Fiona and I went on a delightful walk through Torbreck Woods on the edge of Inverness, this afternoon. Despite having lived here for almost 10 years I have to confess that I had until today, never taken the time to explore them. The woods are mainly mature spruce trees which have been thinned out to give plenty space and light and throughout which there are a number of good trails for running and walking.
On the south side of the wood it gives way to farmland and more woodland which stretches out all the way to Dores on the shores of Loch Ness. We followed the track along the edge of the woodland for a short distance and looking back it affords great views of Inverness.
Me being me I think I'll go back next week if I get the chance, and run from Torbreck to Dores - it really is a beautiful, unspoilt area!

It is not often I talk about golf but today I make an exception because yesterday Castle Stuart golf links between Inverness and Nairn was named as the venue for this year's Scottish Open Golf Championship. In the golfing calendar this is a prestiguous event which is followed by the British Open Championship at Royal St George's in Kent. The Scottish Open takes place betwen the 7th-10th July and will undoubtedly generate considerable income for all kinds of businesses as large numbers of people flock to the area for the course of the event. So, if you are planning a holday around these dates or are a golf enthusiast and thinking of us here at Evergreen, may I be as bold as to suggest that you book now. Despite being here on the beautiful shores of Loch Ness, we are also only 30mins drive from Castle Stuart!

Around us here at Evergreen there are some very interesting place names, no more so than Camus Mharbh Dhaoine which translates to Bay of the Dead Men! This beautiful little inlet is down by the memorial to Lady Jane Fraser (another interesting story) at Lower Foyers. How did it get this name which sounds like something out of the American 'Wild West'? Well, the story goes that that back in the 15thC the bride of one Gruer Mor from Invermoriston, was in Foyers collecting wedding presents when she was insulted by Lawrence Grant of Foyers. Gruer inflamed by this, sailed across the loch and took violent vengence on Grant and the people of Foyers. Grant was killed and Gruer seized Foyers. The place at which Grant was killed actually on the north side of Loch Ness, is called Ruigh Laurais which translates to Lawrence's Slope. Amazing to think really that despite the passage of hundreds of years the names have survived.

Most of my running around Evergreen is either uphill or downhill - you just can't escape an incline! Good then the other day to go for a 'flatish' short run (3 miles) along at Dores with friend Alex. The trail starts at the carpark and meanders along the back of the beach before heading in to Torr Wood. Torr Wood is lovely - mature pines ensure that you can always see Loch Ness through the trees and the trail itself is soft but dry under foot. After a mile or so the trail reaches the grounds of Aldourie Castle at which point it turns back on itself towards Dores
Although we ran the trail it is ideal for walking and a great way to relax after a meal at the excellent Dores Inn.
The Dores Inn http://www.thedoresinn.co.uk/ has been around in some shape and form since 1875 and gone through good times and bad! Presently the good times are back - over the past couple of years it has been extensively upgraded and the quality of food and drink available make it one of the places to go if you live in or around Inverness. Changed days - back in the 1970's there were no 'facilities' for ladies at the inn and gents made use of an outhouse overhanging the stream in the carpark!!

Many of you will be aware from my ramblings over the past year or so that just along from us here at Evergreen is the infamous Boleskine House once owned by Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin fame. What I only discovered yesterday was that scenes from their concert film 'The Song Remains the Same' were filmed on the hill behind us here at Evergreen! Specifically scenes relating to the song Lucifer Rising which Page recorded in November 1973. Further digging on You Tube revealed some interesting videos of the song - all this on our doorstep - who would have thought....

A belated Happy New Year to all those who have stayed with us here at Evergreen in the past and to those who will be visiting this year - we hope that you had a good one!
The festivities are over for another year and tonight we welcome our first guests of 2011. However, for many people work does not start again until next week and driving around Inverness this morning it was very quiet with no problems parking which is all very pleasant. The same can be said of tourism generally over the next 2 months - it is quiet and a very pleasant time to visit Loch Ness if you wish to just chill out and relax without the hustle and bustle of crowds. It is also a good time for seeing wildlife - the cold weather has driven the deer down to low levels and we regularly see them in the garden at present. Equally, the red squirrels have returned and we have three feeding daily from our bird feeders. And you never know, if you are out and about, you might be lucky and see pine marten, badgers or otters - just before Christmas friends who live locally, looked out their kitchen window to see two otters playing on the nearby frozen river Farigaig!