Mum and Sister Harriss

On Sunday morning Tom left from Inverness on a bus bound for Yorkshire, to do his GNAS archery course. Meanwhile, I got to drive the work Land Rover back to Torridon 🙂
A day and evening at work, then on Sunday night my mum, sister and Matt arrived. Cups of tea by the fire and a catch up, then time for bed.
Monday, we went for a sunset walk around the Coulin. We heard a lot of deer calls on the walk and saw two females and a young male crossing the river on the way back 🙂

Tuesday the family spent the day exploring, then G and me went on a stroll before we had dinner at the hotel that evening.

We had an amazing meal, the venison and banoffee pie courses were a favourite.

We then retired to play Scrabble and Jenga by the stove while Georgia tried to make fire!

Wednesday we went for a drive to Gairloch for lunch and a walk on the beach. The weather held out while we were outside thankfully!

Another sunset walk in the evening, a big meal and that was us zonked! Unfortunately no halloween celebrations for us but at least Tom and I have a costume for next year!

So one final forced walk for my sister this morning to the deer park and beach and they’ve left Torridon and the lovely weather behind them!

Farewell family, I’ll miss you x

Rhododendron deconstruction

I did my second day of work for Ben Damph today. It started with being highly visible, clearing sticks and the occasional log from the road that the mulcher flailed out.

Next, we went to start a fire and spent the rest of the day burning the rhody that the cutters had left and the mulcher couldn’t get to. Sweaty work!

A hard days work but satisfying to see the progress and the new land being opened up. Torridon is going to look very different in a couple of years!

Toscaig to Airigh-drishaig, Uags and back

Yesterday we had a breif lie in after a hectic week’s work, then made the most of the dry weather with a walk in new territory.
We drove the scenic route to Applecross and onto Toscaig where we parked up and headed out. We passed through a paddock of free roaming Saddleback piglets which ran up to us and surrounded us while Tom tried to fees them grass. Think he wants pigs instead of ducks now! We followed a path through the hills to the sound of deer roaring at each other but sadly no sightings.
After about three miles we stopped by a wee lochan for lunch of cheese sarnies and chocolate, but not for too long as the wind was cold! Another couple of miles and we came to Airigh-drishaig and the sign to Uags, but no sign of a path!
We headed in the direction of the path according to the map, but only occasionally managed to pick up part of a deer trail or vague path that had a boot print!

Turns out not many people have walked this ‘path’ in a long time! There was about three miles of stomping through chest high ferns, slipping into peat bogs and scrambling up rocks before we got to an awesome vantage point and stopped for some energy!

I found a friend too

Another mile and we made it to Uags! Woooo! We discovered an awesome bothy and our future house. Beautiful views, private cove, walled garden, duck/pig shed and a source of water! Here’s hoping we win the lottery one day to do it up!


Luckily for us, the two mile path back from the bothy existed! So we made it back to the Ambulance in Toscaig just before dark! Good day x

Walking festival

It was the walking festival in Torridon last weekend and Tom has been flat out. Slioch day one, Rona day two and Ben Alligin today. Sadly I’ve been stuck making beds but hopefully next year I’ll get to join in!
Tuesday I went on a walk of my own which included a river crossing instead 🙂

Beautiful day, beautiful night

Wild night in!

Fancy dress shopping for halloween today, although it may well become a regular house outfit!

First snow on the tops

Rhody burning begins

Yesterday I did my first day of work for the Ben Damph estate, clearing rhododendron. A good hard day’s work outside was good for the soul! Looking forward to some more days like it, hopefully a lot more in December when the hotel gets quiet! Until then, one day a week on my day off will be good 🙂

Rest day today, chilling out and relaxing my muscles. Then getting the house back in order after visitors and laziness! A night in with Tom later, dinner, drinks, chocolate and sleep. Lovely stuff 🙂

Cycling

Today I cycled 20 miles! Alriiiiight! I went to Kinlochewe and back to the shop, hoping for a bigger selection of goods but to no avail. We ended up with a pizza, peas and cherry tomatoes, but I treated myself to a mini milk before the ride home.
It took 1hr 20 there and 1hr back. Pretty proud of my weakling legs! It was another beautiful day and apparently the last one for a while. Let’s hope that’s not true!