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

Experienced several days and nights of freezing temperatures and an extremely sharp frost. The ground and all the plants were beautifully covered in a thick white frost so it was almost a 'white christmas'. The bird bath froze over constantly and all wildlife was looked after especially well. The beach was no exeption and every rock and pebble was covered with frosty grass-like fronds which can be seen more clearly in these close up shots..

This morning we had an appointment - to go aboard The Jacobite Queen for a corporate function associated with our tourist group. We drove to the designated car park at Muirtown Basin in Inverness but were informed that the swing bridge was frozen after an extremely chilly night and unable to operate. We were advised to drive further along to access the Caledonian Canal at Tomnahurich Bridge. We were all piped aboard by a very talented young man trying to keep warm. As we set off from the doch side we enjoyed BucksFizz [champagne and orange juice] and some rather tasty canapes whilst listening to various speakers and learning about the history of the Caledonian Canal. We went through Dochgarroch Lock which is where the water level of the canal is adjusted to that of the River Ness and ultimately of Loch Ness itself. The author Roy Pedersen explained the history of the Jacobite Cruise Company as highlighted in his new book 'Loch Ness with Jacobite' and personally signed copies. In between speakers a youngster entertained us on his fiddle with some very lively music to keep all feet tapping. The journey along the canal initially runs parallel with the River Ness and the closeness of the frosty banks and towpaths on either side provided breath-taking scenery......enjoy.

Woke to a very chilly morning and found the cats downstairs looking out of the windows onto a frosty white garden and not too keen to go outside and check the mouse population. The temperature was minus 5c and it stayed this chilly all day. Had to go into Inverness for our Xmas wine {hoping it will last until then} and drove through some fairyland scenery. As we turned a corner in the lane a buzzard flew low across the road in front of us, the sun glistening on his cream coloured underbelly and looking out for easy prey on the white landscape. The sheep and cattle were eating the hay bales thrown out onto the crisp grass. Drove past geese standing on the frozen duck pond nearby. The sky remained cloudless and blue all day and the cold frosty air stayed nearer the ground producing some weird magical sights in the mountains near Loch Ness.

The rain this week has washed most of the snow away on the mountains surrounding Loch Ness but there is snow on higher ground.The mountains further north of Glen Affric, which can be seen beyond Urquhart Bay, are covered and look beautiful. The temperature has been quite mild for December and it is about 10c this afternoon. Lots of white water on the loch recently and a good display of dramatic rainbows.
This is a real contrast to last Sunday. After a starry night the day dawned with a typical clear blue winter sky. We had arranged to visit some friends who live about 8 miles from Inverness near Essich. We took the longer scenic route and on the journey there we drove by the side of one of the lochs at the top. The water was like glass and the reflections were amazing.