Almost forgot about starting this one! Off to read last few posts of last week.
Here is Part One of my Outer Hebrides Holiday:
Mon 9th. We drove to the campsite at Killin, then next morning went to Oban to catch the ferry to South Uist. The journey was calm through the Sound of Mull and quite choppy in the open Atlantic but we did see a group of porpoises jumping alongside us and a skua. We arrived about 7pm (five hours travel time) so decided not to camp and went in a nearby hotel.
Wednesday 11th. We drove up through South Uist, which is very bare as there are no trees and the scrub is kept down by the wind. There are quite a few catholic churches which always look over-decorated to me and rather incongruous in this landscape. We were told you could rough camp anywhere but there are a lot of houses, not just all together in villages but also dotted about singly, so we did not feel it would be a good idea to camp somewhere other than a proper site. We crossed Benbecula and over to North Uist (most of the islands are joined by causeways now) and found the site we would stay at until Saturday. On the way we called in at a reserve area where there are lots of geese but we only heard them in the distance, the ground was very boggy. A little way in to North Uist we visited Barpa Langass, a chambered cairn, which is a huge cairn that you can crawl into and look around (my knees wouldn’t let me crawl in). http://www.ramshornstudio.com/barpa.htm It was very windy when we were putting the tent up and we discovered a small tear in it that we had to keep on the sheltered side whenever we put it up.
Thursday 12th. Went to the RSPB site at Balranald and saw seals, wheatears, dunlin, twite, snipe, oystercatchers, lapwings and arctic terns. .http://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/b/balranald/index.aspx There is a salmon smokery nearby and that’s what we had for dinner while we were here. I liked North Uist, despite the lack of trees, and the people are very friendly.
Friday 13th. Climbed a small hill from where we could look through a telescope provided and see St Kilda, then went to Balranald again but the rain, which had been light and showery since we arrived, became rather heavier.
Terry in Cumbria
dibnlib: The Carnyx cam gives a bigger picture: http://www.carnyx.tv/CarnyxWild/WildlifeCameras/Scotland.aspx FYI, was just on Daily Update and mentioned that the Carnyx cam is buffering a lot today - not usually an issue!
Sounds like you had quite an adventure, Terry. Wish I could have seen the porpoises jumping.
Did all the intended gardening, but ironing somehow got overlooked. Church service very good – definitely like this Minister. Late home having had a long Osprey related conversation with steward on the door! Watered Tomatoes etc after late tea, then had to think what I wanted from the freezer for tomorrow – not hungry enough to think about food!
Annette – I hope the walk was good, with lots of things to see.
Dibnlib – I think that Toilet Roll holder definitely now sounds more like your usual style. Webcam picture seemed to end up small after it had been knocked out by the gales earlier in the week and restored – haven’t come across an explanation – but it does look a whole lot clearer in full-screen view than it did before! Glad you enjoyed a good lunch – and I hope your OH’s job is all he hopes for.
Lynette – after getting family history letter from Cousin, I had another look though papers we have relating to my Grandmother’s life – several commendations for war service, such as Red Cross and housing evacuees - fascinating. So pleased you are learning family stuff from your Dad’ papers.
Terry – enjoying your holiday account! Was worried at first when you mentioned Killin because I once got food-poisoning there! Balranald sounds good – sorry about rain.
Hardly keeping eyes open here, so will now say good night to all.
Ospreys Rule OK, but Goldfinches come a close second!
It was a very exciting day today. ChloeB and I visited Bassenthwaite osprey projct. We finally got proof that the female from 2000 to 2006 was really Green SX and not XS as has always been stated. Hopefully we can post the proof in the near future. Suffice to say that the official book and video describe her as Green SX. It is hard to imagine how such an error can have been allowed to persist for so long.
It was a great day.
Tiger Signature
Tiger, I was there today, which were you? EDIT: at the viewpoints, not Whinlatter visitor centre.
Unknown said: Tiger, I was there today, which were you? EDIT: at the viewpoints, not Whinlatter visitor centre.
We were at Whinlatter visitors visiters centre from about 1pm to 4pm. Pity we were so close but yet so far.
Tiger: So nice you and Chloe met up and had a good time. Too bad you missed TerryM (but how would you recognize each other?) :-))
I nearly said yesterday I was on duty, but ran out of time trying to get caught up - I will be there for the next two Sundays (Chrisy, this includes you, but no seats!)
Annette Well Chloe and I have met up many times before. It would have been lovely to have met TerryM.