"intrigue" and weekend walks

We were going skiing but the weather was misty and rainy,so wrapping up warm we decided
to head out with the camera's. Saturday we explored an area we had never been to before
Loch Arkaig. A short trip in the car the road runs alongside the Caledonian Canal for a while.
Then on reaching the loch which is 12 miles long the road soon turns into a single lane track.
On researching the Loch on our return it revealed to great storys ? Hmmm wished I'd researched before we headed out.
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"October 3rd,1857. This morning my stalker and his boy gave me an account of a mysterious creature, which they say exists in Loch Arkaig, and which they call the Lake-Horse. It is the same animal of which one has occasionally read accounts in newspapers as having been seen in the Highland lochs, and of the existence of which in Loch Assynt the late Lord Ellesmere wrote an interesting article, but hitherto the story has always been looked upon as fabulous. I am now, however, nearly persuaded of its truth. My stalker, John Stuart, at Achnacarry, has seen it twice, and both times at sunrise on a bright sunny day, when there was not a ripple on the water. The creature was basking on the surface; he only saw the head and hind quarters, proving that its back was hollow, which is not the shape of any fish or of a seal. Its head resembled that of a horse.... The Highlanders are very superstitious about this creature. They are convinced that there is never more than one in existence at the same time, and I believe they think it has something diabolical in its nature, for when I said I wished I could get within shot of it, my stalker observed very gravely: 'Perhaps your Lordship's gun would miss fire.'"

 

On the west coast of Scotland is a famous 18th century treasure hoard known as the ‘Treasure of Loch Arkaig’ or ‘Jacobite Gold’. Only one bag of gold coins has ever been recovered and nobody has located the bulk of this real life treasure. If recovered, it would be worth over ten million pounds, but the historical value would be priceless.The story begins in 1746 when Bonnie Prince Charlie’s Jacobite army was massacred at the Battle of Culloden near Inverness. Charlie fled to the Western Isles and before news of his defeat reached France, two frigates; the Bellona and Mars, were loaded with hundreds of casks of brandy, medical supplies, guns and ammunition, and hidden below were seven large wooden caskets containing the payroll for Charlie’s Jacobite army and funds for his rebellion – hundreds of bags of gold coins, amounting to 1’200’000 livres.

On the 10th of May 1746, the Bellona and Mars sailed into Loch nan Umah near Fort William on Scotland’s west coast and unloaded the treasure. It was then transported about 20 miles overland and buried somewhere near Loch Arkaig. In September 1746, Prince Charles and his most loyal Jacobite supporters finally escaped to France and Macpherson of Cluny, chief of Clan Macpherson, retained control of the treasure. He famously lived in exile in the Scottish highlands for nine years and spent much of his time hiding out at a mysterious location known as Cluny’s Cave.

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Below some photos from Loch Arkaig.

On the Sunday we stayed local Andy had previously spotted a rocky outcrop that would offer
a great photo oppotunity, although the light and weather conditions left alot to be disired we thought we would check it out for sunnier opportunities in the future.
So below a few photo's from Sunday taken at Rannoch Moor.

We got back to the car and warmed up with hot coffee and chocolate gingerbread :-) 

winter walks

Having my sons and Andy's mum over for Christmas has meant lots of cooking !
So its nice to get out into the fresh air for a walk, even if the weather was bracing.
One of my sons, Andy myself and the dogs headed to the beach.
Lots of seaweed has been washed ashore (I love the smell of salty seaweed in the wind)
We wrapped up well as the wind whipped at our faces.
Rannoch and Sparky enjoying every minute.
I collected some pebbles and sea glass, of course Luke and I wrote all our names in the sand.
I always take feet photo's
The cold wind got the better of us we headed home for a scrummy lunch of roast beef, yorkshire
puddings, roast potatoes vegetables and onion gravy.

new camera

Happy Boxing Day :-)

We all went a lovely boxing day walk, Andy my gorgeous two sons that are staying for Christmas and Rannoch and Sparky.
We have a mini Lochan with stunning views surrounded by woods.
I got a lovely new camera from Andy for a combined xmas and birthday present
So you will all be bombarded with pictures galore in my blogs from now on.

2013

Hello and " Happy New Year" to you all.

Well 2012 has truely been a year of ups and downs for me.
I am hoping 2013 has more ups than downs.

For the first time in my life there were just two of us for Christmas Day !
It was weird but nice too.
My boys and my mum then descended on us a couple of days later for a few days.

DIY ....has pretty much taken over our lives recently and a short break from it
to recharge our batteries is well overdue. We are kitchened and bathroomed out !

We did manage to get out for some lovely walks.

chilling Sunday

Andy had come back from a week away recently we have been really busy doing up our

new home, so we decided to take a whole day off.

A sunday morning sleep in till about 8.30am, we put the coffee pots on and

 had fresh coffee, scrambled eggs and smoked salmon with fresh granary bread.

 

Andy loaded up the car I prepared a picnic and we were off....

 

 

 

We did a few of the touristy things that are near us below are the

 Glenfiinnan Monument and Viaduct

 

 

The Glenfinnan Viaduct below is the one featured in the Harry Potter films.

 

 

 

There are lots of gorgeous beaches on our doorstep so we drove to one of our

favourites and we had it all to ourselves.

 

The beach is pure white sand with shells that glisten in the sun.

The sea is crystal clear.

 

 

Sparky and Rannoch ran up and down

Rannoch is now 11 weeks old he  braved the sea and actually enjoyed playing in it.

 

He also discovered he enjoys digging

 

 

 

Then we had company for a while, some big boys came to play.

 

Hmmmm Sparky and Rannoch not too sure at first.

 

 

The sun shone we ate our lunch, we paddled and splashed with the dogs.

 

 

 

we relaxed

 

We stopped at a pub on the way home and had wine and beer

on the decking. We then took our time tootling home

taking in the stunning views.

 

 We stopped at another

pub for our evening meal and finally we all got home about

10pm. We desanded ourselves in the porch.

 

Ahhh what a lovely Sunday :-)