Kyles of Bute, Loch Riddon and Eilean Dubh

Back in October whilst visiting relatives on the Isle of Bute I had an opportunity to do some paddling on the Kyles of Bute, the narrow strait of water which separate the island from the Argyll mainland, into which the north of Bute fits like a ball and socket.

I set out from Rhubodach on a clear and calm morning, waiting until the ferry to Colintraive, MV Loch Dunvegan, departed on her short voyage.

My route took me up the east Kyle and then into Loch Riddon, which is a shallow sea loch lined with maritime oak woods.  Autumn's full colour was still to develop but the trees were laden with acorns.

After paddling to near the head of the loch on the east shore I came back down on the west shore and arrived at Eilean Dubh (the dark island) behind which is a popular if small anchorage for yachts.  Remains of estate infrastructure stands in remarkably good condition near the island, this crane looked as if it could be put back into service with a bit of work

This small but distinctive lighthouse stands on a small point on the shore, Eilean Dubh is to the right with the entrance to the anchorage between.  In spring Eilean Dubh is a noisy place as there is a large heronry in the big trees.

A memory of 2013

Looking back over some images from last year brought back lots of memories of great days in the outdoors. Mountain days, low level walks, watching the turn of the seasons and sea kayaking - I was blessed with some superb days. Trying to pick one outstanding day wasn't easy - but I was drawn to the sea kayak trips as there had been quite a few memorable days and journeys. The Small Isles, paddling along Ardnamurchan in tricky conditions, multi-day trips in the far northwest and a the fulfilment of a long-held hope to round Point of Stoer were all superb experiences. The image below however, seems to encapsulate one of the best days I've ever had in Scotland's great outdoors...... 

Taken towards the end of a February day on the Sound of Arisaig whilst paddling back towards Glenuig with the islands of Eigg and Rum on the horizon.  It had been a day of superlative paddling with good friends in perfect conditions.  We had landed on several white sand beaches and some of us had swum (briefly!) in the sea - in February, in Scotland - in warm sunshine and yet the ground in the shade had been hard frozen and frosty.

We were to be treated to a sunset of rare beauty and would round off the day with a fine meal at the Glenuig Inn.

So, what's your outstanding outdoors day of 2013?

Happy Christmas

                             Wishing you peace and happiness, wherever you may be this Christmas

An extraordinary sunset

Whilst completing a few last minute jobs in the garden I became aware of a quite extraordinary sunset developing overhead......

                      Quite apart from the gorgeous colours, thee was an unusual effect in the clouds........

                                          ...which intensified and formed as we watched.

A 3D effect combined with blurring at the edges of the clouds made for a wonderfully textured skyskape

These may have been Mammatus clouds formed in sinking air, a quite unusual cloud type.  Certainly the weather had seen some big fluctuation in temperature over the previous 24 hours.

Meanwhile, the bottom edge of a more defined bank of clouds resembled flames as the sun fired through it and the colour reached a rich crescendo before gradually fading.  We were simply spellbound at this beautiful and most extraordinary of sunsets.

The turning wheel

Three days of deep frosts followed by a bitter day of cold, lashing rain; it feels that autumn is now turning to winter in the Aberdeenshire countryside.  The trees are almost bare and the fields behind our house have been spread with dung then ploughed to await their next crop - the land transformed  from the golds of late summer to brown shades.

On a more settled morning I took a walk to get some height and hopefully a view.

Coiliocbhar Hill is just ten minutes drive from home and I was soon up above the farmland and onto the hill ground.

The moorland grasses are bleached and dry after snow, then cold winds and frost - it really looks like winter.

To the north-east I could look over to Bennachie, that most recognisable of Aberdeenshire's hills, and one associated with homecomings.  The last time I was on Coiliochbhar Hill I was treated to a great Brocken Spectre, but no chance of that today in a cold blustery airstream.

To the west I looked over the course of the River Don and beyond to the hills separating Donside from Fiddichside......

 .......while a bit closer, the hulk of Kildrummy Castle watches the turning of the seasons, as it has done for 800 years.

I walked reluctantly back down from the hill towards a winter sky.  The wheel of the seasons is turning.  I'm about to leave for four months working abroad; when I return the wheel will have turned further and the fresh shades of Spring will be across the land.  As with the seasons, the small cycle of my own wheel will have turned too.

An adventure of a different kind!

This blog usually features adventures in Scotland's great outdoors whether on the hill or in a kayak on the sea or just the beauty of the natural environmnent. Recently though, we've been making items for an adventure of a completely different kind!

For our first attempt to sell some of the things we've made we chose a Christmas Fayre orgainsed by the Parent-Teacher Association at Craigclowan School in Perth where we have a connection through a family member.  We arrived the evening before the fair and quickly realised that we needed lots of space!  The co-ordinator of the event kindly arranged a bit of extra space by forming a corner which worked really well for us.

Although we'd tried out a table plan at home there were some changes needed, but eventually we were set up with tealight holders made from whisky barrel staves at one end along with prints and cards....

                                .....more whisky barrel items and some clocks in the middle....

......and driftwood items at the other end.  The evening had a sense of relief that we'd got this far, but quite a bit of apprehension as to how things would go on the day.

The Christmas Fayre was really well supported by the school and the wider community and was very busy with folk. As well as stalls the event featured choral singing, music, a fashion display and a demonstration of how to make the perfect Christmas table centre.  There were lots of activities to keep children entertained and of course an opportunity for little ones to get their wish-list to Father Christmas when he visited along with a rather dashing Pony.

There were a good range of stalls with a wide variety of really nice items - we were at risk of spending more than we'd make!

So, how did we do?  Well, we had a great time and exceeded our hopes for how things might be received and sell.  Certainly we've been encouraged enough to continue the adventure and develop things further.

We'd like to extend our heartfelt thanks to the Head Teacher, staff, PTA and pupils of Craigclowan School for making us so welcome - it really was appreciated and we hope to return next year.  Also of course to those folk who liked what we'd done enough to purchase items - we hope that you enjoy them!

The ticking of clocks, the lighting of lamps and the raising of glasses.....

For a good while, we've toyed with the idea of making some hand-crafted pieces for sale. We've made some items for family and some for ourselves, and finally we've taken the plunge. Booking a place back in August for a Christmas Craft Fair in Perthshire this weekend gave us the push we needed and the last few months have seen full production! Along with the items themselves, there have been all the little things we didn't originally consider, like hand-stamped gift tags, bags and a host of other small items which all add up.

The ticking of clocks.....

...with some made from pieces of driftwood collected over a period of years on sea kayak and walking trips....

                                        Others made from pieces of tree bark found in odd places.....

...and some made from oak whisky cask staves.  We get the staves from a cooperage in Speyside; they start out black, wet and dirty, needing quite a bit of work to bring back the character of the oak wood.  It's a marvellous material to work with though; every cut or hole made in the wood releases a beautiful whisky aroma!  :o)

                                Whisky cask staves also go towards the lighting of lamps........

                      Tealight holders of various sizes and configurations; some straightforward.....

                                   ....others requiring a bit of thought to get the balance right.

                                            The barrel chines can sometimes come in useful!.....

...and there are even some unusual woods - this oak stave seems not to have been used for whisky at all; it's very blonde and had an aroma of (perhaps) cognac.


Driftwood used here too.....

                                                A Gorse root bleached by sea and wind.....

                                            ...and a piece of trunk beautifully polished by the sea.


                   For the whisky drinker, the barrel staves can be put to a very satisfying use.......

                                                            .....whether for oneself.....

                                                  .......or to raise a glass with friends.


We've also got some prints and greeting cards featuring images which have appeared on the blog, so a bit of a variety of items. It's hard to know whether the things we've made will be good enough to sell, but unless we dip our toes in the water, we'll not know either way  :o)

There's a distinct possibility that we'll sell very little, in which case all our family's Christmas presents are sorted for several years to come!

Winter backpacking on the White Mounth - going out in a blaze of glory!

We slept well and warm in the bothy at Glas Allt Shiel despite outside temperatures dipping well below freezing.  Early morning frost and ice had made the grass crunchy and the ground hard.

After breakfast and a good clean and tidy out of the bothy we set off to walk out along Loch Muick, which was still in shadow.  The air was cold and sharp, it was a cracking morning to be out and about. As a bonus our rucsacs were substantially lighter by most of our food and a couple of kilos each of coal and kindling  :o)

The early sun wasn't far away, still below the hills of the Capel Mounth but lighting the sky a to a searing white.  There was great wildlife interest too.  In the space of five minutes near the outflow of the loch we saw groups of Red Deer, a party of black grouse and a group of about twenty Whooper Swans (Cygnus cygnus) falling gracefully out of the morning air from the north east to land on the loch with much calling and splashing.  We thought perhaps that this was possibly their first arrival for the winter having flown from Iceland, such was the commotion on landing.

Past the outflow of Loch Muick we entered the woods of Glen Muick (pronounced "Mick" and meaning Glen of Pigs).  It was much cooler here in the wood and out of the sun but above us the larches were in glorious sunshine. 

We stopped for second breakfast near the Linn of Muick, finding a small patch of sunshine in which to sit and reflect on a great short trip which had given us some of the best of Scotland's winter hills.

Emerging from the woods further down, we walked into a truly fabulous morning.  The final flourish of autumn colour made the hills and woods appear to glow.  The hills might now be in full winter conditions but here on the lower ground it was still autumn yet.

We strolled down the final couple of kilometres to where we'd left a car near Mill of Sterin; there's space to park a car here if it's done carefully and considerately.  Our short early winter trip had been just 30 kilometres over an afternoon, a full day and a morning but it had interest, variety and two good bothies.  We'd also been fortunate with the weather; as we drove the short distance home the grey clouds of an approaching weather front filled the sky.