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

Thursday, January 14, 2010

View from Farigaig pier.

Although we are still surrounded by quite deep snow the temperature today is +3C and the ice is beginning to melt at last. All the snow on the garage roof suddenly slid off this morning making us jump. Luckily we were not underneath it. Not able to get our car down the driveway yet so arranged to meet friends at Inverfarigaig pier and go into Inverness. While we waited we strolled out on to the pier for a look at the panoramic views to Inverness and Fort Augustus. After shopping in town we all sneaked a lunch out at 'Contrast' on the River Ness which was very enjoyable. Today it is quite misty with a very low cloud base and a grand reflection on Loch Ness of the snowy fields. Urquhart Castle juts out into the loch against the snowy backdrop. We feel that the thaw is at last on its way after 4 weeks of extreme winter weather. There is the first showing of greenery emerging in the forest behind us and we saw a red squirrel dash across the snow this morning and up to Aspenwood. The birds are not quite so desperate for food and the bird bath has now been cleaned and full of fresh water. Hadn't filled it up long when we saw a robin splashing about in the water in the bath....good to see at last.

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Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Farigaig Forest Walk.

We have recently added a new laminated walk to our Walks Folder in the cottage .... 'Walk from Aspenwood Cottage through Farigaig Forest'. Have been meaning to do this for ages as it is the pleasant circular walk we often take from our own doorstep. It is the walk along the forest track in front of our house parallel with the shore of Loch Ness, up to the lane for a short while and then turning into Farigaig Forest via Easter Boleskine House. At the house turn round and there are splendid views looking down Loch Ness towards Fort Augustus and beyond. As we walked we recorded things to look out for, took photos and roughly measured the time it took - about an hour and a half at a very leisurely pace. It is now in a laminated cover and available for guests to take out on their stroll.

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Farigaig Forest Walk in pictures.

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Wednesday, March 19, 2008

Journey round Loch Ness.

We had some business to attend in connection with our tourist group on the northern side of Loch Ness at the village of Drumnadrochit on Urquhart Bay and we were pleased to leave home with the sun shining. We enjoyed a pleasant leisurely drive into Inverness, crossed over the River Ness bridge and onto the busier A82 - the main road from Inverness to Glasgow.

After concluding our business near The Loch Ness Exhibition Centre at Drumnadrochit we continued on our homeward journey passing the ruins of Urquhart Castle jutting out on a rocky headland onto Loch Ness. Suddenly the clouds rolled in over the loch, the weather became more overcast and down came the rain. The water on the loch began to look more grey and menacing with the ominous rolling rain clouds approaching.

Luckily we were able to clearly see our house [Lower Birchwood House] and Aspenwood Cottage above it on the opposite shore of Loch Ness nestling in Farigaig Forest.
During the Easter break we are going to design and create a new bird table for our own garden area and - fingers crossed - it will be the highlight of the next entry here [watch this space!].

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Saturday, February 02, 2008

Aspenwood in the snow













Lots of snow overnight, making Aspenwood look very cosy nestling in Farigaig Forest. Found deer prints criss-crossing the paths and very near to the cottage. Even Cyril the red squirrel was covered in a smart white coat as he sat guarding the property on the front doorstep.

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