We enjoyed a delightful lunch at the new Cafe & Restaurant in Diabeg. The journey was a treat in itself with some terrific views of upper Loch Torridon. Lunch was home made soup, fish platter and a pint of Light Ness from the Loch Ness Brewery. You have got to make the journey - you will not be disappointed. Go to  http://www.gille-brighde.com for menus and opening times

An Autumn Walk along the Beinn Eighe ridge

What a great October we have had so far. Stunning views from our walk along the Beinn Eighe ridge

New log store, which stacked with semi seasoned hardwood. It will be ready for next Winter

A new year and two significant additions to Greenhill.

After that long day in the hills wouldn't be great to have a hot shower and then a sauna to heat up. Well this is now possible. We now have an infrared sauna. It was built in Finland and can accommodate  two people who know each other quite well. It has a drop down CD player to help you relax with your favourite tunes.

We continue to make the Steading a useful space. We already have a wood fired oven, pool table and sofa. We thought it would be good to have a stove, but no ordinary stove, one that can be used to cook on. It was used for the first time to cook breakfast on 2 January. It worked very well. The steading is not insulated so it does not heat the place up but it does help. However, it will be great for summer evenings when it gets cooler and for some spring and autumn days.

My early seed potatoes have arrived. I am chitting them and intend planting them during our next trip to Greenhill

Stunning Weather at Greenhill!

View from the Greenhill Webcam

Cape Wrath Trail

Greenhill is on the Cape Wrath Trail
 

Britain’s toughest trail…

At well over 200 miles in length and crossing some of Scotland's wildest and most beautiful country, the Cape Wrath Trail is the expedition of a lifetime.
This is a classic long distance walk across the most remote and barren country in Britain. The route starts at Fort William, follows the Great Glen before heading off to Glen Garry, Glen Shiel before diving in to the wilderness of the big glens of Affric and Mullardoch before bursting out at Strathcarron. Torridon and Ullapool (via the ferry) are passed before the route passes through the higher lands of Sutherland before scuttling along the coast, past Sandwood Bay to Cape Wrath.

The Morrison Mobile Shop

The Morrison Van can call at Greenhill on a Tuesday or a Friday. Libby Morrison kindly provided me with the following information.

The van can call about noon on a Friday and about 8.30am on a Tuesday. If you would like Allan Morrison to call then his number is 07736323584, or contact him by  email is allanmorrison1@gmail.com,




Kenneth Morrison Ltd also serves the surrounding area with our temperature controlled Mobile Shop. For your convenience we carry a full range of our products, calling at the following areas:
Tuesday: Kinlochewe, Torridon, Alligin, Diabaig
Wednesday: Badachro, Opinan, South Erradale
Thursday: Aultbea, Laide, Dundonnell
Friday: Gairloch, Poolewe, Inverasdale, Kinlochewe
Saturday: NO DELIVERIES
We also call at the Caravan Parks in Kinlochewe and Poolewe - we can arrange for the mobile shop to call at your holiday home - call for more details.

 
Kenneth Morrison Butchers
Strath
Gairloch
Ross-Shire
Iv21 2BZ
Tel/Fax: 01445 712845
morrisonbutchers@aol.com

Celtman Challenge

When we past the.Loch Maree Hotel hotel last weekend the owners had put up the royal insignia. I checked out the website and I see that the hotel is reopenin on 27th March.

Red Kites

When you travel to or are returning home from Greenhill. Take some time to visit the Tollie Reserve and be rewarded with close views of red kites.





Click on the link to get details about the Tollie Reserve, which is only about 40 minutes drive from Greenhill  Red Kites

Golden Eagle

There is a Golden Eagle that flies on occasions above Greenhill. I have not taken any photographs of it yet but here are some other examples.

 

Also check out this bbc site Golden Eagle.

This looks like a tough challenge. I don't believe I am up for this one - the Strathpuffer 26/27 January 2013. http://www.strathpuffer.co.uk/home.

The An Teallach Brewery is run by a husband and wife team. The brewery is at Dundonell, which is round the cost from Greenhill. Anyhow it is up for sale - lock, stock and barrel.

The Kinlochewe Hotel is up for sale also.

Are you tempted? Check it out.

http://www.asgcommercial.co.uk/Ross_and_Cromarty/

The Great Wilderness Challenge ("GWC")

This challenge is less than four weeks away now and I am not sure I will be ready for it. I hope the other members of the "Cadogans Grouse Beaters" feel more confident. The Cadogans Grouse Beaters has previously successfully completed the Caledonian and Rob Roy Challenges.

The GWC is a 25 mile walk (we are not running) between Dundonnell and Poolewe, which takes place on 18 August 2012. We will be raising money for the following principal local charities.

Highland Hospice    

Skye & Lochalsh Young Carers Project 

CLIC Sargent

Archie Foundation - Raigmore Appeal

Children 1st

Ross-shire Womens Aid         

All donations would be gratefully received.

I will of course let you know how we get on.

Pine martens are elusive members of the weasel family, and sport a creamy yellow throat bib. Found throughout most of central and northern Europe, this once heavily persecuted marten is now extinct from most of England and Wales. Their last remaining UK stronghold is in Scotland. They favour well wooded areas where they can nest in hollow trees and old animal homes. Pine martens eat small mammals and seasonally available produce such as autumn fruits and berries. They are also treetop hunters that can race skillfully along branches, leaping from tree to tree in pursuit of squirrels.

Pine Marten Siting 28 June 2012

Having alighted from the Westerbus last Thursday evening to walk the 15 mins to the house, I saw a Pine Marten. It crossed the main road and hopped up on the stone wall where it proceeded to walk towards me. I got a very close view before it jumped down and disappeared in amongst the rhododendron. A great bonus to the weekend.

This was a five star walk, which starts and ends at Greenhill. We set off at about 3pm and arrived home just before 10pm.

We followed the route from the Slioch car park to Loch Maree and then up Glen Bianisdale to Lochan Fada. Walk round the shore of the Lochan to find the good path down to the Heights of Kinlochewe. From there to Greenhill. You know you are almost home when Ben Eighe comes into view.

Lochan Fada

Slioch and Lochan Fada

Beinn Eighe could lose Unesco Bioshphere Status

Biosphere reserves are areas of terrestrial and coastal ecosystems promoting solutions to reconcile the conservation of biodiversity with its sustainable use. They are internationally recognized, nominated by national governments and remain under sovereign jurisdiction of the states where they are located. Biosphere reserves serve in some ways as 'living laboratories' for testing out and demonstrating integrated management of land, water and biodiversity. Collectively, biosphere reserves form a world network: the World Network of Biosphere Reserves (WNBR). Within this network, exchanges of information, experience and personnel are facilitated. There are over 500 biosphere reserves in over 100 countries.

The designation gives areas greater international recognition among scientists and tourists. The alliance has started working with the Centre for Mountain Studies UHI in Perth to investigate how the status could be secured.

Visit the UNESCO MAB Biosphere Reserve Directory to read details on all biosphere reserves, including contact information. Contact also the National MAB Committees and focal points for information on national action on biosphere reserves, including on plans for new biosphere reserves.
The UNESCO-MAB Secretariat would be interested to receive donations of high quality photographs of biosphere reserves for its own publications, for which all photo credits would of course be acknowledged.

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