Squirrels getting ready for winter

The weather has been a lot colder this week with a dusting of snow settling on the mountains around Loch Ness and also on lower ground for a short while. The native red squirrels in the surrounding woodlands are preparing for the cold winter weather ahead. The red squirrel sheds its coat twice a year, switching from a thinner summer coat to a thicker, darker winter coat for extra warmth. At this time of year the red squirrels also displays striking ear tufts - a prominent distinguishing feature of this species - which can be between 2 – 3.5 cms long and give them their appealing appearance.

  

 

  

Highland cattle on your doorstep.

While staying at Camerons Cottage in the Highlands take full advantage of the unique area surrounding you. Sit outside at the table and chairs provided and watch the herd of Highland cattle drink from the nearby pond and feed on the lush grass. They are curious about you as well and will often come very close to the cottage fence!

 

 

  

 

 

Autumn colours

Beautiful colours of Autumn showing on the trees and foliage everywhere now. 

Loch Ness looks particularly stunning and the panoramic view from Dores beach is amazing. Autumn is truly a beautiful time of the year to visit the Highlands.

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

Urquhart Castle on Loch Ness

Fort Augustus

For a good day out from Camerons Cottage take a scenic car trip of about 14 miles to the picturesque village of Fort Augustus. Stop about halfway on your journey at the highest point of the trip known as the Struie - and look at the amazing panoramic view back towards Inverness.

 

Continue on the road down to Loch Tarff....used for one of the famous scenes from the film 'Local Hero' and drive alongside the loch.

 

Enter the village of Fort Augustus, park in the car park and stroll along to the Caledonian Canal.

 

Walk up the steps by the side of the Caledonian Canal and cross over on the lock gates to get a superb view of the canal opening out on to Loch Ness.

 

 

You could continue walking up to the top of the canal passing all the lock gates and stroll along the banks of the canal for some way. After a good walk return to the swing bridge and cross over the road. Walk down towards Loch Ness and watch the pleasure boats returning laden with happy passengers.

 

A very good day out with plenty of places to eat and drink.

Brown Hare

A neighbour spotted this big brown hare in their driveway this morning. It stayed for a good wash before speeding off along the lane.

New calf born on the farm

Pipa the baby cow born to  mother Iris is now 1 week old.
Pipa is a female and is running about quite happy, getting very strong and hard to catch.

 

 

 

Pine Marten comes for lunch.

Talking about amazing wildlife ....We were very surprised during Sunday lunch to hear a disturbance in the trees near the house and to suddenly see a young Pine Marten dash out of the shrubbery and launch himself onto the bird bath for a good drink. He then managed to work out how to climb down the carefully placed branch - put there to help young squirrels - and on to the bird table. We have not seen one during the daylight as they are normally nocturnal creatures although they are known to be active during the day in the summer months.The weather has been fair and bright this week so obviously this youngster was making hay while the sun shone. During his visit there were 3 pheasants in the garden and a red squirrel on a nearby tree who were not too fazed by this new visitor. Pine martens have been known to chase squirrels if they are very hungry although their diet is very varied....as we witnessed. It was just amazing to watch from the window.
Our guests at Aspenwood Cottage last week did put out alot of suet balls in the wire feeder which were all 'stolen' over night so we think this is the thief.
Check out more Pine Marten info.

 

 

Watch the Pine Marten on video.



Day out at Glen Affric.

Sunday dawned with a beautiful crisp clear blue sky as forecast so we packed a picnic and drove to Glen Affric via Inverness, alongside the Beauly Firth and turned off down Strathglass to the village of Cannich. From here we followed a single track road passing through amazing scenery and looking down on deep river gorges for about 8 miles to the car park at the end of Glen Affric. Had a lovely relaxing walk by the river and into one of the oldest Caledonian Forests in Scotland where we were very fortunate to see a male and female Scottish Crossbill, the only truly native species of the UK and a bird confined only to the Highlands of Scotland....our first exciting sighting of this quite elusive bird. 

The scenery all around us was just stunning with snow on the mountain tops and the River Affric was gushing along after all the recent rain. After our walk we drove back along the road for a few miles to a new picnic site we had spotted earlier and enjoyed our lunch beside a very peaceful loch. This day trip is about 55 miles from Aspenwood Cottage on Loch Ness and took us about one and a half hours to get to Glen Affric on a very pleasant run. So sit back and enjoy some of the scenes we saw.....