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

Labels: barnacle geese, geese, Loch Ness, urquhart castle

Labels: deer, stags, strathconon

Wood mice are one of the most common European mammals.
Luckily the cats were asleep.

Labels: long tailed field mice, mice, wood mice

All this week we have been pleasantly surprised to watch a pair of young deer, male and female, amble up the sunlit path from Loch Ness beach in the cool of the evening. No doubt they have been enjoying a drink or a paddle. They stop to munch on the grass every now and then before exchanging glances with us and heading off into Farigaig Forest. After a trip into Inverness yesterday we came home and parked at Dores beach to feed the many ducks that congregate there. Throwing the bread against the strong breeze blowing down the Great Glen was a real challenge although the ducks put everything into the game and managed to find their lunch. Lots of white water waves slapping noisily onto the beach although it was bright and warm. The village of Dores always has swarms of swallows zooming overhead at this time of the year, no doubt nesting in the farm buildings and the old mill.

Labels: deer, Dores, ducks, Loch Ness

May is the classic month when the blue haze of flowering bluebells carpet the woodland floors and surround the tree trunks. They are also known as 'wild hyacinths'.

Labels: bluebells, brown hare, hare

We have experienced a beautiful week weather wise with clear blue skies all day. It has been a bit chilly first thing in the morning but temperatures have climbed to about 18C by the afternoon. Made the most of the sunshine and enjoyed walks, scenic drives and a picnic by the side of a nearby glistening loch surrounded by gorse which is now in full flower. Long may it last.

Enjoyed a relaxing Sunday lunch at the Cawdor Tavern near Cawdor Castle yesterday, about 30 miles from Aspenwood towards the seaside village of Nairn. Cawdor Tavern is a traditional country pub in a building which was originally the old castle workshop. It was quite busy and many people were sitting outside at the tables having a drink and soaking up the welcome sunshine. A lovely sunset over the loch in the late evening was followed by a rather chilly night. Today dawned with a blue sky and the odd stubborn wee cloud - there is always one.

Labels: cawdor, cawdor castle, urquhart castle

The week started off with warm pleasant sunshine which encouraged the wildlife to show. The male pheasant has been proudly escorting his two females about although neither seem exactly excited at his presence and preferred eating. Flocks of siskins on all the feeders and neighbours reported sighting of a pair of redpolls in their garden. These colourful birds, with a bright red forehead and black chin, often flock with siskins and inhabit coniferous woodland. Will have to keep a look out for them. The red squirrels appear on the feeders throughout the day and we enjoy watching their antics. Unfortunately all this tempting bird life attracts the predatory fast-flying sparrowhawk. This hawk relies on a surprise attack although its prey, usually finches, often manages to escape to live another day. The male is now hunting on its own while the female is on the nest.

The weather changed towards the end of the week and we experienced overcast skies followed by very gusty westerly winds accompanied by lashing rain. It was quite chilly during the day and in the morning we woke to see snow on the mountain peaks opposite. A beautiful rainbow shone over the loch this morning and the snowy peaks can be seen just to the left of the colourful arc. The good news is that temperatures will rise next week and the sun will shine again.
The rain no doubt has been welcomed by all the plants as it has been very dry lately. The wild primroses are still blooming along the grass verges and on the forest floor and now a carpet of wild bluebells are beginning to appear. The brighly coloured rhododendrons are a cheerful sight whatever the weather.

Labels: squirrel