Congratulations this morning to all the Scottish Tourism 2010 Thistle Award Winners!See at http://www.scottishthistleawards.co.uk/awards-categories/academy-of-winners/Winners2010/ The premier awards in the Scottish tourism industry, we know from experience (Evergreen was shortlisted in 2005 and 2009) that to win or be shortlisted is a major achievement!

It's not often that Fiona and I venture east of Inverness but this Saturday Fiona had a friend up from Stirling and we decided to go somewhere different. The landscape east of Inverness changes dramatically from the wild rugged hills around us to miles of rolling rich farmland, tranquil hidden glens and dramatic coastal scenery. The first place we visited was Findhorn or to be more specific the Findhorn Foundation (http://www.findhorn.org/index.php?tz=-60 )The Findhorn Foundation community is an experiment in conscious living, an education centre and an ecovillage and a fascinating place to visit if only to see the fantastic eco houses that have been built there!
From there we went on to visit Pluscarden Abbey. Now I am neither a catholic or religous but it is a wonderful, peaceful place. Set in a leafy valley only 6 miles from Elgin and dating back to 1230, it is the home today for 28 Benedictine monks.
After the abbey we toured around a bit before stopping at a viewpoint looking down on the Morayshire Coast and what a wonderful sight it was. With the late afternoon sun just beginning to fade, it was the perfect end to a perfect day ( see photo at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Inverfarigaig-United-Kingdom/Evergreen-BB-Loch-Ness/52381952026# )

Good article on Loch Ness in the Vancouver Sun no less on October 16th. Measured and well written the journalist, Ellen Creager, says:
'' Before this trip, I'd heard that the Loch Ness region was tacky, touristy and getting built-up. That is absolutely not the case. It's clean, fresh and at least 99 per cent tasteful. ''

On this I can assure everyone that she is absolutely 100% correct. The only issue I have with the article is the lack of comment on the south side of the loch. It is limited to ' Ambitious drivers can drive back up the other side of the loch on B862 and B852.' Presumedly this is because on much of the south side the road is single track but to miss the south side is to miss the most beautiful and peaceful area around Loch Ness. Now I know I'm biased but really, ask any local, the north side is for those that simply want to see Loch Ness, the south side is for those who want to experience Loch Ness. I rest my case...

Today I went in search of a cave.. 'Bonaid Odhair' Cave to be exact. It is another of these almost mythical places that are dotted around Loch Ness which periodically I decide would be good to find.
Bonaid Odhair's cave is where James Fraser (IX clan chief of the Frasers)who took part in the Jacobite Rebellion of 1745, was concealed in the neighbourhood of Foyers for about seven years.Back then the village of Foyers was known as Bonaid Odhair(Dun Bonnet)and local people took to calling Fraser Bonaid Odhair so that they could talk of him without danger of letting on to Cumberland's maurading troops that Fraser was alive and well..
So, off I go this morning with map and vague idea of it's whereabouts deep in the woods near Foyers. An hour later having scrambled through dense old woodland and across the edges of a steep
rockface I think I found it.. but I'm not sure as there were so many huge rocks scattered around that the possibilities of what constituted a cave last used 265 years ago were several in number!
I'm going to go back soon if I can, because after much searching amongst all my historical info on the area when I returned home, I found not only reference to it in the 'Tales of Old Aldourie' but more exact details of it's location than any present day map. Watch this space for exclusive photos!!

Well,the sun did not quite shine all day (it poured for 2 hrs!) but yet again it was yet another fantastic Baxters Loch Ness marathon and 10km. The marathon was won by an Ethiopian in 2hrs 20 secs. This year I did the 10km and astounded myself by running it in under 45mins... Photos to follow of this heroic achievement (if I say so myself!)

A bit of a different Saturday night yesterday - I did a presentation to 7 journalists about my 'other job' namely heading up an organisation called Destination Loch Ness! The journalists were here as part of a FAM trip trip being organised in connection with the Adventure Travel Trade Association's World Summit in Aviemore 4-7 October. Anyway, being Saturday night it was nothing too heavy and I was able as part of it to show slides of South Loch Ness taken at various times of the year. I of course take the outstanding natural beauty of the area for granted but it was good to hear the appreciation by a group of journalists.. Here are two of my slides