Well it's that time of the year again.. On Sunday 3rd October the Baxters Loch Ness marathon takes place once again on the south side of Loch Ness. Starting near the village of Whitebridge high above Loch Ness it runs down past us here at Evergreen, along the loch sure and then in to Inverness. It is a fantastic event, regularly rated one of the best in the UK by runners and indeed I have run it six years in a row. However this year I am taking a break, (although I am still doing the 10Km ) but will still be there at the end to cheer on all the runners. It seems every town and city has a marathon these days but to complete one still requires huge mental and physical committment. So for all of you out there who fear what is ahead, fear not, just dig in, head down and stick with it.. Here are a few photos of me last year. The first is me near the end going through a 'bad spell'. The second, one mile later crossing the line and full of running... The third, mile 16 and all is good.

It's that time of the year on Loch Ness when our little furry friends get very active as they collect nuts from the hazel trees and frantically try to build up their fat reserves for winter. It is estimated that red squirrels put on 12% of their body weight in autumn. This past two weeks at Evergreen when we look out the dining room window in the morning we usually see one or two squirrels dancing from branch to branch. Here are a few photos taken recently.

Out for a run today on one of my favourite circuits. From Evergreen I head up what we call 'The Corkscrew', past the towering rocky mass of Dun Dearduil and then on to Balchraggan Farm. Just past the farm I turn on to a forestry track and head up to the summit of 'The Fair Haired Lads Pass' at almost 1200ft. It is from here that you have quite simply some of the best views down over Loch Ness. And yet, because so few people know of this trail, even fewer get to experience it. So, if you are coming to stay with us at Evergreen soon and like walking this is a good one to do. After the summit the trail drops down to the road along the loch side and from here it is a mere 4 miles back to Evergreen! Here are two photos from the top of the Fair Haired Lads Pass

Had an hour to spare yesterday in Inverness so went in to my favourite shop (which is actually a church!) Leakey's 2nd hand bookshop. There amidst the thousands of books I found a book published in the 1920's called 'Glen Albyn Tales and Truths of the Central Highlands' and what a wonderful little book it is. Written by the monks at Fort Augustus Abbey, there are some wonderful stories of the Loch Ness area. My favoutrite so far is of a character called Roualeyn Gordon-Cumming, a larger than life character nicknamed the 'Lion Hunter' who lived around the 1850's in Fort Augustus. He would greet what would have been at the time the first 'tourists' to Loch Ness, attired in some 'grotesque' costume, and, preceded by a magnificent goat! I wonder what visitors today would think of being welcomed to Loch Ness in this fashion?!!

The local newspaper today carries a story about the sighting of a possible panther up in Dornoch about an hour north of Inverness. Apparently the animal has been seen twice in the past week in the local caravan park! Could it be true - possibly - but there have been plenty other sightings of 'big cats' in the Highlands over the years which have as it were come to nothing except one that is... In 1980 a female puma was captured at Cannich 14 miles north of Loch Ness. She was christened 'Felicity' and lived for a further 5 years at the Kingussie Wildlife Park. To read more and hear a recording of her purring in her cage follow this link http://www.ambaile.org.uk/en/item/item_audio.jsp?item_id=38933