Bowhunter Archery (Tourist at Home)

After years with Roxy at Gairloch Leisure Centre (Derek Roxborough my friend, former colleague and excellent Archery coach) I couldn’t wait for the adventure into the deepest darkest woods of the Cawdor Estate.

Located only a few miles from Nairn just off the road to Inverness, Bowhunter Archery it is easy enough to find (From the Roars of the Dinosaurs!).

If you go down to the woods today, will you get a surprise? YES!

We aren’t complete novices at Archery but we are very competitive. Both of us shoot instinctively and just as well! We were in danger from the moment we entered the woods, becoming quickly surrounded by creatures from the size of Velociraptors to Zombies and Giant Midges.

We got the opportunity to shoot at three zones within the grounds of Bowhunter Archery, getting a few tips from our Archery Leader who remained with us throughout the one and a half hour adventure.

It’s the perfect activity for a group of adults as well as a family. A tremendous day out in the woods, plenty of parking and friendly talented young staff. Booking is either by email or telephone and a deposit is required to secure your booking. So what are you waiting for?

The old boats of Gairloch Museum (Tourist at Home)

While visiting the Wild Cat (McColls as it was then/September 2020 a lock-down year) I noticed that Willie MacCrae was busy chopping up the rotten carcasses of the amazing skiffs, Salmon boats which had sat outside the Old Gairloch Museum for years. Wanting to capture the moment, I nipped over to Willie and asked if I could film the ships last voyage.

To rotten to be moved to the new museum’s location, these were now headed to the tip.

Fort George (Tourist at Home)

How many times have you drive past and never visited Fort George?

Well the weather was fine, beautiful and blue, if still a little wintry. Solo traveller I packed the camera and dropped the paint brush and headed off for a day to Fort George. Parking is reasonably close to the Fort with a short walk into the grounds and plenty to explore.

10 things you must see when visiting Forth George?

1. Highlander Museum
2. Pet Cemetry (although you could only see this from afar)
3. Stunning views of the Moray Firth (with potential dolphin sightings)
4. Cinema and mini movie
5. Drawbridge and moats (you must read all the info boards to truly appreciate the Fort!)
6. The black hole (somewhere to put a naughty child?)
7. Where the bayonets were sharpened!
8. Stake like protection (think Braveheart and not Vampires)
9. Military Grafitti
10. and, of course, the tea room and then a wee walk along to Ardersier

Prickly Fish and Perfect Cakes (Tourist at Home)

At last I have the chance to visit the Croft Fresh Cafe!

The Croft Fresh Cafe is located in Aultbea.  It was relocated to the Church of Scotland after the old community hall was found to have some structural problems.  This versatile building is also home to 3 Lochs Cinema and  Wester Ross Photography Group, Craft Group, Indoor Bowls, Table tennis, Book and Film Group and much much more.

You won’t find pews in this church but highly versatile chairs and when required tables.  I check out the table groaning with gorgeous cakes and decide on the savoury option first of Butternut Squash soup. This is served with lovely fresh bread and butter, next I order a tea and a lovely moist coffee cake.

I am delighted when I receive a pot of tea and the promise of more hot water should my tea pot run empty.  I sit with some friendly faces and find out more about Aultbea’s men shed, which is welcoming to women.

Next I head to my pottery painting in Laide, just a few miles north up the road from Aultbea. Andi’s house is a lovely little croft house, where her collies give me a happy, friendly welcome.

I choose my mug and Andi explains the painting process. There is a massive array of colours to choose from and Andi explains that the colours, when fired, will become vibrant. I just have ‘to believe’.

Lots of chat and hilarity later and my lovely mug is adorned with Nancy Coo asleep at the High O Many Stanes.

A few days later and the giant mug has been fired and I am delighted to see the finished product.

I think it might turn into my Poolewe Tuesday Market Mug!

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Gairloch Museum (Tourist at Home)

After a year or renovations the new version of the old Gairloch Heritage Museum was finally open. We had wanted to visit it together so it took a bit of planning but on a wet afternoon we finally made it into the wonderful new building.

There is plenty of parking to the front, sides and back of the refurbished nuclear bunker located opposite the stunning waters of the Gair-Loch. We picked up our family membership card from the friendly volunteers (in this case Nevis our neighbour) and immediately I saw my collection of books on sale. Then I was delighted when Irene requested more of my Midge and Puffin books!

The museum is on two levels, downstairs is home to the beautiful prism from Rhu Reidh lighthouse, the Gairloch Pictish Stone and the Poolewe hoard among many other exhibits.

There is lots to read, fantastic old photographs where you try to pinpoint exactly ‘where that is’ and interactive exhibits for all ages.

I especially enjoyed the Earthquake monitor, where you jump up and down on a mat to  see the screen ‘record’ the earthquake you created. Loch Maree is located on a fault line! It isn’t Wild Wester Ross for no reason!

And my illustration beside the Midge Munching Machine!

Great museum, it will take many visits to see it all… tired and leg weary we headed to the GALE centre for coffee and cake, well it was Tourist At Home Day.

 

Attadale Gardens (Tourist At Home)

So many visitors stay at our BnB room and Self-catering accommodation and sometimes it is shameful that they have seen more of my country and home than I have had the pleasure to enjoy.

Attadale Gardens was on my list of places to visit in Wester Ross and a beautiful Sunday afternoon was just the day to experience this gorgeous haven of a garden.

What I remember most about the gardens is the peace. It was calm, sunny, warm, birds were singing and water tinkling.

There are so many hidden nooks and crannies with inviting benches in shady or sunny spots.

Finding the 19 hidden sculptures became my challenge as I wandered around the beautiful gardens.

To find:

Heron – Exaltation – Bream – Big Bird – Crowned Eagle –  Life is not a rehearsal (carved in the cliff) – Cheetah – Wild Boar – Chameleon – Roe Deer – Urn – Owl – Torson – Otter – Eagle – Fish – Reclining figure – Gnomon of Giant Sundial – Obelisk

My favourite and the last one I found what the hidden Chameleon…well it is a Chameleon after all!

There is also a little DIY cafe, what I would call an honesty cafe, where you can help yourself to tea, coffee, cakes and ice cream and throw your money in the pot.

You know you are in the Highlands when there is an Honesty Cafe!

Anthrax Island ~ Gruinard Island (Tourist at Home)

Having looked at the many islands off our shores for too many years it was time to explore another local island in my 19 for 2019, Tourist at Home goals.

Gruinard Island is also known as Anthrax Island and until recently we would not have been permitted, or wanted too, set foot on the island.

Paddling conditions were perfect for me and in the capable hands of Gairloch Canoe and Kayak Centre we set off to circumnavigate the island and then land.

We saw many Black Throated Divers calling on the water, Shags perched on rocky outcrops and cliffs and Common Terns screeched in protest when we finally landed on the rocky spit of Gruinard Island.

The heads of bonny Bluebells bobbed and danced in the breeze as we explored the island a little after our lunch. You would never have known the islands sad and dark history.

The island had been used for biological welfare tests and was contaminated with Anthrax in 1942. Since then the island was a no go area until it was finally decontaminated in the 1980s.

Gruinard Island was out of bounds until 1990 when it was finally deemed safe and sold back to it’s original owners for £500 pounds.

Watch this short video to learn more about Anthrax Island.

This is original movies from the Anthrax tests. They are quite upsetting. Caution advised.

Torridon Am Ploc ~ the open air church in Torridon (Tourist at Home)

Tourist at Home  – 19 for 2019 – I first saw the open air church on a TV program and I knew, living so close (for the Highlands), that I had to find it!

It was another gorgeous Wester Ross day, I had done my research, found the co-ordinates and research on google (NGR NG 89511 56228).

It is a hidden gem and on the day I visited in early May it was gorgeous and warm.

The open air church would have been swamped with water on a wet, windy and wild Wester Ross day. You really would have had to be devoted to worship on a day like that.

It was after ‘The Disruption’ of 1843 that open air churches were used.

Parishioners of the Church of Scotland were disillusioned as they had no say in the choice of minister who preached to them. The minister was chosen by the landowner or laird. The split in the church lead to the creation of the Free Church of Scotland, predominantly a church of the Highlands of Scotland.

The open air church was still used into the 1980’s.

With Bluebells dancing on the day I visited it would have been a wonderful location for an open air wedding ceremony.

Tranquil, hidden and peaceful!

Below are images (screenshots) of what it would have looked like when in use.

Old School Inverasdale (Tourist at Home)

Tourist at Home, that is one of my 19 goals for 2019 and I managed to tick off three goals this week.  Attadale Gardens, Torridon Outdoor Church and Inverasdale Old School Tea Room.

It was worth the wait. Fantastic drive over to Inverasdale, as the crow flies it is just over the peninsula from Melvaig but it takes a lot longer by road and I don’t have wings yet!

Plenty of parking, amazing volunteers only too willing to help. So much to read and look at and then the tea room. I was delighted to be served a pot of tea, with china cups and saucers and the cake was ‘to die for’.

Things to do in Wester Ross – Old School Inverasdale – Tea Room & Free Museum

Where druids once walked – Loch Maree (Tourist at Home)

For 7 years I have driven up and down the Loch on my way to Inverness or home to Melvaig (the last house before the lighthouse). After the amazing pass of Glen Docherty and it’s view of Loch Maree, you cannot help but be spellbound by the beauty of Scotland’s fourth largest fresh water loch.

At last we had the time, opportunity and perfect weather for our paddle on Loch Maree. The early start was slightly delayed due to Hunky IML having a wee bit of a hangover from our lovely night out the previous evening but we were still on the road to Loch Maree and the Slattadale car park by 9:30am.

It was a slight surprise to find the Inverness Canoe Club there, although Hunky IML, a member, had been invited, but the date had slipped his mind.

The start was a bit chilly, it was after all, a clear day in November but the Loch was pond like and perfect for me!

It is about 1km over the Loch until you hit the first of the 60 islands which can be found on Loch Maree. Some of these islands at tiny floating islands covered with vegetation for the breeding wild birds that return each year to nest.

We had beautiful blue skies, breathtaking reflections and calm waters.

We paddled clockwise around the islands, marveling at the pristine remnants of Caledonian Pine Forest, the best preserved in Scotland. As we didn’t have much daylight, our main destination was the ‘special’ Isle Maree.

Special? Due to it’s deciduous forest of ancient oak and holly and…its history.

With links dating back to the time of druids and pagan worship the Isle has been a magnet for people throughout the centuries.

We landed at the little pebble beach on the south side, where the sea kayakers had already landed. We had our lunch and made a cup of tea. By then the canoe club were off and we could explore the island alone.

It is magic!

Crunchy golden leaves of oak and acorn underfoot and every green holly shiny in the weak sunshine.

The first surprise was the Coin Tree. Hunky IML had last visited the island in August 18 and now in November 18 it was fallen. Perhaps the October storms had brought the tree down?

Next we visited the graveyard where many of the graves are tiny, about a4 size, inscriptions lost for time due to the effects of the weather, climate and time. Other gravestones were more recent and provided a fascinating glimpse back in time to those who once loved and visited the island.

https://youtu.be/3YbyARunqRo
The graveyard is surrounded by a large, now in ruins, stone dyke, reminiscent of a stone circle of Clava Cairns. Could this perhaps be the remnants of the ancient hermitage and chapel?

Loch Maree is named after St Maél Ruba and it is believed that before this it was probably called Loch Ewe.

By the time we were packing up and leaving the island, the darker skies had arrived and the wind had picked up a little bit, thus our timing was perfect for heading home.