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

Ray and I went to Saturday morning pictures - taking us back to our childhood days, but this wasn't just any old film. We were priviliged to see a special pre-release screening of Sony's new movie -'The Water Horse - Legend of the Deep' at Eden Court Theate in Inverness. It was hosted by VisitScotland, Scotland's national tourist board, and held in association with the Destination Loch Ness consortium and BAFTA Scotland. We were invited, along with other businesses, local attractions and the media, to view the film before the official UK release date of 8th February. The film has already been released in the US and has been a great success. Destination Loch Ness is keen to ensure that this renewed public interest in Loch Ness can help with the campaign to secure World Heritage Status for the area.

It was a really good film for all ages. It made us laugh, get weepy, and jump out of our seats with the terrific special effects, made by the 'Lord of the Rings' team of experts.

Cannot give a photo but do visit the official web site where you can watch some clips.

The week began quite calmly and the mother and offspring were often seen wandering casually in the forest between our house and Aspenwood. This is the young deer we first saw last July when it was just a few weeks old-wobbling about on its stick thin legs. It is now nearly as big as the mother, who we can easily recognise by a slight nick out of one of her ears. The temperature dropped by mid week and the snow arrived on Thursday and poured down most of the day although it only laid seriously on higher ground. A large white hare in its winter coat was seen running up the lane to the single track road and off into Farigaig Forest. When the snow eased off the hungry birds descended for a feeding frenzy. There was a mixture of green male siskins,long tailed tits, great tits, chaffinches, blue tits, robins, large blackbirds and tiny coal tits.

This weekend [ January 19/20th ] hundreds of dogs have gathered in the Highlands for the biggest event in the British Husky calendar. About 200 teams of dogs, including Alaskan Malamutes,Samoyeds, Greenland dogs and Canadian Eskimo dogs, will take part in the annual Sled Dog Rally near Aviemore. The event is organised by the Siberian Husky Club of Great Britain. The dogs are initially paraded through Aviemore by torchlight in the evening for everyone to admire, which must be a wonderful sight. During the day teams of between two and eight dogs run at up to 20 miles an hour over a stretch of about four miles around beautiful Loch Morlich at the base of the Cairngorm mountains.

Very low haar mist all day yesterday over Loch Ness and covering the opposite hills and mountains - the authentic Scotch mist. It was quite eerie to watch. The snow remains on the higher ground and a good sharp frost is forecast for tonight with temperatures plunging to minus 7C in places - hopefully not this place!

The recent wintry cold weather has provided Scotland's Highland ski centres with their best snow for years. All five resorts were open this weekend with most main runs complete as well as extensive nursery areas for skiers and snowboarders. It is quite unusual for all the centres to be open with good snow cover at the same time.Cairngorm reported skiing 'from top to bottom' ,the Lecht opened its rail park last Thursday, and Glenshee has snow across three valleys. Glencoe has loads of snow with all pistes complete and Nevis Range, near Fort William, has good skiing conditions. Reports say that this winter season will be brilliant with some of the best snow seen for years. More snow forecast for the Scottish Highlands later this week.









Watch the movie below for more action on the Cairngorm Mountains - [with sound].

The layer of snow around the house froze overnight in a cloudless sky full of stars and the path and driveway have been really slippery. The postman was very late this morning and could not make some of his calls due to the black ice on certain roads.The temperature has not risen above freezing all day and both cats are very sensibly curled up in armchairs very near radiators.There is still quite alot of snow on the mountains around Loch Ness and, as the sky is still clear and blue, we are in for another sharp frost tonight with minus temperatures forecast. We will just have to light the fire and have a wee warming dram!

Went for a brisk, crisp walk through Torr Woods which skirts Dores beach at the eastern end of Loch Ness. Crunched on the frosty ground and met many walkers with very friendly wet dogs. Saw this rather lonely mute swan at the marina which faces the small village of Loch End on the opposite shore. Walked all the way to Aldourie and then back along the lane to Dores Inn where the car was parked - about a distance of 5 miles.

Came home for some lovely hot soup and gradually thawed out.

Heavy snow showers hit the east coast of Scotland last night and as far west as Perthshire and the Trossachs. The Borders were badly affected with 8 inches of snow expected overnight with high winds causing treacherous drifting. The gritters and snowploughs were out in force in the worst hit areas, mainly the cities of Aberdeen, Perth, Dundee and Edinburgh. We woke up overlooking Loch Ness in the Highlands of Scotland to a slight sprinkling on the higher ground but as the day progressed the temperature increased and the snow now only remains on the mountain tops. The sun shone on Urquhart Castle and it was very pretty while it lasted.

Enjoyed a very pleasant holiday period and were treated to a superb Christmas Day lunch at Rocpool Reserve near Inverness Castle. The sky was a clear blue as we drove in to town and a good time was had by all.