'Listen to the Silence' as many of you will be aware, is our marketing strapline for Evergreen and very effective and true it is. Over the years many guests have commented on the fact that it is often so quiet you can 'listen to the silence'. However I guess because I live here I forget about it and don't appreciate it as much as I should. However this evening I went for a short run through the woods and around the Falls of Foyers and maybe because it has been such a beautiful evening and I was taking it all in, but I was very aware of the peace and silence. Even down by the village of Lower Foyers the only sounds were lambs and the cooing wood pidgeons. On up the gorge of the falls and the only sound was that of my own heavy breathing....

Seems like we might possibly have a badger set near us here at Evergreen. A couple of our guests went for a walk the other night and were surprised to catch in the beam of their powerful torch a badger making it's way across our drive. It's not the first time badgers have been seen around Evergreen - there are infact large numbers in the area around us. Last year one even had the audacity to steal from the bird feeder right outside our kitchen window! The year before two were regular visitors to Hazelgrove next to Evergreen. However, the largest badgers set I have ever seen is in a secluded location a few miles from Evergreen. I don't know how old the set is but if you wish to watch badgers this is the place to go....

It's still cold but at last the wild primroses are beginning to emerge. This beautiful small yellow flower grows in thick clumps along our roadsides and woodland areas. Here are three photos taken around us at Evergreen.

Lovely spring day I thought this morning. Time for a good long run up in the hills, stretch the legs and savour the day. So off I set from Evergreen,up the Pass of Inverfarigaig and onwards towards the Monahliaths. I gazed up at the hills and it was at this point that I began to question how much of a spring day it really was - there was a fresh dusting of snow! Not to be detered I carried on upwards, it was getting colder but nothing out of the ordinary. It was only when I reached the summit that things changed rapidly, a cold wind from the east swept in and yes, it started snowing! Wearing only minimum protection from the elements I decided enough was enough and made a rapid descent. Ah.. the joys of Spring in Scotland!

Spent a couple of days this week down at EXPO in Glasgow. This is Scottish Tourism's premier trade event at which tour operators and others from all round the world come to do business. I was there representing Destination Loch Ness and it was a very good show. However it's hard work and having spent most of my time at the Scottish Exhibition Centre I was glad to be heading home late yesterday afternoon. It was a glorious day and after about half an hour I had left Glasgow behind and was heading along the banks of Loch Lomond. On then to Crianlarich, Tyndrum, high snow capped mountains and empty roads ! The sun was still high in the sky by the time I had reached Rannoch moor and Glencoe and I was sorely tempted to just stop a while and just take it all in. It's on days like this that I am reminded of how lucky I am to live where we do and have the freedom of the highlands..

Beautiful weekend weather here on Loch Ness and it looks like being the same today. As I start work for the day I'm looking out over the loch which is like a millpond shimmering in the sun. Not a bad place to live and work when it is like this..
Over the weekend we used the good weather to hit the garden big time and 'clear away winter'. Unfortunately a lot of our shrubs died in the extreme cold over the winter months and we had to make an expensive trip to the garden centre to replace a number. Then there was the ones that have been eaten by the deer who were desperately seeking food in January & February. Never mind, its what we should expect.
The two images today were taken over the weekend up behind us here at Evergreen.

Announced today so it must be true... Blondie are to play at the Rockness music festival here on the shores of Loch Ness June 11th -13th ! I would not say I was infatuated by lead singer Deborah Harry when I was a teenager but she certainly held my attention! Those of a certain age (my age!) will remember classic songs such as Heart of Glass, Hanging on the Telephone and my all time favourite the high octane Denis (Denee, Denee.. ) So I guess what this means is that I will end up at Rockness on what we all hope will be a beautiful summers night over Loch Ness, belting out the lyrics in a crowd of people, the majority of whom will be less than half my age... Can I really do this and retain and shred of dignity?

Out twice this weekend for runs in the Monaliath Mountains. After the recent heavy snow, the views from the plateau high above Loch Ness and the surrounding countryside are absolutely fantastic. Yesterday as I staggered up through the snow to a lonely summit, a white mountain hare was sitting looking out over the landscape, as if surveying his territory for intruders. A beautiful animal, the mountain hare (also known as the blue hare) changes colour between summer and winter in order to camouflage itself against predators. Often it can weigh up to 7lbs and reach a hieght of just over 2ft. There are large numbers in the Monaliaths but it is only in winter that I see them regularly. Eventually yesterday when I got too close, this mountain hare gave me a disdainful look and then scampered off, no doubt to another good viewpoint from which to watch out over his world...

Well so reported at http://www.thespoof.com/news/spoof.cfm?headline=s1i71978
today but then it is April 1st today ! Perhaps not the most imaginative 'April Fool' - Nessie is too easy a target for such fun. Now if your really want to know a good April Fool who is old enough to remember the 'Spaghetti growing trees' that graced prime time television many many years ago ?