Cottage Diary - Aspenwood self catering luxury Holiday Cottage overlooking Loch Ness in the Highlands of Scotland.

Drove to the small village of Dores at the southern end of Loch Ness, a short drive away from Aspenwood Holiday Cottage, and strolled along the pebbly beach. Espied several rather large birds sitting on the disused pier posts jutting out into the water. One of them had its wings outstretched to dry and we wondered what they were - never having seen anything like them close up before. After consulting an expert we can now announce they were cormorants. Apparently they often sit with their wings stretched out to dry as they are the only web-footed birds which do not put out a waterproofing oil for their feathers. They are strong underwater swimmers and therefore need to dry out on land.
Turning off from the beach we entered Torr Woods and followed one of the many footpaths. It felt like an autumn morning walking amongst the crunchy pine cones, chewed and discarded by the red squirrels, and the bronze faded bracken. Looking closely though we could see buds on the rhododendron bushes and yellow gorse in flower - signs that Spring was indeed on its way.