Going down to see exactly what they meant I found the end of the path was underwater and the waves were lapping around the old rowing boat. The chairs were sitting sadly alone in Loch Ness.....so no rest here for any walkers for a while !

HAPPY CHRISTMAS EVERYBODY.

2011-12-18T13:23:00.000Z

Lyn and Ray wish everybody a Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy 2012.

Throughout 2011 we have had some lovely people staying in Aspenwood Cottage overlooking Loch Ness. Regular visitors return and we always enjoy seeing them again and catching up with their news. Some guests arrive for the first time and often on their very first visit to Scotland. We try hard to make your precious holiday very special and we both hope that the 'Aspenwood Experience' will be a very happy memory to take home.

A very Happy Christmas to all the guests and their dogs we have met during 2011......

Jeff & Carol, Barbara & Steve, Christina & Gary & Adam, Barbara & Phil + Andrew & Adam, William & Julie, Mike & Joyce + Jean & Peter, Sandy & Dean + Charlie Amelia & Annabel, Susan & Roger, Mary & Dave, Angela & Robert + June & Robert, Sarah & Paul + Lauren, Keith & Tracy + Ben & Becky, Dawn & Paul + Heather & Adam, Brenda & Chris + James & Joanna, Liz & Stephen + Daniel & Imogen, Lillian + Marc & Lisa & Mia + James & Nan, Penny & Rob, Julie & Tony, Sharon & John & Megan + Cathy, Steven & Amanda + Hope & Lauren, Ian & Elaine, Andrea & Tony,

Also thanks to all the Cottage Diary followers throughout the UK and beyond. We are glad that you all enjoy seeing just what we get up to during the year... although we don't tell you everything !

The red squirrels send their love and thank you for all donations to their Nut Fund.

Feed the birds

2011-12-13T16:04:00.000Z

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 blows in.

2011-12-08T12:01:00.001Z

The snow has melted around the house now but is still on the lower fields and mountains opposite. It has either been raining or sleeting which at least has defrosted the driveway.
Today it is extremely violent with wind coming from the west creating sudden gusts that make the windows rattle and all the trees out front bow over.There is much white water on Loch Ness with alot of spray blowing about on top of the huge rolling waves coming down the Great Glen.The power has just gone off and the generator now comes into its own. It is also connected to Aspenwood so guests need not worry about power cuts.
Whatever the weather the birds and red squirrels gather hungrily at the feeders and stock up on food during the ever decreasing daylight hours.

Snow has arrived

2011-12-06T18:11:00.000Z

Had a good covering of snow at lower levels recently and the house is surrounded by the white stuff [cats are not happy]. Very icy underfoot this morning so put on my newly acquired 'Spikers' over my boots to fill up all the feeders for the birds and squirrels....it is amazing what they eat in the early hours while we are still slumbering. Gave up on defrosting the bird bath as the ice on top was so thick and just put more food on the surface.We have noticed the wildlife eating the snow on the plants or ground for the water content. Really cold all day today with the temperature not rising above freezing and the surrounding scenery looks just like a Winter wonderland. We have guests staying at the moment and we often wave to them as they walk their dog along the front path. We look forward to our guests coming for this Christmas and the New Year and also we have recently had a booking for next New Year.....secretly everyone loves the snow and we are all big kids at heart.

Falls of Foyers

2011-12-04T13:14:00.001Z

Our guests last week took a walk to the famous Falls of Foyers in the nearby village of Foyers, about 3 miles from Aspenwood. In all the years they have been staying in the cottage and visiting these falls they had never seen it so full of life. The water and melting snow from the surrounding hills was really cascading down this 165 feet waterfall creating enormous amounts of spray before entering Loch Ness.
Many thanks to Elaine and Ian for taking this video and getting soaking wet in the process.

Little and Large.

2011-12-01T15:43:00.001Z

The weather has turned very chilly now we have reached December and more snow has fallen on the mountains surrounding Loch Ness although not on lower ground....yet!

Went to visit a friend on her farm near Foyers and had a good chat over a drink. As we looked out of the window we watched their horse, with its lovely blonde mane and tail, running around the field with his shetland pony companion....possibly to keep warm.

Winter weather update

2011-11-25T13:12:00.000Z

Experienced a rich variety of weather patterns this week with something different to look at each day. Started with freezing fog drifting down the loch very low over the water causing a stunning reflection in Loch Ness. 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....really breath-taking to look at and I could not tear myself away from the window. It didn't last long and by the time I got the camera only the ends of the rainbow remained.

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.

Great spotted woodpecker at Aspenwood.

2011-11-21T16:51:00.001Z

The Great Spotted Woodpecker is a frequent visitor to the nut feeders outside the large lounge window of Aspenwood Cottage. It is extremely sensitive and the slightest noise or movement causes it to fly away and climb up the nearest tree trunk. This one is a male because of the red feathers at the back of its head - females do not have this colouring. We wondered if it is one of the juveniles we took on video being fed by dad back in July.....so do have a look at our Video Gallery.

Chilling out !

2011-11-16T15:38:00.000Z

The weather suddenly turned very chilly yesterday evening and there was a sharp ground frost everywhere when we looked out this morning. The temperature remained just above zero all day and a low freezing fog drifted along the loch from the NE.

Wrapped up warm and walked along to the pier crunching on all the frosted leaves underfoot although strangely some plants were still in flower in the hedgerows.

Removed the ice from the birdbath and topped up all the feeders as this is the time of year when the birds and red squirrels need us most. We heard on the radio that blackbirds have started to breed as the weather has been so mild lately they think it is Spring again.
The squirrels have started to grow their darker Winter coat and larger ear tufts ready for protection against the cold. We are all prepared for Winter......bring it on !

Walking in Torr Woods at Dores.

2011-11-11T16:15:00.000Z

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.

November weather so far.

2011-11-08T15:03:00.000Z

We have had a very dry start to the month with pleasant mild temperatures for the time of year....double figures during the daytime but just above freezing at night. Most days have opened with a clear blue sky after a beautiful starry night but we will wait to see what is ahead. Last year it did start to snow in late November but for now we shall enjoy each day.

Walk along the River Oich

2011-11-02T12:01:00.000Z

A fine dry day so we drove over the mountain and skirted Loch Tarff on the way to Fort Augustus. Spotted two stags silhouetted on the hilltop and a gushing waterfall tumbling down the hillside. Drove through the village and turned left at the sign to Jenkins Park and Auchterawe. At the end of this rather bumpy track we parked in the car park and strolled though the woods admiring the magnificent seasonal colours. The large elm trees were especially grand and still dressed in leaves of various autumn shades. Underfoot we walked on carpets of leaves and pine needles. After a peaceful stroll we took a right hand path leading down to the River Oich which was gushing along at a good speed and bubbling over the rocks at certain points. Ray has been here fishing and had knowledge of the various pools allowed for fishing. We did not meet a soul and it was a most refreshing walk on a November morning.

Wildlife update

2011-10-28T12:10:00.000+01:00

The abundant red squirrels are daily visitors on the feeding platform at Aspenwood 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 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.

Amid all this excitement going on in the world outside the windows our two Loch Ness Monsters prefer to be safely in the warm and dream about their younger days.

Autumn colours

2011-10-21T13:01:00.000+01:00

The leaves are really turning now and blowing about in the wind. There are beautiful colours everywhere and we enjoyed the drive to Cawdor Tavern. Had a lovely relaxed lunch near the log fire. On the return journey we spotted a rare red kite hovering above a corn field looking for his lunch too..

What spooked Cyril the squirrel ?

2011-10-16T13:35:00.001+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.

Ducks in Dores

2011-10-13T19:01:00.000+01:00

It has been a cool and dry week and after gathering supplies in Inverness today we fell into the Dores Inn on the way home for a bite to eat. Surprisingly it was nearly full up with many different languages being spoken so we headed for the room out the back which looks onto the terrace facing Loch Ness. The tables were nicely set out with fresh flowers on the table tops and the staff were very friendly. There were several tasty items on the Specials Board although we could not face the crispy roast duck as there were plenty of wild ducks outside. We chose the the fish and chips in a beer batter which was very tasty and went down a treat. Had to pass all the ducks on the way to the car park but we were able to hold our heads up high and did not feel at all guilty.

In the evening we were rewarded with a beautiful sunset.

Footpath cleared....walk easy.

2011-10-11T16:18:00.001+01:00

The other week we noticed a Forestry van parked at the end of our driveway and, being curious, Ray walked down to see what they were planning. The woman forester introduced herself as Shona and said they were looking at the number of native species of trees as they were going to chop down some other invading trees to give natives priority. She was surprised the public footpath was so badly overgrown and she was quite shocked when Ray showed her the old wooden gate along the path which had collapsed earlier in the year due to old age. This freedom of access has allowed cars to drive along the footpath thinking they could get through to Foyers and we often have to assist them in reversing all the way back. Some have even parked for the night and we worry about fires being lit in a forest location and also so near to our house. Shona made several notes;- to erect a sign stating 'No Through Road' at the beginning of the path, to erect a new sturdy metal gate with padlock that only forestry employees can open as they have a storage space further along the path and,most importantly,to cut back the overgrown vegetation along the public footpath.
As good as her word all of these have now been implemented although the sign is on its way. It is now much more pleasant to walk along the path, round the locked gate and further on into Farigaig Forest if you wish. This path runs parallel with Loch Ness and is used every day by locals with their dogs and we often see our guests strolling along. As well as locals it is used by groups of ramblers, cyclists and the occasional horse rider.
So well done Shona.

Windy weather

2011-10-06T12:43:00.001+01:00

An extremely windy week although it has calmed down today.Loch Ness has been very rough and colourless...these photos look like they were taken in black and white but no !

The waves were amazing to watch and you realised the power of the water. I was glad I was on dry land. Surprisingly there were a few cruisers and the Rib and yachts about and we watched them bob up and down like corks.

Strange to think that only one week ago we were sitting on the seats on the beach sunbathing with a refreshing glass in hand. Yesterday I had trouble standing upright [without a drink] as the wind was so strong but unusually warm.

Somewhere over the rainbow.......

2011-10-05T16:53:00.002+01:00

A beautiful perfectly formed rainbow appeared opposite the house this morning making a magical bridge across Loch Ness. Unfortunately the weather got rougher during the day but that is another story.

Loch Ness Marathon 2011

2011-10-03T11:48:00.002+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.

Celebrating in the September sunshine.

2011-09-29T10:28:00.001+01:00

The weather has been glorious lately so we went down to the nearby beach and celebrated Ray's forthcoming birthday with a glass or three.....CHEERS.

Hang about !

2011-09-27T17:25:00.000+01:00

The red squirrels are very adaptable and can eat in almost any position when they come to the various feeding stations in the garden. For this reason I think they will survive here in Farigaig Forest for a long time even though they are becoming an endangered species in other parts of the UK. That reminds me - I must order some more food for them, and for the birds of course - when they can get a look in !.

Swimming Loch Ness

2011-09-23T13:25:00.000+01:00

We were quite concerned on Tuesday when we noticed an orange inflatable on the loch which appeared to be just bobbing up and down on the water and possibly in trouble. Then we were very surprised to see an arm emerge out of the water ahead of the boat and realised the craft was trailing a swimmer. Managed to find some info on the web but not too sure of the outcome. Hope they all made it safely and well done to them.

For more information on this challenge.

Whatever the weather.

2011-09-19T15:56:00.000+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.

Tale of a tail.

2011-09-12T13:00:00.002+01:00

It has been a very good year for the red squirrels and they have become regular daily visitors to all the feeders at our house and at Aspenwood.There is an abundance of hazel trees in the area and they are often spotted leaping from branch to branch in the trees picking off the hazel nuts and eating them.On Saturday at Aspenwood we saw a squirrel run up the grass track and go across the car port with a bunch of hazel nuts in its mouth.They do not hibernate in Winter but they do bury food now to collect in hard times.There has been a second litter recently and often two or three of the same family arrive together, feeding happily and not fighting. It is possible to tell them apart by the colour of their tails....the colour ranges from a light blonde through to a darker rusty orange brown colour. There is one with an unusual striped tail who has been given the name Bandit by one of our guests...and we thought it was just us giving them names !

'Bandit'

Roe deer

2011-09-06T18:42:00.000+01:00

The mother roe deer and her fawn are frequent visitors to the grassy bank leading down to Loch Ness. After the rain of late the vegetation must be very succulent, certainly the youngster seems to be enjoying its taste of wet grass.

Roe deer visitors

2011-09-01T11:21:00.000+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.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 I did manage to take some photos earlier in the week. Yesterday evening they were further along the bank opposite the front door which I carefully opened camera at the ready. We've recently had a new glass panelled front door put in which is very quiet to open - no more squeaky hinges. Just as the mother was licking her fawn and the camera was poised for a cracking shot the phone rang and they all sped off freaked out by the noise....and it wasn't even an important call after all.

Colours in the countryside.

2011-08-28T15:38:00.001+01:00

Driving back from Inverness we decided to go home the long way round so we drove down the A9 to the Daviot turn and took the right hand single track road towards Fort Augustus. We were very surprised to see so much heather on the hills as it is usually blooming in mid to late September. It looked very colourful and the sheep adding another dimension to the scene. Several new passing places have been built along the road and this earth movement has woken up some of the wild flower seeds adding a beautiful splash of colour to the road side verges.

DOLPHIN VIDEO

2011-08-22T13:29:00.000+01:00

Sit back and watch the dolphins at Chanonry Point coming in on the rising tide.
About 10 seconds into the film you'll see a fish,possibly a salmon, being flicked up out of the water by the dolphin before eating it.
Our guests are going dolphin watching today so hopefully lots of action photos for them to take home as a memory.

Dolphin secret is out !

2011-08-18T13:49:00.000+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 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 home 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 Aspenwood 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. We now print out the tide times and leave them in the 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.

Better than rubies.

2011-08-16T13:18:00.000+01:00

Ray and I really enjoyed our 40th Wedding Anniversary on Sunday and the sun shone. It was a bit too windy to go down to the beach so we sat outside and toasted our health and talked about old times. It was just as well we were home as several of our neighbours suddenly drove up armed with cards and beautiful gifts and an impromptu party began. It was a lovely surprise as were all the cards and emails we received over the weekend....so a big THANK YOU to everybody. We were really thrilled and enjoyed sharing our day.

Where are the rubies ?

2011-08-11T16:55:00.002+01:00

The last blog was about 'new and old' which links in very well to this one. This coming Sunday - the 14th of August - we celebrate our Ruby Wedding Anniversary of 40 years together. We have been thinking of lots of ideas as to where and how to celebrate but we both agree that as we live in such a beautiful, comfortable setting we shall stay put and enjoy the special day here at "Coopers Castle". If the weather permits we shall start by having lunch on the beach with smoked salmon and champagne and then go gradually, but elegantly, downhill from then on.
Found this old photo of us in our first flushes of married life when we were both young and in love....and still are - although maybe not quite so young! CHEERS EVERYONE.

Buildings ....new and old.

2011-08-04T14:59:00.000+01:00

Good news.....the new Tesco has opened on time and is extremely useful for us and for our guests staying at Aspenwood Cottage. It is the nearest big store, about 16 miles away from the cottage, and is situated at the end of the Dores Road at the first roundabout. Although it is not as big as the Tesco 24 hour store at the Inverness Retail Park on the outskirts of the city it is very handy for essential shopping as well as for petrol.
On the way to this Tesco you will drive through the village of Dores, about 8 miles from the cottage. This village is situated at the eastern end of Loch Ness and has a long crescent beach and the much frequented Dores Inn - a popular restaurant for guests.

The latest news is that the lease holders have unveiled plans to build a major new tourist development in the adjacent car park. Although the historic Inn is in need of repair it will not be pulled down but possibly adapted for residential use. They have plans to construct a new restaurant, pub and a shop selling local meat, preserves and souvenirs as well as community essentials in a single storey stone building with archways at the front overlooking Loch Ness. The planning application is not expected to be lodged until later this year so do not worry - Dores Inn is still open for good food and drink.
Between Dores Inn and the new Tesco you drive past the long winding entrance to Aldourie Castle on the left. The original building dates back to the 15th Century but there have been many alterations and additions over the years. It was purchased in 2004 by new owners and they have just completed a £10million restoration of the 57 room castle.It is now open for business as a destination for holidays,house parties and corporate functions and rents out at about £21,000 [+VAT] per week.
Needless to say that Aspenwood Cottage is slightly cheaper.

Summer arrives.

2011-07-28T15:16:00.000+01:00

We have been experiencing a glorious week at Loch Ness with high temperatures and beautiful blue sky days. After working flat out at Lower Birchwood - sanding and staining the window frames and sills - we have escaped and enjoyed a more relaxing time on the beach,sitting on the seats and watching life go by with something refreshing to cool us down ..... just great.

Red squirrels aplenty.

2011-07-25T11:45:00.002+01:00

This has been a very good year for seeing the red squirrels up close. Guests can sit in the lounge of Aspenwood Cottage and look out of the large 9ft picture window to watch the red squirrels run from surrounding Farigaig Forest, along the platform fence to the various feeders opposite the window. Open the windows to get some good photos....if they are hungry they will not run away. We do leave extra food in the laundry shed out the back as the feeders will need topping up during the week with peanuts,sunflower hearts,peanut granules and suet balls. The squirrels do have to share this bounty of food with all the various birds and pheasants and they all seem to tolerate each other politely. The bird bath is used by all the creatures and is washed thoroughly every week to keep all the wildlife healthy. The 'Nut Fund' is going well so thanks to all guests who have contributed by taking home a bookmark. We also have regular visitors who come down to our feeders outside Lower Birchwood House and between the two properties I think we are keeping the species thriving.

Trip round Loch Ness.

2011-07-20T12:59:00.000+01:00

Although the weather looked rather ominous we decided to take a journey round Loch Ness, something we had not done for some time. Driving over the mountains and down to Loch Tarff the clouds began to look quite angry.

This is the scene featured in the film 'Local Hero' where they had to stop the car for the night as it was too misty to see the road.

The rain was falling in Fort Augustus but that did not deter the tourists and it was very busy. Drove through Invermoriston and soon we could see our house opposite with Aspenwood Cottage nestling above it in Farigaig Forest. This photo shows just how easy it is to walk down to the Loch Ness beach below.

We soon passed Urquart Castle jutting out onto the loch and then drove through the bustling village of Drumnadrochit with the various Loch Ness Exhibition Centres with overflowing car parks. The rest of the journey along the loch shore and through Inverness was very pleasant and it was about a 70 mile trip from door to door. A good day out.

Walk from Aspenwood to Loch Ness beach.

2011-07-17T12:02:00.001+01:00

We are very fortunate to be able to stroll down onto Loch Ness beach. Take the grass track in front of Aspenwood Cottage, go along the forest footpath for a short distance and then down to the shingle beach looking onto beautiful Loch Ness. There are not many cottages around Loch Ness that offer this luxury. We have put chairs,benches and tables on the beach to enable guests as well as passing walkers to sit and enjoy the panoramic view. Ideal for all ages, children and dogs love it.
This video is about 6 minutes long with sound so do get a coffee or a glass of wine and sit and enjoy the walk down to the beach.

The 19th Hole

2011-07-13T13:22:00.001+01:00

After a wet weekend the weather has now improved and it feels more like summer at last. It was a very unfortunate period for the Scottish Open Golf Championship held for the first time at Castle Stuart just outside Inverness as the play had to be delayed and even stopped due to thunderstorms. They were eventually able to finish the golf on Sunday and it was won by Luke Donald. Castle Stuart is holding this event for the next two years so fingers crossed for more positive climatic conditions in future years so the world over can appreciate the true beauty of the Scottish Highlands.
Since the golf finished the weather has improved and we have been enjoying blue sky days and sitting outside watching wonderful sunsets in the evening with a wee dram.

STOP PRESS

2011-07-11T13:32:00.000+01:00

Due to a late cancellation there is now a week available this coming August.

The week of Saturday 6th August to Saturday 13th August 2011 is now available at the price of £980.

This amount will have to be paid in full due to the proximity of the booking.

This week can be booked via our booking system on this website and paid by Direct Bank Transfer or cheque. Alternatively please feel free to phone us [ 01456 486415 ] and we will do the booking for you and give you any more information if needed.

A wonderful chance to enjoy the magic of the Scottish Highlands and the'Aspenwood Experience'.

New Tesco Store opening soon.

2011-07-07T18:24:00.000+01:00

The new Tesco store on the Dores Road at Drumblair is very near completion and is due to open on Monday 18th July. We drove past it today and were amazed at the speed things have been progressing. This store and petrol station will be so handy for us and our guests as it now the nearest one to Aspenwood.

Trip to Culbin Sands.

2011-07-03T12:43:00.002+01:00

The weather was fine last week so we packed a picnic and drove to the coastal town of Nairn on the Moray Firth, a journey of about 38 miles and took one and a half hours at a leisurely pace. We drove just beyond the town and headed for Culbin Sands. This is a RSPB Nature Reserve owned by the Forestry Commission and contains a variety of habitats - a long stretch of sandy beach covered in shells,sand dunes,tidal sands, pools,salt marsh,mud flats and Culbin Forest. This area is ideal for different species of wading birds all year round and we saw a mixed collection on the sandy spits and several grey herons.
After a peaceful walk across the marshland, through the dunes and along the long unspoilt and empty beach we drove back to the seaside town of Nairn and enjoyed a picnic on a bench looking out to sea. The weather was terrific and there were many brave swimmers in the water and a huge ocean cruise liner drifted by in the distance.

Finding their way around.

2011-06-30T13:31:00.004+01:00

In the early evening we are often visited by a pair of young deer who kindly munch away at the grass on the front bank. They are not easily frightened by our presence...in fact they are quite curious and just stand and stare at us and then carry on munching. The juvenile great spotted woodpeckers are now allowed out on their own but are very easily spooked. A new hatch of siskins and chaffinches has fledged and will hop about innocently on the ground so we have to sometimes carefully walk round them. They seem to enjoy the bird bath and will splash about for ages ... just like any youngster.

Plenty of red squirrels chasing each other around the tree trunks and trying out all the food at the various feeding stations. Had three in the garden this morning and this one was quite surprised by the large blackbird which suddenly landed next to it on the bird table...which is meant for birds !

Saturday sunset

2011-06-27T12:01:00.000+01:00

Worked hard at Aspenwood on Saturday with our new pressure washer - cleaning all the flagstones around the cottage and the steps....what a difference! They came up as good as new and we could now see the embossed pattern on the flagstones again. Also sprayed the feeding fence and made it alot cleaner for the birds and squirrels.
Sat outside in the evening after supper and witnessed a most amazing sunset..our reward.

The Ness Express.

2011-06-24T13:19:00.000+01:00

We have noticed that there are not so many pleasure boats out on Loch Ness this year, either hired cruisers or private yachts. The weather cannot be to blame as it has been quite pleasant generally so it must be a sign of the times.

We have also observed that The Ness Express has not been operating as fully as previous years [it is now in its third year]. Several of our guests have taken the exhilarating journey on this RIB from Fort Augustus to Urquhart Castle and back and enjoyed the experience immensely. We often give the driver and passengers a wave as they zoom in front of the house and sometimes we even get a wave back.

Scottish wildcat kittens

2011-06-18T17:38:00.003+01:00

We enjoyed a day out last week at the Highland Wildlife Park at Kincraig near Aviemore, about a 50 mile trip from Aspenwood Cottage.

We especially [OK - mainly me] wanted to see the two new Scottish wildcat kittens born in late March. This is the third litter for the proud parents Hamish and Seasaidh.

The parents were naturally very protective and did everything our own tame cats do....fiercely mewing when we got too near their kittens, scratching on the tree trunks with their claws and even chasing birds that happened to come too near their open enclosure.The Scottish wildcat is one of our rarest native mammal species and there are less than 400 Scottish wildcats remaining in the wilds of the Highlands. The breeding of endangered species is a very important part of the ongoing programme for the park which is linked to Edinburgh Zoo especially for conservation purposes. A lot of building work was going on and there were many new large open enclosures, new wooden viewing platforms and wider pathways being built by the army who were in full smart uniformed force. We enjoyed a picnic at one of the many tables available. A good day out and lots of photo opportunities.

There were many other fascinating animals to see although the new polar bear 'Walker' was in hiding. He was selected to live in the Highland Wildlife Park from the Netherlands as his sister was giving birth again and they had to be separated. The original older resident polar bear at this park 'Mercedes' had to be put down for health reasons due to old age. A new female polar bear from Bulgaria is expected soon and the enclosure is now the biggest in the world..what an achievement.

Juvenile woodpecker being fed by Dad.

2011-06-15T18:39:00.001+01:00

We were thrilled to finally witness the juvenile great spotted woodpecker actually being fed by Dad on the wooden leg of our bird table just outside the window. The youngsters have a 'red beret' on top of their heads which will gradually appear on the nape if they are a male but will disappear if they are a female. The father was also feeding another noisy youngster on a nearby tree leaving this bolder offspring to practise drilling with his long sharp beak on our bird table. Dad reappeared and they were both by the garden woodpecker ornament which looked very funny.

New life in the garden.

2011-06-13T13:31:00.000+01:00

The garden is a hive of activity right now with the sounds of fluttering wings and high pitched squeaks of young birds everywhere. As soon as food is put out at the various feeding stations in the garden swarms of tiny birds descend often completely ignoring any human being in the local vicinity. They are very innocent and allow good close up photos to be taken before flying away. They are also fun to watch splashing about in the bird baths.

young greenfinch

pheasant chicks

great spotted woodpecker and son [top one]

young blue tits and coal tit

juvenile robin

Sitting on the beach.

2011-06-06T12:20:00.000+01:00

Last week the weather just got better and better and we enjoyed many afternoons down on the wee beach. We have put more chairs and tables there now which are really appreciated by the many worn out walkers who give us the thumbs up on their way home. The bench at the top of the path to the beach now has a posh new sign pointing walkers in that direction as we have noticed lots of people walking past the path and missing out on a lovely relaxing sit down on the shore of Loch Ness. As we were sitting on the beach in the sunshine with a wee glass of chilled wine we enjoyed chatting to other folk and watching life go by. Certain plants somehow grow in between the pebbles and a pied wagtail bobbed along in front of the waves - maybe having a paddle to cool down. A few fishermen glided quietly along, the Ness Express whizzed by and the yellow rescue helicopter cluttered overhead. We are very fortunate to have this so near our cottage doorstep.

Loch Farr is not far...

2011-06-01T19:01:00.002+01:00

Took our new car 'RUBY' ...our present for our ruby wedding anniversary...out for a spin and eventually came back home on the Daviot road. Turned off left at the hamlet of Farr and stopped a little further along the narrow lane heading towards Garbole at secluded Loch Farr. This lesser known picturesque loch is only about 15 miles from Aspenwood Cottage and is surrounded by conifers and wild rhododendron bushes in full bloom. It was just so peaceful walking around the headland of the loch with the sparkling sun shining off the water and just the sound of birdsong in the background.

Birds- big and small

2011-05-27T18:40:00.001+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 Aspenwood Cottage. It is a trip that many of our guests enjoy and we are sure that Roger and Susan, our guests staying in July, will enjoy making the visit.

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.

Extreme windy weather

2011-05-24T17:20:00.000+01:00

Very wet and windy over the last few days and the view towards Urquhart Castle and Bay was extremely menacing with an ever changing sky. Lots of choppy high white water on Loch Ness but even so we were amazed to see some canoeists near the opposite shore heading for Urquhart Bay. We were not surprised to receive an update email from the Loch Ness inshore lifeboat to report that they had rescued the same canoeists after they had all tipped over in the bay after meeting the oncoming wind. A member of the RNLI crew even had to get into the cold water and swim to the shoreline to give first aid to one of the canoeists who was suffering from hyperthermia. They all needed warming up to say the least as the water of Loch Ness is always extremely cold whatever the time of year. Even the newly painted 'Fingal' activity barge took some time ploughing through the waves although I would rather be on that than a small canoe. Today the weather has calmed down alot after a very rough night with unusually high winds and the sun is now shining again.

Blooming Bluebells.

2011-05-20T12:50:00.002+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.

Wood mice and Woodpecker

2011-05-15T14:54:00.000+01:00

Life in the woods can be traumatic as these long-tailed wood mice realised when they saw the Great Spotted Woodpecker flying towards them. However the woodpecker was only interested in the peanuts.

Cyril the squirrel

2011-05-10T12:56:00.000+01:00

Looking out of the lounge window at Aspenwood on Saturday morning we saw this young squirrel run along the feeding platform from the forest. He must have been fairly young as his coat was a bit tatty in places and not all the same colour, but he did have amazing ear tufts and a beautiful bushy tail.He was most interested in the new peanut granules placed on the ledge and stayed for a long while happily munching away.

He then took a long drink at the bird bath as it was a lovely warm day and then scampered for some more food at the small suet ball feeder before disappearing back down the purple buddleia bush and into Farigaig Forest for a well earned rest after all that food and drink. We decided to call him Cyril the squirrel.

'Swan Loch' - the Scottish version of the famous ballet.

2011-05-05T16:45:00.001+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 on Loch Ness. 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. The pier is only a short stroll down a grass track from Aspenwood Cottage.

What big ears I've got !

2011-05-01T18:31:00.001+01:00

The native red squirrels are often spotted on the feeding platform outside Aspenwood cottage 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.

Culbin sands Nature Reserve.

2011-04-25T13:10:00.000+01:00

Guests staying at Aspenwood Cottage the other week enjoyed a day out at Culbin Sands RSPB Nature Reserve, about 1.5 miles east of Nairn and situated between Nairn and Findhorn Bay on the east coast.

Overlooking the Moray Firth this Nature Reserve has one of the largest shingle and sand dune bars in Britain which shelters an extensive saltmarsh. Much of the reserve is remote and undisturbed.

Take a gentle stroll along the sands or sunbathe by the sandy cliffs watching the sand martins nesting in spring. Bar-tailed godwits, oystercatchers and knots flock at high tide. Large numbers of seaducks can be seen offshore in the winter months. Whatever the season there is a wide variety of different species to see at Culbin Sands Nature Reserve.
Thanks to Barbara and Steve for kindly sending these photos for others to see.

Walk to Easter Boleskine

2011-04-19T11:11:00.001+01:00

Sunday was a lovely day with temperatures of about 18C so we left all work behind and went on a long leisurely walk starting along the path in front of our house and up to the lane. Here we turned right and along the lane to Easter Boleskine gate on the left. Passed through the gate and climbed up the rather steep slope to Easter Boleskine House.

The view of Loch Ness from the top was worth the climb and we could still see snow on the very tops of the mountains in the distance. Walked along to the recently renovated Boleskine Wetlands Project and were quite glad to sit in the hide for a while taking in the view of the pond and all the busy insects skimming over the surface.

Continued strolling through Farigaig Forest listening to the birdsong and looking at the various species of wild plants such as the delicate wood sorrel shown below and the beautiful dappled effect of the sunlight streaming through the tall trees.

This is always a lovely peaceful walk, occasionally meeting other fellow walkers and their energetic dogs. It took us a couple of hours at a very leisurely pace and is about a 4 mile round trip. A good walk from the doorstep of Aspenwood Cottage with so much to see.

Spring is in the air.

2011-04-15T12:35:00.003+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.

The male pheasants have been in hot pursuit of any female in its path causing much squawking and fluttering in the nearby bushes. Guests have reported seeing the red squirrels and the great spotted woodpecker at the feeding platform during their stay in Aspenwood Cottage.

At the Osprey Centre at Loch Garten the 14 year old female-EJ and her mate Odin have started their family for the ninth year by laying one egg at 4.30am yesterday morning. Follow the action live on the webcam on their nest;- Loch Garten webcam.

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!

Spring has sprung at last.

2011-04-08T12:50:00.000+01:00

The month of April blew in with very windy wet weather but that did not deter the first brave sailors taking to the water in cruisers and the odd yacht. The colourful 'Fingal' activity barge made its first appearance of the year on its journey down to Fort Augustus and was smashing into the white water with waves crashing spectacularly over the bow. In between showers the birds rushed to feed although this female pheasant was caught out in the rain and took shelter under the blossom bushes. Luckily she did hide where she did as a moment later the sparrowhawk zoomed down looking for his lunch but left with nothing. Today it is dry and sunny with a promising weather forecast for the week ahead and hopefully it will stay that way.

Red squirrels at Aspenwood

2011-04-04T12:12:00.001+01:00

While we were up at Aspenwood Cottage on Saturday morning we spotted this red squirrel emerging from Farigaig Forest, run along the platform fence and enjoy a good feed of the peanuts. Although we have seen them dash across the roads lately they have not made much of an appearance at the cottage feeders so it really cheered us up to see them back. They do not hibernate in the cold weather but they do store food in the ground for a cold day. Glad to see they have made it through the winter and we shall be looking out for more.

Pine marten at Aspenwood

2011-03-30T13:15:00.001+01:00

A cloudy but dry week so we carried out some messy but vital outdoor maintenance jobs at the cottage,clearing the gutters of moss and leaves,washing windows,putting new plants in the tubs, pruning the buddleia bush and general leaf clearing around the cottage. While scrubbing out the bird bath we noticed that the metal suet ball feeders which should have been attached to the fence were on the ground minus the suet balls. Birds or squirrels could not have been so strong to have done this so it could only have been a pine marten. We imagined him rolling the suet ball home to the waiting family. Last week the green netting surrounding one of the large suet balls was ripped to shreds so we had our suspicions then.The feeders have now been replaced with much stronger metal ones and tied tightly to the hooks on the fence. These creatures have been captured on video by guests staying in the cottage a couple of years ago. They were eating for quite a while at the peanut feeders in the early evening.

Osprey returns to Loch Garten.

2011-03-26T16:30:00.001Z

Staff at the Osprey Centre at Loch Garten were delighted to see EJ the 14 year old female osprey return to her nest earlier than expected for the ninth year running. After a 3,000 mile trip from Africa she landed safely back on her nest with a freshly caught 12 inch rainbow trout in her talons. She will have to catch her own food until her partner Odin flies in after her and waits on her while they prepare for their new family. The Osprey Centre opens on Friday 1st April and is a good visit. Watch the ospreys on a webcam very near their nest and hopefully catch a glimpse of the chicks later on.
For more info on the ospreys.
We have seen them 'fishing' on Loch Ness so we will keep a look out for our very own Ollie the osprey.

New addition in Computer Corner.

2011-03-21T16:43:00.000Z

There is now a new addition to computer corner at Aspenwood - a WiFi Toshiba laptop for guests to use free of charge. We have removed the old computer with all its wires and installed this up to date model which will be alot easier to use although the broadband is still a little slow in this rural location...but as our BT engineer once told us 'you can't have these views and fast broadband speed as well'.

We just ask guests to turn off the computer when finished working on it and also to switch off from the mains. Although many people tell us they will not be going near a computer on their holiday - It is a very useful tool for gathering imformation and also to keep in touch with friends and family.

Getting warmer.

2011-03-18T17:34:00.000Z

This week has been very chilly during the day and even colder at night. The deer have been coming down to eat in the garden before scampering up to Aspenwood. There is still quite thick snow on hills and mountains and snow is still lying just a short distance away on the upper road to Foyers. Fortunately the forecast is heading for double figures over the next few days and hopefully gradually increasing towards Spring. A good sunset at six o' clock last night with a lonely cloud on fire in the blue sky above the snow capped mountain.

Snow still about.

2011-03-15T17:36:00.000Z

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 befoere flying off to live another day.

Snow in March.

2011-03-09T12:31:00.002Z

The temperature fell during the night and so did the snow, just when we were looking forward to Spring. We then remembered that when we came to view this house in April 1996 we arrived in a blizzard and thought it was the perfect home for us. Walked down to the nearby beach and looked and listened to Loch Ness. It did begin to thaw during the day although the snow is still on the mountains opposite. Maybe the birds did know something as they appeared for their food today as usual.

Sparrowhawk on the prowl....

2011-03-07T18:14:00.001Z

During the past two weeks we have noticed that there are less birds feeding at the various feeding stations here and at Aspenwood Cottage nearby.
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.

New SUPER KING bed in Aspenwood.

2011-03-03T15:41:00.000Z

There is now a new super king size bed in the master bedroom of the cottage which measures 6 feet wide by 6.5 feet in length. The four pillows are also bigger and each pillow is a luxurious 3 feet long. A new oak headboard really makes this bed look truly magnificent. We are beginning to get worried that guests just will not want to leave this room.

There is an updated en suite bathroom with a new modern flush wc and a stylish mirror. Sit up in bed and gaze out over Loch Ness with a cup of tea in the mornings or retire in the evenings after an exciting day sightseeing and watch a film from the cottage library on the 37" flat screen TV...what a way to relax on your holiday.

More information please !

2011-02-26T14:20:00.000Z

The information folders on the shelves in the cottage lounge have now been changed. All pages have been checked, updated and new ones inserted if necessary. We have gone a bit upmarket with the actual folders as we found that ordinary office folders were not very robust and were constantly being replaced. We purchased some rather posh green padded leatherette folders with reinforced corners for extra strength. A new addition is a folder entitled 'Places to Visit...Wildlife to see'. There are also folders entitled 'Boat Trips', 'Day Trips by Car', 'Walks' and of course 'Aspenwood Information'.

We have recently had our web site updated allowing me to have complete editorial control. I can now make any changes and add new photos and new pages.One of the first things I changed was the 'Places to Visit' page and now there is much more information with some new photos.The other recent addition is a page on The Jacobite steam train which runs from Fort William to Mallaig and is famous for its connection to Harry Potter as this line was used for the Hogwarts Express in the films. This is a trip we plan to do maybe in September. We hope all this information proves to be helpful in organising your days out. But...if you just want to stay in and chill out there are plenty of games and local information leaflets to read and possibly entice you out but there is also an eclectic selection of music to listen to with your feet up and a glass of something refreshing to hand.

View from the beach.

2011-02-16T10:55:00.000Z

Yesterday was very cold with a clear blue sky. Took a stroll down to the beach for a closer look of Loch Ness. 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 so stood up and admired the view. Found that some kind soul had left a stout walking stick next to them which I gratefully made use of on the walk back home.

Pheasant for lunch anyone ?....

2011-02-14T18:55:00.004Z

This juvenile male pheasant flew into the grounds at our house from Aspenwood and was glad to eat on the sunflower hearts placed upon the logs for ground feeding birds - whatever their size - before having a paddle and a welcome drink in the 'designer' bath which has now defrosted after the harsh snowy weather over the weekend.

Spring clean.

2011-02-12T17:13:00.003Z

We have had a thorough spring clean of Aspenwood during our maintenance month and we were very lucky to employ this local lass to help us out with the more challenging tasks in the cottage as she is well sought after in the area.
Keeping an eye on her made us really exhausted so we escaped as soon as we politely could for a lunch at The Snow Goose in Inverness followed by an afternoon matinee of 'The King's Speech' to recover. A very fine film with excellent acting and we came out feeling refreshed.
As soon as the temperatures rise a bit more we shall do some outdoor jobs at the cottage but just too chilly right now.Still snow on the mountains opposite and zero temperatures some nights but it is staying lighter longer. The birds are starting to sing in the mornings and as well as providing food here we walk up every day to feed them at Aspenwood Cottage so everyone is happy.

Long Tailed Tits.

2011-02-06T14:31:00.002Z

We have had noisy gangs of long tailed tits around recently and they have been returning every winter.They are easily identifiable by their black,white and light pink plumage and small black button like eyes.Their prominent black tail with white edges is longer than the body and is used for balance.They feed mainly on insects and spiders but in winter when this source is scarce they visit the garden feeders for vital nourishment.Because of their small size they often huddle in groups at night to keep warm.
We had a flurry of snow last Friday just when we thought we were safe although it did lay on higher ground and is still on the mountains opposite. These little birds had better huddle up tonight as it is still chilly and zero degrees are forecast.

Wee weasel

2011-01-30T11:48:00.000Z

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.

2011-01-26T14:07:00.000Z

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.
Aspenwood Cottage is about 25miles from Castle Stuart.......why not combine golf and Highland scenery and stay in luxury accommodation overlooking world famous Loch Ness.

Flush with success.

2011-01-17T16:49:00.001Z

The temperatures did rise over the weekend and all the ice around the house melted making it safe to go outside once more. We went up to Aspenwood where we saw a hungry Philip the pheasant helping himself to the peanuts on the fence feeders. At the cottage we had arranged to have two new super-dooper modern push button flush toilets installed in the bathroom and en suite and they do look great.

Had a fair amount of rain since but we mustn't complain about that seeing what others in the world are going through. Not been able to get outside much for a decent walk and stretch of the old legs but our two Loch Ness Mini Monsters found something else to do to keep them occupied in the rainy season....maybe we should follow their example.

Picturesque scenes.

2011-01-11T13:01:00.000Z

The deer are coming very near the house in their attempt to find food under the snow. The birds are also desperate for food and I had to be very careful this morning putting the seed and nuts out as there was a treacherous icy layer sitting on top of the snow. 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 Wednesday 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!

Weather update.....brrrrrrr

2011-01-08T13:46:00.000Z

The snow had cleared from around the house at the beginning of the week and it was quite pleasant to walk outside without layers of clothing and wet wellies on. The hungry deer came to feed on the visible grass and moss on the front bank leading down to Loch Ness. Then the temperatures began to fall as did the snow on Thursday. We are now covered again in the white stuff and, although it is very picturesque, it would be lovely to get back to seeing all the colours again. Temperatures below zero during the day and at night the clear sky is full of amazing stars.

No skating here !

2011-01-03T17:20:00.000Z

Although the snow has disappeared from lower levels nearer Loch Ness it is still lying on higher ground. 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 road actually skirts this smaller loch and we got out to stretch our legs and admire the view of the sunsetting on the frozen water strewn with rocks and branches.

This photo just cried out for an artistic black and white edit.

Loch Ness never freezes because of its great depth although there can be a layer of snow or frost on the wee beach a short stroll down from Aspenwood Cottage.

Countdown to Hogmanay...

2010-12-30T13:51:00.000Z

Hogmanay Celebrations will begin tomorrow evening to welcome in the New Year. Fortunately for travellers the snow has mostly disappeared from lower levels and the temperature is about 6C with the odd patch of fog drifting along the Great Glen and hovering over the water of Loch Ness.
On the way to Inverness yesterday we parked and looked across at the stunning reflection of Urquhart Castle jutting out into Loch Ness.On the return journey we stopped near the village of Dores to look at the amazing view down Loch Ness towards Fort Augustus.The sun was setting quite low and sparkling on the water and snowy mountain sides and the colours in the sky were beautiful.
Enjoy your Hogmanay Celebrations. Happy New Year.

SEASON'S GREETINGS TO ALL.

2010-12-21T13:33:00.002Z

Lyn and Ray wish everybody a Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy 2011.

Throughout 2010 we have had some lovely people staying in Aspenwood Cottage overlooking Loch Ness. Regular visitors return and we always enjoy seeing them again and catching up with their news. Some guests arrive for the first time and often on their very first journey to Scotland. We try hard to make everybody's holiday very special and we both hope that the 'Aspenwood Experience' will be a happy memory to take home and savour.

A very Happy Christmas to all the guests we have met during 2010.........
Barbara and Phil,Andrew and Adam,Ron and Kathy,Nigel,Margaret, Alex and Harriet,Barbara and Steve,John and Jill,Craig and Tonya,Caitlyn and Rosslyn,Natalie and Ben,Garry and Tracy,Alex and Margaret,Ron and Irene,Mike and Dawn,Richard and Jacqui and Jake,Jason,Helen and Evie,Claire and Mark,Gail and Christie,Marcia and Mary,Margaret and Jackie,John and Wyn,Abbas and Miranda,Andre and Monique,Ben and Yannick,Neil and Alison,Tom and Eleanor,John and Donna,William and Julie,Paul and Sarah,Adam and Lauren,Rita and Kevin,Annie and Sean,Julie and Tony,Robert,Angela and Robert,Andy and Julian,Adam and Julie,Judith and Jeremy and Emily,Andrea and Tony,Elaine and Ian, and also to Trevor and Belinda - our Christmas guests staying in the cottage right now...and it is a 'White Christmas'.

Also thanks to all the Cottage Diary followers throughout the UK and beyond. We are glad that you all enjoy seeing just what we get up to during the year.
During 2010 we have seen some wonderful sights and we would like to share some of them with you ...so sit back and turn up the volume.

TAKE A JOURNEY THROUGH THE SEASONS WITH VIVALDI.

Alfresco dining.

2010-12-18T14:13:00.000Z

The heavy snow blizzards began last Thursday as predicted so we were well prepared.The temperatures have recently dropped to well below freezing during the day and night but there has only been the odd flurry of snow since.The birds are frantic for food and fortunately their sacks of sunflower hearts and suet balls were delivered recently, some couriers are fantastic. The bird bath is constantly frozen and is now used as a very welcome feeding station.

The pheasant family are regular visitors to the alfresco restaurant although the smaller birds are a little wary of their size, mainly due to the constant appearance of the hungry sparrowhawk swooping down every now and again looking for lunch.

Stag party

2010-12-15T13:22:00.000Z

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.

White Xmas for this Red Squirrel

2010-12-09T21:26:00.001Z

Last December as the snow rapidly descended we watched from the windows of Aspenwood Cottage as this very hungry red squirrel dashed from the forest nearby and fed on the peanut feeder on the fence outside the lounge window. By the end of his lunch he looked like a bit like a Christmas decoration. We just managed to make it back home in time before the blizzard really set in but we did keep all the wildlife well provided for during the chilly winter period. This year the snow, although arriving early, has not been so bad as in the central belt [Glasgow and Edinburgh] and today the temperatures have risen to well above freezing. During Spring 2010 we did have a new 'squirrel platform fence' erected to make life easier for all the wildlife who visit and it works a treat.

Wish you were here.

2010-12-08T13:22:00.002Z

Looking forward to Thursday....

2010-12-06T15:03:00.000Z

It is still very cold with the odd flurry of snow but the forecast for Thursday is that temperatures are going to climb well above freezing during the day and night, so hopefully we shall see the back of this early wintery spell. This year the snow arrived a month earlier than last year but we were well prepared. It does look very picturesque mainly because most of the snow remains inaccessable and is still wonderfully white. The hungry deer have been down at lower levels and are foraging nearby for grass and digging up any they can see.

Luckily the sacks of sunflower hearts and suet balls arrived by van and the birds, of all shapes and sizes, are extremely grateful for anything on the menu.

Looking for food...

2010-12-03T12:12:00.003Z

There has been no more snow here for the last few days although it has been bitterly cold and there are long icicles forming on the sheer rock surfaces at the bottom of Inverfarigaig hill. The road into Inverness is clear and has been well gritted so we went into town to get some provisions, passing a picturesque snowy Urquhart Castle jutting out onto Loch Ness on the way. This famous castle is open all year except for Xmas Day and is a very popular attraction, steeped in history and mystery.

On the journey in and out we noticed several buzzards by the loch side keeping a beady eye out onto the snowy fields for anything edible, which would be very easy to spot in these untouched white conditions.

We even saw a buzzard sitting on a post at the side of the road in town on the new road by Fairways Golf Course. On the way back we got behind a line of cars stationary near the Dores roundabout and wondered what was going on when we saw a deer on the pavement by the side of the road. It had emerged from some woodland and nobody was quite sure which way it intended to run. It took a long look at all the cars and wisely decided to go back into the woods. Before we went home we drove to Aspenwood to feed the birds and noticed lots of footprints in the snow, birds, pheasants, deer and a pine marten's prints crossing the carport. All the creatures are really looking hard for something to eat.

Later in the afternoon we noticed a weird scene towards the east just beyond Urquhart Castle. The sun was glistening very brightly on the snow but we knew that the sun set would be in the west....a strange but beautiful weather phenomenon.

St. Andrew's Day

2010-11-30T17:41:00.002Z

Today is St. Andrew's Day - the patron saint of Scotland and the sunset tonight was just magical. We were outside putting rock salt down on our driveway at 3.30pm for a getaway early tomorrow morning and just catching the last of the light when we noticed the sunset on the west at Fort Augustus....must have been some saint !

Loads of snow.

2010-11-29T14:32:00.000Z

It has now become very cold with fresh snow falling every night and the forecast of well below zero temperatures this week during the day and night. We wake up to a new layer of snow around the house and hear the swarms of birds noisily requesting their breakfast. I put on several warm layers and my new wellies and fill up all the feeders and ground feeding stations and remembered to order some more sacks of sunflower hearts... hopefully delivery vans can get to us. After last years big freeze we are better prepared and have several salt bins filled up at various positions, spades and shovels of all sizes and sledges just in case.

We went up to Aspenwood Cottage to feed the birds and also do some work inside the cottage ready for our guests who are arriving soon. We look forward to seeing them and wish them a safe journey.

Snow arrives in the Highlands

2010-11-26T18:29:00.000Z

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 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 !
PS ....the birds did know something !

What do they know ?

2010-11-23T17:30:00.001Z

Colder weather and snow is forecast for later this week and the birds seem to sense something chilly is in the air. A wider variety of species are now appearing at the feeding stations and gorging on the sunflower hearts and peanuts. Yesterday we watched as a mixture of finches - goldfinches, chaffinches and greenfinches - came to visit often at the same time. We were really pleased to see the great spotted woodpecker make a brief appearance on the aspen tree by the house as he has ignored us for months.

We also had a rare visitor at the bird bath of a 'tree sparrow' with its prominent white chest. This may not sound very exciting but have never seen one before. It is a finch-like bird, smaller than a house sparrow with a deep conical bill adapted for seed eating. It is on the Red List of high conservation concern and is in decline....so we were very fortunate to even see one.

Breakfast all round.

2010-11-19T11:56:00.000Z

While enjoying breakfast this morning we noticed this young deer at the bottom of the driveway standing quite still on his spindly legs and staring up at the house, possibly his first visit. Then we noticed two more deer on the grassy front bank enjoying their breakfast. A few years ago this area was covered in trees but we had them cut down to allow more light into the house and also to provide wood for the log fire. Our woodcutter is coming today to finish chopping the big birch logs into more manageable pieces for the winter fires ahead.

November misty morning

2010-11-15T12:51:00.006Z

After a very chilly night we woke to see frost everywhere and the first snow of the season on the mountain opposite, 'Mealfurvonie' the highest peak around Loch Ness.

The freezing fog was rolling in from the South West and skimming the top of the water of Loch Ness and we could just make out the silhouette of Urquhart Castle on the opposite shore. Took a walk down to the beach but had to tread carefully as the pebbles were fused together and covered with stiff frosty leaves. The fog was really low and thick now but the view east to Inverness was much brighter and the lapping of the waves was very relaxing.

Although the chairs on the beach looked inviting they too were covered in frost so walked back home for a hot 'special' coffee and a mince pie.

Turn up the sound on the video and relax on the beach too.