Just what we needed!

After rather a long spell of wet, grey weather this vivid blue sky was a welcome sight.

An Evening Rainbow

At 7 o’clock this evening it became very dark and then the heavens opened and it poured; there was even some hail.  Then, minutes later, the sun came out and there was a beautiful rainbow arcing down into the loch.

Another Classic Car

Our guests last night arrived in this beautiful Morgan on hire from http://www.caledonianclassics.co.uk/

Luckily it was dry enough for them to have the hood down when they left this morning.  Definitely the way to travel!

An Exceptionally Dry Spring

It hasn’t rained since 15th February!  I never thought we would experience a lack of rain on the West coast of Scotland but we are desperate for some moisture.  The grass just isn’t growing which means the ponies are still in and eating hay and, even worse, there is no grass for the in lamb ewes so the farmer is rather worried.  This is our pony paddock – the ground is just dust!

And this is the burn! Hope it rains soon.

Day Trip to Iona

At last we have made the trip over to Mull and Iona.  We caught the early ferry from Oban then drove straight across Mull to get the ferry to Iona.  We were lucky with the weather as it was beautifully clear but there was a bitterly cold wind.  Iona was every bit as beautiful as I had been led to believe.

The main street:

The stunningly clear blue water on the far side of the island.

Unfortunately, as the season hasn’t quite started, the Heritage Centre and Abbey were not yet open so we will have to take another trip over if we have a gap between guests in the summer.

Snow on the hills

It was a perfect winter’s day today, far too good to waste, so on with the boots and out of the door!

The road to Glen Sallach, ten minutes walk from home.

Looking down on Blarcreen, nestling in the green fields, with the wooded slopes leading up to a snow topped Beinn Duirinnis behind and a very blue Loch Etive in front. The pointed peak in the distance is Ben Cruachan, covered in a blanket of snow, and not a cloud in the sky – perfect!

A bit further up the hill and you can just see the’island’ at Bonawe and the loch turning the corner.  Cruachen can be seen more clearly.

Looking down on Ardchattan Priory – what a perfect setting!

The Connel Bridge, Dunstaffnage and the snowy mountains of Mull.

Looking across Glen Sallach towards Beinn Bhreac.

No – we ddin’t get this close to Cruachan, just zoomed in!

It was so beautiful that I wanted to just keep on walking but, reluctantly, we had to head back home.

Winter Sunrise

Peering through the curtains yesterday morning to see if it was light  I was met with the most amazing colours in the sky!

It was so beautiful I flung a coat on over my pyjamas and headed down to the shore.

It was getting light very quickly and the sky was changing all the time.

It was worth getting rather chilly to see the loch and Ben Cruachan in the morning light.

Amazing sky tonight!

There was a rainbow to the East of Blarcreen at 10 o’clock this evening and then when we looked to the West the whole sky was ablaze with colour.

“Please say hello!”

Ruby, our two year old Irish Setter, waiting patiently for arriving guests.

Jungle Cat

A guest took this super photo of Tinker peering through the undergrowth!