For most people out with the Loch Ness area, mention the Wellington lay-by and it means nothing but mention it to locals and you will be met by a torrent of outrage against Transport Scotland, Highland Council, Visit Scotland, central government - whoever they think is responsible for the fact that the first lay by on Loch Ness that visitors come to from Inverness, is closed once again due to subsidence and looks like staying this way for sometime! And I agree, it is outrageous that this key viewpoint over the loch is closed and it needs to be sorted and sorted fast but I don't think the finger should be pointed at any one public body. The fact of the matter is I think that until such time as tourism is recognised as the country's most important industry by everyone, we will never get the collective joined up thinking and actions required to deal with such problems quickly and effectively. If this were in Switzerland, Ausria,Canada or indeed many other countries world wide the Wellington lay-by would have been sorted years ago!

There...I feel much better now....

Beautiful crisp winter's day yesterday so Fiona and I decided to take a trip up to Plodda Falls at Tomich near Glen Affric. We knew there would be snow on the ground but not quite as much as you see from the photos. The road was treacherous and we were glad we were driving our 4X4. The falls themselves are, to say the least, spectacular - walk out on the viewing platform and you look down a giddy 130ft to the river below. Up until two or three years ago there was a little bridge that took you directly across the point at which the river plunged 'over the edge'. It was first built by Lord Tweedsmouth back in 1880 and I always enjoyed the look on guests faces when I took then on walking tours in the area and they would see this innocuous stream and then look over the edge of the bridge in to the oblivion!
But the falls are only one attraction of the area. The Douglas Fir trees here are amongst the tallest in the UK. They simply tower above you. It was from here that trees were cut over a century ago to make the masts for Captain Scott of Antartica's ship 'Discovery'.

This weekend the Snowman Rally takes place. Traditionally the opening event of the Scottish Rally Championship it is so called because, surprise, surprise, there is often snow on the ground when it takes place. It has been a few years though since there has been so much snow for the drivers to contend with. There has been considerable new snowfall this week on top of 'old' snow so I'm sure it will make for some spectacular viewing. There are a number of 'classic' stages including the Glen Urquhart stage above Drumnadrochit on Loch Ness.
The rally was first held back in 1955 and probably it's most notable winner was the great Pentti Airikkala in 1976. Airikkala was one of the 'Flying Finns' who dominated world rallying over the past four decades.

As may of you who read this blog will know, I enjoy my running but over winter I generally take it a bit easy. It's not that I don't like going out in bad weather it's just I guess I use it as an excuse sometimes to be just plain lazy. Well, this Saturday past I certainly wasn't that! Tempted by Ed suggesting a good run further up in to the Monaliath Mountains than I had ever been before, we set out from Loch Killin at about 12 noon. It was a good clear, crisp day with the promise of some blue sky later on. I was keen and up for it. Twenty -six kilometres and over four hours later we had completed a fabulous circuit deep and high in to the mountains. I was, to put it mildly, rather tired but blown away by the most amazing wild winter landscape that we passed through. Not an environment to be ventured in to lightly, but if you have ( or in my case go with someone who has!) the navigation skills and take sensible precautions winter running like this is unbeatable. What a day !! Attached are four excellent photos taken by Ed (Ley-Wilson)

As always, Hazelgrove, our self catering cottage next door to Evergreen, is already booked up for most of the year. We get a lot of repeat business which is fantastic and we enjoy meeting again and again visitors who really appreciate the area. So, I thought I would just give it a plug for those of you out there who prefer self catering to B&B. The only weeks left we have can be viewed at www.hazelgrovelochness.co.uk
but we are doing pre-spring offers on the 4 remaining weeks between now and the end of April. So if you are interested why not take a look...

I was reading yesterday that the extremely cold winter we have had has had a devastating effect on the population of red deer. So bad infact that deer stalkers are set to ignore advice of the Deer Commission for Scotland to complete this year's cull of hinds. In the far north seventy deer were found dead beside the railway line. Apparently the animals had been hit by trains after seeking shelter in the embankments !

Not quite the same, but down by us here at Evergreen we have had deer (sika and roe) actually in our garden this year no more than a few yards from the front door, seeking plants to eat. This has never happened before. Here are a couple of photos taken today by Fiona which show the deer in the garden!

Forgot to post pictures last month of our new ensuite in the master bedroom. After many trials and tribulations due in no small measure to the snow, it was completed just in time for the arrival of our first guests after we returned from holiday. We like it and we hope our guests will too!

Once again in June at Dores on Loch Ness we have Rockness Music Festival. This has fast become one of 'the' outdoor music festivals in the UK. Why? Simple - great music, (for those a bit younger than myself! - although the headline group this year are The Strokes who recently received 'Album of the Decade' by NME for 'Is this it' ) the great back drop of Loch Ness and the fact that it is held the week before midsummer - up here on Loch Ness it only gets truely dark for about 3-4 hours at this time of year.
So, great news then that this year in addition to the usual sources, fans can buy tickets directly and locally at http://www.visitlochness.com/event.php?event=76
Not only that, there is no difference in price from the main ticket websites. So if you are thinking of going why not support the destination and buy locally!