Scotland in Four Seasons Magazine Spring 2021

ScotlandInFourSeasons Exploring our connections with Scotland

Spring 2021 £5.95

ISSUE 2

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Scotland in Four Seasons Spring 2021

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Welcome to Scotland in Four Seasons

ello, and a very warm welcome to our second issue of Scotland in Four Seasons magazine.

We are delighted to bring you our Spring edition, and hope you enjoy the variety of features, writers, photography, and some springtime colour.

I like to think of Spring as a time of progress, and depending on where you live you will have seen Mother Nature coming to life and sprinkling new growth and warmer colours across our winter-hued landscape.

In the remote hills, we certainly felt it, not so much the snow and freezing temperatures, we get used to that, it was the thick ice covering everything and the strong winds. Richard MacGregor (also the photographer of our cover image of the mountain hare) has been living up in the hills for more than twenty years and has never experienced such a prolonged spell of ice, wind and low temperatures. Ice makes everything uncertain: locks seize up, engines are reluctant to start, doors, gates and padlocks frozen shut. From stepping out the door and staying upright to keeping the hen’s drinking water flowing, the ice presents us with an unknown world. The gale-force winds blew the snow across roads and tracks, and formed into huge drifts. As I write, bizarrely, we are in the middle of a major thaw, and heavy rain but the huge snow-drifts are still blocking the road.

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hank you for all the positive and encouraging comments for our first issue, it’s a pleasure knowing our work is being appreciated by you across the globe. We have had readers from USA, Australia, Ireland, Romania, Italy, France, Germany, and Denmark.

With best wishes,

Linda Linda Mellor, Editor, Scotland in Four Seasons Magazine

The winter was a challenge. 2021 began with January being the coldest in ten years, and the theme continued into February with low temperatures. It was the first time that the temperatures had fallen below -20C in the month of February since 1986 in the UK. It’s still warmer than the current all-time low of -27.2C recorded in Braemar in 1995. Snowy winters remind me of childhood, and the simple pleasures of making a snowman, playing in the snow and watching the family dogs having daft turns.

P.S. This is one of the local characters, named Pointy Pete on account of his rather long, pointy antlers. He likes to look in the windows of Scotland in Four Seasons HQ, he arrives in January and disappears sometime in May each year. I wouldn’t say he was tame but he certainly has a different approach to studying humans. Pete doesn’t seem to be part of the main herd, a bit of a loner but a delight for us humans to watch, but I do wonder, who is watching who?

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ScotlandInFourSeasons Editor Linda Mellor Contact Email: editor@scotlandin4seasons.co.uk Tel: 07875 152072 Cover Photograph Richard MacGregor Photographers Richard MacGregor, Alan Scott, Linda Mellor. Inside front cover image Yuri Janssen.

Collaboration Writers Neil Cunningham Dobson, Lucy Turner, Debbie Anderson, Sheldon Cameron, Douglas Clements, Joanne Dovesi, Jade Cruickshank, Scott Mackenzie, Simon Barnes, Wills Kass, Louise Jarvis, Claire Nicolson, Angela Phimister, Stewart Blair, Daniel Logie, Mhairi-Ann Troup, Alan Scott,Lana Richardson, Kona Macphee.

Short story by Hugh Munro.

Subscribe (see page 82) www.scotlandin4seasons.co.uk Printers Stephens & George Print Group, Glasgow G3 Scotland in Four Seasons publication dates for 2021 On sale date Issue 3, June 10th Issue 4, September 10th Issue 5, December 10th The views expressed by the collaboration writers are not necessarily those of the publisher. Reproduction in whole or part is prohibited.

Copyright is reserved by the publisher. ISSN 2635-0505 6

Scotland in Four Seasons Spring 2021

Contents Page 5 Welcome from Editor Page 9 Cover story

by Linda Mellor Page 10 The coming of Spring

by Linda Mellor Page 14 Every detail counts

by Louise Jarvis Page 19 Travelling Auctioneer

by Sheldon Cameron Page 22 Back to Zero

by Debbie Anderson Page 26 Me & my dog

by Douglas Clements Page 28 Walkies

by Joanne Dovesi Page 29 Life on the remote Pait Estate

by Angela Phimister Page 32 Countryside Education

by Stewart Blair

Page 40 Taste the wild

by Linda Mellor

Page 72 Meet Deerness Distillery

Page 78 My Outdoors

by Lana Richardson

Page 48 Wild wood pigeon ramen with venison & miso broth

by India Annan

Page 75 Fish suppers & the Moon

by Alan Scott

Page 79 The Simple Life

by Wills Kass

Page 50 Skye in Spring-time

by Scott MacKenzie

Page 76 Tails from a Skye Croft

by Claire Nicolson

Page 53 Spring fishing

by Simon Barnes

Page 82 Coming up in our Summer issue

Page 55 Let’s chat

by Head ghillie Daniel Logie Page 58 Creative Countryside

by Jade Cruickshank Page 60 Our Story

by Glenlyon Coffee Page 62 Forever Scotland

by Mhairi-Ann Troup Page 65 Waiting for Persephone

by KonaMcphee Page 66 Wilderness Hotel

Page 35 Over the sea to Skye

Page 67 The love page

Page 36 Scotland by the Sea

by Neil Cunningham Dobson

Page 68 Designer Life in Fife

by Lucy Turner

Page 39 Gifts for you & yours Editor’s choice

Page 80 Advertisements & situations wanted

Page 69 A short story, Green Cottage

by Hugh Munro

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What’s the story behind our Spring front cover?

Front cover photograph

by Richard MacGregor When it comes to our front cover it is a dilemma: what do we pick, how should it look and so on. We take a look at a selection of photographs, study them, get a feel for what fits and what doesn’t, then we reduce the choice down so we arrive, finally, at our front cover image.

For the Spring cover we wanted an image reflecting the change as we happily embrace spring-time and the warmer months.

Our cover star was photographed mid-May enjoying the sunshine by Richard MacGregor.

The mountain hare, a native to Scotland, seemed a fitting character for our cover. The hare changes his coat colour from winter white to a brownish-grey shade. His white coat gives him camouflage in winter blending with the snow, and his darker coat creates an opportunity to merge with moorland colours for the rest of the seasons. He is sometimes known as the blue hare due to the blue-ish hue of his summer coat.

The photograph below left shows a hare in-between his coat change, the warmer tones underneath his white winter coat can be seen. It usually takes a period of three or four weeks for the changeover to complete.

The mountain hare is a hardy species, and a true Arctic mammal, and is only found above 300-400m.

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The Coming of Spring Words and images by Linda Mellor

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pring time is an important season, it’s one everyone looks forward to and Mother Nature kindly gives us proof we are closing the door and moving away from Winter and opening up into a period of longer light, warmer temperatures and new life.

Uncomplicated moments spent outdoors, breathing in the cool air and feeling the faint heat of the winter sun brings an inner glow.

The snowy covered landscape provides a vast hunting ground for Golden Eagles, and Hen Harriers. I often watched these Up here in the hills close to the Inverness-shire and Perthshire birds of prey but failed to photograph them. The hardy female border, spring takes a little longer to arrive. We continue to look harrier tends to stay all year round in its breeding territory while at the high tops covered in snow when other parts of Scotland are the male goes to the coast for the winter months. I also watched enjoying the warm glide from spring into summer. The longevity three Whooper Swans sit out the bad weather on the loch for of snow on the high-tops is incredible. Gradually, the patches of a few days. Late afternoon in February, I experienced a close snow decrease in size, break up and in the process of doing so, encounter with a Robin, I had rolled down the window of the create interesting shapes on the hillsides, often similar to animals. Land Rover to take a photograph with my phone. As I lined The summer sunshine melts them, and around August, if we’ve up the image, a Robin appeared from nowhere and flew at my had plenty sun and rain, they’ll disappear. Last year, a tiny patch phone, making contact with my hand. It all happened so fast I of snow finally succumbed to the summer warmth in the first was unable to get a photo. I can only imagine my phone’s red week of August. cover had made the territorial bird think he had an invader on his patch and had moved in at speed to attack.

For some, the connection to Scotland is strongest during the winter and spring months. There is a heightened awareness of the weather and a more conscious state of mind when making choices As the weather started to lessen it’s wintry grasp, the local and decisions. During the extremes of the winter months, there wildlife became very active. One of the more unusual and fascinating sights is when the red deer stags start to cast their is a mindfulness of the season to be enjoyed and much to be grateful for. After endless days of low cloud, snow, and poor light, antlers. One by one the antlers drop off. The stags will cast their antlers at different times, the higher their rank in the herd a pinky, red sunrise lifts the spirits in a way only nature can. hierarchy, the earlier they cast, re-grow and clean their antlers.

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Fine Scottish stags without their impressive head-gear look strangely lacking and imbalanced. During the time of casting, the herd hierarchy dynamic changes around, and large stags without antlers may drop down the pecking order. While new antlers are growing they are covered in velvet, and are very fragile, so disagreements are settled by boxing. Stags rear up on their hind legs and kick out with their forelegs. This is preceded by parallel walking, eye rolling, throwing their heads back and pointing their chins at their opponent, and hanging their tongues out.

You can see in the photo below, a good example of two stags in a dispute, one with antlers and the other already cast, suggesting he was the more dominant of the two.

Mr Fox was photographed from the truck on a weekly shopping trip using a phone camera (they are very handy for these sort of unplanned, grab shots). A well-fed hunter who was rather unperturbed by his magazine debut roadside photo-shoot.

In early February, the temperature dropped to a chilly -17 degrees, and winter winds blew snow and whipped it up into high drifts across the road making Argocat travel challenging in places. Some drifts were 6ft+ high with sheer drops. The drifts required a channel to be dug to reduce the verticals allowing the Argocat to climb or descend.

In winter, the 40 minute journey down to the main road turned into a 2 hour adventure, usually punctuated with gasps of astonishment, and one or two stops involving a large shovel to dig through the drifts.

By mid-February the thaw started, and greens and browns returned to the landscape as the snow melted away. The local burns were no longer invisible, for weeks they were smothered in ice and by layers of snow. The loch lost its icy shoreline and the deer were no longer close to the house, preferring to spend more time higher up the hill. This is a good sign, the higher up the hill the deer are, the better the weather.

Melting snow, and higher temperatures revealed an unexpected splash of spring-time colour. If the thaw continues maybe we will experience the joys of an early spring. If this is the case, then we will happily embrace the less snowy weather and the warmer temperatures, and put our winter layers away until later in the year. The hens will be especially delighted by some springtime sunshine.

At the time of publication I was reading: Neil Ansell’s The Last Wilderness.

A pleasing book about the writer’s unaccompanied walks in the wilds of Scotland.

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‘Every detail counts’

By Louise Jarvis

Image by Craig Cantwell

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“Making the decision to become an artist was a very straight forward decision for me, there was no eureka moment half way through a career path or rat race escape plan, I knew from the age of about 4 years old that I wanted to be an artist. I received a VHS video tape from my mum one Christmas around this age “Tony Hart’s - How to draw animals in pastel”.

My MFA was in Art and humanities so my horses were wrapped in irony – my own battle from the known to the unknown, breaking through the barriers of my own comfort zone and I needn’t have fought, as the horses did, with such force. At the same time as a side line to the life size horses I picked up my first bag of clay and created a ceramic Raku fired war horse. The day it fired I sent photos into an international art competition I grew up in Ayrshire on the west coast. A place of tourism and in NYC and won second place in their sculpture category along profound beauty. Every day the Clyde ranged from moody and with another sculptural piece so I took it as a sign I was on the dramatic to clear and bright, I was inspired by the ever-changing right track once again. I now offer private sculpture commissions landscape that surrounded me. After leaving high school in Largs in both bronze and ceramics to clients all over the world.

I studied for a couple of years in Glasgow, building up a portfolio of my work before gaining a place on the General Course at Looking forward in my career, I want to continue working on Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art in Dundee where I then larger life size commissions. Last year I created a life size English went on to study and initially qualify with a BA in Illustration Mastiff bronze. “Jaamba” was full body, standing sculpture measand Printmaking. I never deviated far from my love of animals in uring 38” inches in height and 45” long and the finished article all the work I created. was better than I could ever have imagined. The project took 8 months from start to finish and was cast at Powderhall Bronze in I officially launched Louise Jarvis Art in 2010 after my first paid Edinburgh. pastel portrait commission of a Great Dane called George. I remember feeling so nervous hand-delivering my first commisDogs have always been close to my heart but my true love of all sion to the client, I had to stop the car half way through the the breeds is the Great Dane. It’s where my business started with journey as I felt so sick with nerves. I needn’t have worried as the the first portrait of George. When I turned 32 I took on an ex client was delighted and we all stood together in her living room, show dog, Jacob, he sadly was only with me for a year and at the George included, tears streaming down our faces! Mine from the age of five passed away quite suddenly. They say you have one relief and theirs from knowing George would be with them forev- dog in your life that gets under your skin and into your heart in er in portrait form. Upon leaving their house I looked to the sky a way no other can, and Jake was this dog. He was the kindest, and I saw a shooting start and wished that my art business would most gentle big spotty fellow (Harlequin) I took him to school to take off. see the children at pick-up time, 30-40 children would surround him with him towering over them, he loved it. It broke my heart In 2016, eight years, 3 self-published canine art books, three UK to lose him and I only recently gathered the strength to make a and international awards and over 1500 completed commissculpture of him. sioned portraits I returned back to art school to study a Masters where the newest string to my artist’s bow would be born His sculpture gives me such comfort as it sits in my studio and – Sculpture. It was half way through this MFA that I gave in to every day it feels like he is with me as I work. He used to lie in demands by tutors to hang up my 2D hat and venture into the my studio with me when he was alive and keep me company. I world of 3D. I can tell you that I fought every step of the way, miss him more than words. I put my successes in my business having thought that 8 years as a full time professional 2D animal down to knowing how much support, love and comfort we get portrait artist had served me well, it was not an easy ride. Once from our animals. The saddest day is losing them and I am again turning to my passion and love – animals – I burst out the constantly told by customers just how much my work means to starting stalls at full gallop once again, giving everything, I had to owners in this situation. push myself with new found vigour and enthusiasm.

It’s not just a portrait or a sculpture it is so much more than I was in my studio and home studio into the small hours buildthat. Because of the empathy I have and the way I can connect ing four life-size warhorses. My Masters showcased four white with my subjects I have always been so blessed in that from the bandaged/plaster horses tearing through barbed wire and leaping moment my business started nearly twelve years ago I haven’t out of rigid wooden boxes. had to look for work, it has always found me.

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I think the fact I do what I do because I have a passion for dogs and other animals rather than focussing on the money side of the business meant I had my head and heart in the right place.

I know he is with me through my artwork and I can only imagine that my work comforts people across the world in exactly the same way that his pieces do for me.

Last year I exhibited at Crufts with my art for the very first time.

I visited Crufts in 2013 as a spectator with two portraits under my arm to present to unsuspecting recipients, one was a Great Dane. I was so overwhelmed by the size of the show I made it a dream to exhibit there one day, that day was this year. My mum passed away very suddenly in October 2018 and I decided to use the little inheritance I received from her, It felt like her parting gift to me, to apply for a stand at the 2020 show.

Each commission I do, with the tiniest of details captured, and each piece being completely bespoke to the client’s dog, allows the client to experience all these things. There is no language barrier within sculpture, it doesn’t need an explanation, it just needs us to stop and observe. The youngest of children can read the faces of animals and as an artist my passion is in the details.

The tiny marks that make that dog individual to the client, the character and expression of the eyes are the single most important thing to me. I have been told I am a perfectionist but to me every detail counts. That’s what I pride myself on. I look forward to the future with unbridled enthusiasm.”

It was a dream come true to receive the news I had been successful. Ten years I had dreamt of it but I always thought I would exhibit portraits. I was wrong, I went along with 10 life size ceramic sculptures and I felt an enormous sense of pride standwww.louisejarvis.co.uk ing there with my work. I met thousands of wonderful people.

We laughed, cried and shared stories. It was a dream come true.

I am the proud owner of an English Mastiff and now a Great Words & images supplied Dane puppy after the hole that my boy Jacob left in my heart was By Louise Jarvis. so huge. His sculpture sits above me in my studio and his portrait on my wall next to me as I work.

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Scotland in Four Seasons Spring 2021

Sheldon Cameron is the THE TRAVELLING AUCTIONEER Straight from the Auctioneer’s desk, Glasgow based Auctioneer Sheldon shares his Spring-time exploits.

“With Christmas a distant memory and Hogmanay a distant blur. Burns Night a fairly somber affair and V.D, (Valentines Day) socially distanced, it’s been work, work, work to a certain point. As the travelling auctioneer who covers all of Scotland and the remote islands, my start to the New Year has been a different one to the one I envisaged.

Office skills in abundance!

Gone are the long drives to the cottages and castles in our lovely land, to explore and find unknown treasures, now I and the rest of the population have had to adapt to digital photography, uploading files, attaching emails and sending ‘zip’ files!

Rummaging around, no more As I am an old school auctioneer I prefer dealing with dusty pieces, rummaging around in lofts and outhouses trying to unMolly, the faithful auction hound, hopes earth that golden egg, but all that has changed and I have had to Sheldon won’t be office-bound for much longer be dragged kicking and screaming into the 21st Century to value and look at ‘stuff’ on my laptop! I so wish some of my clients had With more and more working and or home schooling, a number been on a photography course, as trying to identify and age an of people have obviously decided to have an early Spring clean or item is challenging to say the least. de-clutter and I am always fascinated by what I come across. One such item being an extremely rare bright yellow Veuve Clicquot Sheldon rises to the challenge of whisky sampling skate board in its branded bag. Now, how is that for oneOn a brighter note, our first auction of the year, online as the upmanship. So some of those new ‘no car zones’ would make an Nicola has decreed, was a resounding success. With so many ideal place to show off the skateboard! people stuck at home and no doubt wanting to change the appearance of their home décor, and dealers wanting stock Always happy to help! for their online shops, bidding was fast and furious. So as one Some recent highs and lows of the travelling auctioneer have auction is put to bed, another is on the horizon and approaching included, when we were allowed out pre-Christmas, was a fast. The ever popular whisky cask auction and one I truly love. wonderful pair of oil paintings by the artist As the paperwork and emails mount up on my desk including Doyly John, that are always popular and the whisky distillery names, cask types (sizes to you and me), client thought had no value, to the inevitable approximate number of bottles at cask strength and all valuation of the family silver, that turns appropriate re-gauge figures to assess, I then look forward to the out to be silver plated with some pieces of samples arriving. Always a pleasant few days to mull over, stainless steel cutlery thrown in for good especially as we wait for the longer daylit days and warmer measure. With the advent of ‘all things on temperatures to arrive. I suffer for my cause by sampling and Google’, I am always surprised by things not then writing the tasting notes to accompany the corresponding being checked first of all, but hey ho, that’s letters and then send out the samples of the aforementioned why I, as an auctioneer, am always happy to whisky to the clients and await the feverish bidding to look at anything and everything. commence.

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Following up on a phone call and eventual email exchange, my eye was caught by a very unusual metal horse saddle seat with pierced decoration and swivel action on four shaped supports united by a footrest.

By no means an antique of great historical value, just a fun kitchen stool, especially if you have a liking for anything equestrian orientated.

Equestrian kitchen stool Royal Creamware Shellfish graduated three-tier dish, a lovely cut glass Victorian Osler oil lamp, a silver (I can see the crystal clear hallmarks) impressive Edwardian fully fitted vanity case, a Tyg (silver three-handled cup), three Georgian snuff mulls and many, many other goodies including a curling stone sweepers brush, praise be to Rabbie Burns, the proverbial golden egg has landed, by email.

Feed me Gravy bones From another phone call to follow up emails (do you see a pattern forming, me sat at my computer in the office with the ever faithful auction hound, Molly, sat by my side waiting for another gravy bone), I am asked to value a huge amount of catering equipment, and if it is suitable for auction. Well, always one who is intrigued by all possibilities (again pre-Boxing Day lockdown), I venture out into the eerily quiet streets to look at said catering equipment.

His dulcet tones are missed....?

Low and behold, after a lot of research and phone calls, the items are extremely good quality by excellent manufacturers, both here and abroad, so after speaking to the client and informing them of the good news, it was decided to do an online only auction, (i.e. it shows online for about five to seven days and people bid). The downside is you don’t hear my dulcet tones! The sale was early Spring.

The Auctioneer’s forays have been thwarted One of the many things I and no doubt most other people have missed is going to a restaurant or bar to meet friends and family and to even meet clients to discuss matters, valuations and up coming auctions. My forays out to the green and heather clad land have come to a grinding halt along with seeking out new food shops in remote villages to treat myself, but all being well, the end is in sight….or am I looking through a vintage brass and leather bound telescope the wrong way round, only time will tell.

With the absence of not going out to see clients the length and breadth of the county, my fishing rod has been gathering dust, but my trusty walking boots have proved very useful with the large dumps of the white stuff.

Going, going gone…….once again.”

Golden Egg via email Sheldon Cameron has been an auctioneer for many years and is Ping the computer goes as another email arrives with lots of happy to conduct valuations across the country (when allowed) or attachments, as my heart sinks I open them to find a wonderful by email at sheldonc@mulberrybankauctions.com 20 Scotland in Four Seasons Spring 2021

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Back to Zero

Change your mindset, reduce anxiety, and enhance your health

Words & images

by Debbie Anderson 22 Scotland in Four Seasons Spring 2021

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AM WILD and it’s taken me years reclaim this. Do you notice the intrinsic wild world around you? I realised about 3 years ago that I was on auto pilot and I had drifted from what I had enjoyed as an outdoor and nature enthusiast. It wasn’t until I made the decision to move back to Scotland, that I realised I was in need of being reset. This was a journey of selfhelp and I knew I had to start acknowledging daily discoveries of our beautiful planet full of wonders and greenery around every corner. And now, I am thankfully in the habit of seeing, smelling, listening, and hearing the beauty right in front of me. I have retrained myself to not let it go unnoticed and want to share that it is accessible to all - you just need to embrace the nature on your doorstep.

We are all born uninfluenced, then as a child we begin to understand and organise our surroundings. I think of my brain as a filling cabinet and childhood is the time we label and file our life experiences. I also understand that the content of what and how we store will depend on whether we have a healthy upbringing, what career we have and the affect of society immediately around us. We conform to expectations and before we know it, life experiences are ordered and labelled.

My Italian grandfather would tell my mum I was like a loose, unbroken wild horse and I’m happy to say I’m striving every day to be this again: wild, and unaltered by the outside world. My aim is to be guided by my true authentic self, rather than what I think I should be doing. So, let’s start dreaming, creating inner stories and beliefs. Let us imagine and start the plan of what we can achieve in this new way of life of 2021. We have been extremely limited in this past year, but we can seize this time and use it wisely to start preparing and working towards our dreams.

To focus our energies in the direction we endeavour our life to be. Our course won’t change unless we make it happen, starting small focused daily affirmations. If we are consistent, stubborn, and passionate about where we want to end up and strive for our end goal, gradual changes will happen.

Before I started the lifestyle concept Becoorie, I had a metaphor that I would play over and over in my head. It helped me view my life from another perspective and gave me the motivation to improve how I lived. My metaphor was a reflection of how I interpreted of my own existence and once I started to be explore this analogy, did I understand my desire for change. Not only was this a humbling experience but sharing with friends gave me the strength to grasp my image and give myself the chance of positively succeeding in my ambitions.

So, in my visualisation, I was a horse locked in a stable, restricted by limitations of my surroundings. The stable door was closed over, and it was dark with no light creeping through. It wasn’t until that day when I shared my metaphor, that I realised I was going to change the way my mind was thinking. I had done the most difficult step and identified and accepted the emblem of myself and from then I started positive daily mantras, like “simple life” and “Make it happen” …I had started making notes of what I needed to do and recorded ideas as they appeared.

As soon this process began I immediately noticed that my visions began to change, and the light started to shine through the cracks around the stable door until eventually I could feel the hope and optimism coming back. This powered my inner strength until I could look out over the stable door and into the yard outside. I would feel myself dreaming beyond the yard and was now reaching over to the open green pasture in the distance. I have worked through this metaphor and I can now say I’m galloping loose in that field in the distance and that I rarely even think about that locked up horse.

I can’t even imagine how I endured that story in my head for so long. This was about a realisation of having choices and acting on them. Not only did it provide motivation and inspiration, but it gave me the stimulus to make changes. Now my only wonder is, which direction to run. This imaginary fulfils my own personal objective of liberation. Through my personal pilgrimage from the comfort of home and searching for an alternative standard and way of living, I am mindful of the following: to reclaim the path inside my heart. To be brave and challenge myself daily even if it’s into the unknown. To take responsibility for my own journey and accept what is around me. To love what’s enjoyable and in front of me and to do less of what makes me feel bad. To enjoy this present moment and to use what is around me. To keep what is useful and throw out all that clutters and causes stress.

To get rid of any external factors that make me unhappy, whether it is clearing out your house to filtering down friends, or just saying “no” to people who want a piece of you. To be aware of who you expel energy and kindness on, you are only the people you talk to. Be your own researcher and explorer and realise that we don’t need certain things. If there is one perception that we will all have made over this past year, it is that the simplest of moments, event, object experience can make us happy and we will have learned never to take them for granted.

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With this awareness you begin to be mindful and present in the moment and that’s when I notice that my four-legged friends already have this skill. Their heads are up, alert and taking it all in, with their noses sniffing nature all around and enjoying the wind in their face.

Their hearts are open to the environment, sounds, people, flowers, and other animals. So next time you walk with your dog, be like him and allow your senses to become heightened and I challenge you to find a mini adventure in each walk. We can all be simple creatures and can appreciate what unfolds in front of us and accept each new day without judgement, it’s just finding how to switch back to zero to enable this potential.

Being mindful and being able to recognise what normally is insignificant and that would usually pass unnoticed every day will help lift our mood and makes you smile. There is nothing quite like the high you get when you realise you are accepting the moment you are in and allowing your inner child to be found. Enjoy what the universe has to offer this very day, you will feel lighter and ridiculously optimistic! Appreciate and look back on any tiny joyful moments with gratitude.

One of the greatest pleasures I have had over this year is the interaction with my dogs. They have given me the opportunity to focus my attention on the present moment with life at home always lively and eventful. They are my companions during the day, they make me go outside for fresh air and have undoubtedly given myself and children much needed stress and anxiety relief from the strains of isolation and being stuck at home more than ever.

Our dogs give us unconditional love and even some empathy in return. They never ask questions or need reassurance that everything will be ok. Maggie and Boris are just there when we need them, showing immense affection, providing companionship and have the ability to make us feel better when we are sad, anxious, or stressed.

The relaxation while you’re out walking comes easy, and can be used as a sort of meditation, a time I find I can practise deep breathing and acquire the mental space for clarity of thought or to even practice thinking nothing.

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Of course, simple pleasures aren’t universal, so perhaps my seconds of warmth won’t necessarily bring the same boost of happiness to you. But the possibilities are limitless and it’s fun and interesting to acknowledge them. They spark memories of what it’s like to be a child again and are occasions to feel grateful for, perhaps they will conjure up previous recollections or arouse other ideas of your own.

Meet the spirit of yourself. We are simple creatures. Enjoy your simple pleasures, acknowledge them and be grateful of them as they are the best and usually free We are surrounded by the new beginnings which comes with this joyful season of Spring, so allow nature to help bring hope and stride into this new age with the intention to find the space for mental calmness. Accept and realise that every new day should be full of gratitude, for being alive is the greatest gift. Use each new day as a time to start positive changes, verbally affirm your dreams and ambitions, build the foundations and eventually these actions will manifest your intentions.

I challenge you to connect to your wild side, influence your future and find your inner child, but this does not mean act in a reckless, unhealthy, or unsafe manner. It should be to abandon old habits and embrace nature’s power, to live humbly, to do some good acts everyday, some acts of random kindness and always be an ambassador for the environment.

A New Age has begun, 2021. Be responsible and be respectful along the way. #becoorie

40 every day thrills you should care about 1. Feeling the sun on your face, even although its 4 degrees 2.

Crossing a stream from stone to stone without getting your feet wet.

3. Listening to a favourite song in the car and singing loudly 4. Feeling reset after a breezy walk 5. A sunrise while the moon is still visible 6. Cuddling your nearest 7. Good chocolate and wine 8. Laughing with friends outdoors while standing at a distance 9. A cloudless blue sky 10. Seeing the first shoots of daffodils 11. Getting a surprise call or email from a loved one 12. Stargazing at night 13. watching your dogs run, play, and enjoy being carefree 14.

Finding money in a pocket 15. Feeling smug after one whole healthy eating day 16. Sleeping in while listening to the rain outside 17. A breath-taking view 18. A picnic 19. Making someone smile 2 0. Helping someone in need 21. Watching clouds move fast overhead 22. Feeling on top of the ‘to do list’ 23. Waking up thinking its morning realising its only 1 am 24. Snuggling under the covers on a stormy day 25. Relaxing in front of a roaring fire 26. A great book 27. A long walk on a cool day 28. Good news 29. Stealing an afternoon nap 30. De-cluttering 31. Looking back at your clean car 32. Not having to be anywhere or do anything 3 3. Getting a giant squeezy hug 34. Putting on comfy clothes while watching your favourite tv show 35. A long conversation with a favourite friend 36. A busy bee day being perfectly on top of errands that have to be done 37. Lighting a fire outdoors 38. Seeing a rainbow, seeing two 39. Lighting candles in your home and enjoy the flickering light 40. A good hot coffee warming your hands. #becoorie Scotland in Four Seasons Spring 2021

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Me & My Dog

By Douglas Clements

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’m Douglas (44) and I’m the proud owner of a 8 month Black Labrador Retriever puppy called Barclay or to give him his Kennel Club name “Moonshine Ebony Boy”.Named in honour of my Mum (her maiden name) and my grandfather, the legendary Anstruther fisherman Jimmy Barclay, who was also known as “King of the Fishers”.

Barclay was born at Morton of Pitmilly Countryside Resort by Kingsbarns, one of 8 puppies. Kingsbarns is also where I have spent most of my working life as Founder and former Visitor Centre Manager of Kingsbarns Distillery (2008-2017) and as a golf caddie at Kingsbarns Golf Links (2002-present). My previous dog, a golden retriever, sadly passed away back in 2014 just before the distillery opened to the public.

Like many people, I began to have a bit more time on my hands in Spring 2020, when the pandemic forced us all to stay home more, so I began thinking about the possibility of owning a dog again.

Looking back on it all now a big influence was definitely the sports commentator Andrew Cotter whose viral video clips of his two Labrador Retrievers on social media as well as his subsequent book “Olive, Mabel and Me” really sang to my heart.

In July, I saw a video of Pitmilly’s newly born black lab retriever pups on Instagram I immediately contacted their owner Eilidh to see if they were all spoken for and sadly they were. Luckily for me though a month later someone pulled out and I was plucked from her reserve list and offered a boy! On 9th September my wee 8 week old bundle of joy landed in my home village of Cellardyke and life has never been the same since.

Cellardyke, a former fishing village, is one of the hidden gems of the East Neuk of Fife that most people miss out on but that’s just the way Barclay and I like it as it gives us so much space to play!

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Our favourite walk from home is East along the Fife Coastal Path to the mystical Caiplie Coves where we often meet deer, highland cows, goats, sea birds galore and occasionally dolphins too Just a hop, skip and a jump from our doorstep is Cellardyke Bathing Pool and boy does Barclay love to swim even when the pool is half frozen over. As he steams full throttle towards his ball or stick just as he is about to grab it his tail rises like a sea scorpion pointing directly towards his target and then SNAP! like a crocodile its tightly within his jaws.

He’s very popular with the local Cellardyke mermaids who swim in the pool most mornings too. Occasionally I’ll drive him to the nearby beaches and golf courses of Elie, Kingsbarns, St Andrews or Crail for walkies. So far his behaviour has left a lot to be desired on the golf courses as he absolutely loves playing with, chewing and running away with golf balls as well as digging holes in bunkers.

However, like they say in golf, “practice makes perfect” and I am sure one day he will be striding down the links by my side obediently while I play St Andrews or Crail. Because of travel restrictions we have not left Fife yet but my ambition one day is to drive around Scotland in my Defender with him, my golf clubs, hiking boots, Kingsbarns whisky and some doggy biscuits to share with the wonderful people and dogs we meet along the way.

Indeed one of the best things about having a puppy is that suddenly most folk want to stop for a blether…. well Barclay doesn’t really give people a choice as he walks up to everyone wagging his tail expecting a clap and chat! Its been so nice to connect, through Barclay, with so many dog walkers and non-dog walkers alike in these isolationist times…. good for the soul!

Now when you picture a Lab Retriever in Scotland you most likely imagine one retrieving pheasants, partridges, grouse or ducks on some Highland Estate.

However, thanks to Andrew Cotter’s brilliant book, I learnt that they actually originated from the Canadian region of Labrador or perhaps Newfoundland and worked as fisher-dogs, their job being to help pull in the nets or catch the fish that escaped into the icy North Atlantic waters. It was actually the fishing trade which introduced Labradors to the UK whereupon the aristocrats recognised their potential as gun dogs and re-trained them to retrieve game.

It feels great to be able to give Barclay a lifestyle here in the East Neuk of Fife that truly re-connects him back to his original ancestors in Canada. When you see his prowess at scrambling over the rocks and seaweed, the strength of his swimming in the icy cold waters of the Firth of Forth and North Sea, his ability to sniff out and then devour a crab as well as the strength of his jaws as he carries massive logs not wee sticks along the shore you can see that he truly is a “fisher-dog”! I am sure my grandfather Jimmy Barclay the “King of the Fishers” is looking down from above very proud. Fingers crossed he can become a “golfdog” in the not too distant future as well!

If you want to follow our adventures you can do so on Instagram.”

@fifeambassador

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Walkies

by Joanne Dovesi

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Monday mornings are always the busiest. Rushing to my car with clean towels, leads and a bag full of treats, I noticed the mornings are a little lighter, as are the evenings.

Although it is springtime, I am still bundled up in my hat, scarf, gloves, and my trusty waterproof trousers.

Picking up the dogs for the day is always a joy. They are so excited to see me and bound over nearly knocking me over.

Their owners gladly hand them over, giving them a chance to concentrate on other things for the day. I am often asked by passers-by why, as more people are working from home now, do the owners not walk their dogs themselves? The answer is simple really, it’s good for the dogs to have their usual routine and to continue to socialise with their doggie friends. They really do have such fun together and a regular routine is important.

Sometimes on my day off, when I am walking Nora, I see one of the dogs I walk, they are so happy to see me, it takes the owners a good ten minutes to get them to continue the walk with them! It’s such a nice feeling to know that they love their walks with me and also good for the owners to know and see that as well.

Roaming around the woodlands and pathways of the Hermitage I noticed the first signs of Spring. Bulbs poke their heads through the soil and the dogs loiter around the bird feeders, hoping to pick up some forgotten seeds. Nora is always the last to leave, a typical black Labrador!

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One of the smaller dogs I walk is a little Dandie Dinmont. She has the sweetest face and such a good nature, but walking is not her favourite activity. Its more like prompting her around Blackford Hill. Her elderly owners always say to me “try and keep her out of the mud”. Being so close to the ground with her little legs, its easier said than done. Her pure white coat is usually speckled with mud, leaves and anything else she picks up along the way. But a nice warm bath before I return her home is always in order. Her shampoo and blow dry leaves her looking like she has been to the groomers. Maybe it another avenue for me to explore in addition to dog walking.

The Hermitage of Braid has an abundance of wildlife, some take the dogs and me by surprise. I’ll never forget the day I took a different path and as I turned the corner I came face to face with two crows looking at a stoat with a headless rat in its mouth. We all stood looking at one another for a good few seconds before the stoat ran off into the undergrowth and the crows flew away. What a photograph that would have made. A complete surprise and an insight into local wildlife. If only I had a camera at the ready to capture the moment.

As the dogs enjoy the river my eyes are drawn to the birds. From the dippers to the heron and the sweet robins. They are all busy rummaging around in the leaves and or the heron waiting patiently for fish to swim by. One bird evades me though. I hear the woodpecker and have tried to spot him in the trees, but no matter how hard I tried I have never seen him. I love to hear the unmistakable knocking as it vibrates through the woods. One of the Labradoodles always tries to catch the crows. He lies so still in the grass, studying them and then makes his move, but alas, is always too slow.

I do enjoy the season of spring, it is uplifting to notice new life and growth after, what feels like, a long, cold, snowy winter.

Being outdoors with the dogs is joy in so many ways. I feel positive and it makes me happy to know that each day brings new challenges and experiences. I am always ready to face them, lead in hand, with our fourlegged friends.”

Life on the remote Pait Estate Words and Images by Angela Phimister

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cotland has many remote locations, tucked away, surrounded by wildlife and shaped by the elements.

Can you imagine living in a remote location with very limited options of transportation? Pait and West Monar Estate, situated in Wester Ross on its boundary with Inverness-shire is one of the most remote estates in mainland Scotland. The 19th century lodge only had electricity installed a few years ago.

Angela Phimister lived on the remote Pait Estate, Glen Strathfarrar, for 28 years, with her partner Dougie, who lived and worked there for 42 years. Angela shares what life was like on the remote estate, travelling in and out by boat.

“We worked for the Stroyan family up to November 2019 when they sold the estate. Sadly, Pait was no longer for us and we bought our own home above Beauly in September 2020, where life is great but hugely different to life in the very remote Pait.

“My heart would sink as I knew it was going to a rough ride home, hanging on to 10 dogs, as like me, did not like the rise and fall of the boat in the waves.”

Pait was the most beautiful, magical and calming place. Weather, well our lives were dictated by the weather which was very changeable. We planned as best we could any trips we were hoping to do. I have seen us leave Monar heading back up Loch to Pait which was about 5 miles, we would leave Monar not looking too bad and go through the Narrows round the corner and meet the white waves coming towards us. My heart would sink as I knew it was going to a rough ride home, hanging on to 10 dogs, as like me, did not like the rise and fall of the boat in the waves. But we always made it, often, just after we landed and unloaded, it would calm down. We had plenty beautiful runs up and down the loch, it was stunning and never looked the same twice with the light and shadows dancing over hillside.

I think most people associate Spring with better weather, flowers bursting out in bloom, blossom and leaves on trees and lambs running about the fields.

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For me, I hated the thought of early spring as it meant the shoots we went to in winter, with our dogs, were now over, this being our social life and the days on hill finished for another season. But there were things that kept me going, the thought of heading to hills just to walk with my dogs and visit bothies and just take in the beauty all around. I would try to walk out to Maol Bhuidhe bothy, a lovely white cottage in the middle of nowhere.

The arrival of the Black Grouse was exciting, we loved seeing him sometimes there would be two of them and on occasion a Grey hen. The Larch trees were budding and the other trees would not be too far behind, it amazing how it all changed daily.

The deer were a big part of life. We enjoyed seeing the stags outside the house casting their antlers one by one and then watching the regrowth. We were lucky as we could see them from just about every window. The hinds and calves were always down on the shore getting the first pickings of the lush green grass.

We would maybe name a couple as they became so tame and come season time I would be asked by family and guests where my pets were so as not shoot them and upset their cook (me!)

Some spring-times would be heart-breaking, if winter was bad the poor beasts would just curl up round the wood and die. You just wanted to take them in and warm them up and then Dougie had to take them and bury them, it just the saddest thing. Sadly, that’s nature.

Then there was the spring cleaning of the lodge, the walls would be running with wet as the frost came out and temp changed. I did open windows on nice days to let air through as there was no heating in the lodge throughout winter. There was no power in the lodge until three years ago and even then, just a couple of lights and a couple of sockets. It was rather cold and dark so you had to wait for nice bright day outside so you could see what you were doing. Bedding had to be brought down to kitchen by the Aga to air it off. There was always plenty of maintenance to do for the up-and-coming months, never a dull moment for us both.

If the weather warmed up, I would go get a pike at the loch-side just below our house. I cooked some for the dogs and smoked the rest for ourselves, it was delicious. I would sometimes lay rod down to go do something to find my other half had gone for a quick cast.

Dougie would go out to fox dens which could be on scorching hot days or cold miserable days, but he loved the hill and heading out with his terriers, this was his spring escape from all the neverending chores around the estate. It was not the easiest as always so much to do and no help at that time of year.”

30 Scotland in Four Seasons Spring 2021

“If the weather warmed up, I would go get a pike at the loch-side just below our house. I cooked some for the dogs and smoked the rest for ourselves, it was delicious.”

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Countryside Education

by Lecturer Stewart Blair

“February 3rd 2021 marked my 6th year, lecturing Gamekeeping & Wildlife Management at North Highland College.

A 6th year anniversary is not something one would normally take notice of, in marriage terms it is symbolised by sugar, but 2020 [the “Covid” Year] has not been so sweet, personally or professionally. On a personal level, it forced me to stay at home for work and play, which although frustrating at times, curtailed me from raking about the Highlands chasing deer and game and visiting students on their work placement estates. Conversely, it did get me to focus on what was on my doorstep [well within half a mile!] and as soon as restrictions allowed, I renewed my fishing club membership. The ability to cast a fly 6 days a week on the Spey certainly helped me hold onto a little piece of my sanity and deplete my bank account too … when did flies become so exciting!

Professionally, myself and my colleagues at North Highland College were faced with difficult questions too, i.e.; How to deliver Wildlife Management and Gamekeeping courses online, since it was deemed too much of a risk to open our campus for face to face training? It was quite a task, however, fortunately we already had a good IT system in place [the University of the Highlands & Islands has invested heavily in its IT structure] and as we had already started to deliver much of our HNC course online in 2018, the transition was not too extreme. Working with our Industry partners and students, we quickly devised a system where our students could stay on estate placements, work within Covid guidelines and still access online teaching.

On entering our second teaching semester and tribute must be paid to all our students for embracing this new way of working.

Gamekeeping is not the first profession one thinks of when the word IT is mentioned, however, this is just one of the huge changes taking place within the Wildlife Management industry.

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Scotland in Four Seasons Spring 2021

Obviously, a smart phone cannot get you to the top of a hill or feed pheasants but it can enable you to communicate with the wider world in a myriad of ways; whether checking in on friends, keeping information on trapping lines or taking part in online lessons.

Like the rest of the world, technology is fast becoming an integral part of the life of gamekeepers too. Rifles, binoculars, and night vision equipment might now be unrecognisable to the equipment of our grandparents’ generation, but field craft is still a vital component of any gamekeeper’s skill set and we should never be too complacent.

One can access ballistic data and weather forecasts from a smart phone, but it is still cannot determine the age of a stag at 500 metres. It is crucial that the industry embraces both tradition and change, not just with equipment but with ideas and working practices too.

The Majestic hills and moors of Scotland have remained unchanged for centuries but what we are permitted to do on them has had an effect socially and environmentally. With hindsight, we now know that the planting of thousands of acres of lodgepole pine on the Flow country in the far North of Scotland was a mistake. However, we did not know or think that this was detrimental at that the time, as it was deemed to be the right thing to do. What is important now, however, is that we work out the best way to rectify these changes. The killing of birds of prey was once common and widespread throughout the Scottish countryside, yet the contents of Victorian game-books are somewhat unimaginable in modern society. Some claim that this feature has not totally disappeared, but the most recent bird surveys have shown a huge increase in golden eagle and buzzard numbers and increasing raven numbers are certainly testament to a bygone era of raptor persecution. Our students now look at these illegal acts as historical facts and are taking a new and refreshing view of wildlife management into the hills and mountains of Scotland.

Today’s media bombards us with dozens of environmental buzzwords and terms, but it is vital that our future Land Managers, whether from agriculture, forestry, wildlife management or an environmental background, speak the same language and understand the vital links between their subjects. It is only when we can work together that we can coexist. Better expressed by Martin Luther King, “People fail to get along … because they have not communicated with each other”. Conflict will always exist, but it is imperative that people from all sides work towards compromise. The term, “conflict resolution” is now more commonly referred to as “conflict management”, as we look to manage these conflicts as best as we can.

The issue of conflict prompted the UHI and a group of Land Management stakeholders to set up an Integrated Land Management Conference 10 years ago. Sadly, due to Covid 19, the 2020 event was cancelled, and the 2021 event will be a virtual conference. The idea behind the event was to bring students from all the land-based subjects together to discuss relevant subjects and reach compromises. The fact that this one off event is about to celebrate its 10th birthday is testament to the need for such events. The initial premise was; if they meet and get on as students, they might talk politely when coming face to face in their professional lives?

At North Highland College, our Gamekeeping courses have proven to be popular for over 30 years, and as one of the original students, one might ask, what is the secret to our success? Perhaps, it is the fact that our students spend most of their course placed on an estate or reserve, working day to day with their colleagues on the ground. This gives the students not only, a full understanding of the land-based year, but also a realistic expectation of the hard work necessary to carry out their chosen profession. Moreover, lecturers work very closely with placement providers and it is certainly a highlight in the College staff’s diary to go out and visit the students on their placements. All of the Gamekeeping and Wildlife staff have previously worked in the industry and it is great for us, not only to meet our peers working on the placements, but also to see the change in our students too.

Ageing Grouse, Invercauld Estate

“This gives the students not only, a full understanding of the land-based year, but also a realistic expectation of the hard work necessary to carry out their chosen profession.”

Lunch on Rum

Due to Covid restrictions, it was unfortunate that our student groups were only able to meet virtually in 2020. A big part of our student experience is for the classes to meet and bond, as many friendships are made in the initial stages of their careers, which will go on to be friendships for life. 30 years ago, most of our students came from a rural background and many had fathers, or grandfathers who were Gamekeepers.

Scotland in Four Seasons Spring 2021

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This is no longer the case, nowadays, we have applicants from all over the world, male and female, of whom many have had no previous experiences of the job. For many, they are drawn to the way of life [which can be still quite far removed from the techsavvy one we are also connected to!] and as long as they bring a strong work ethic they can succeed.

View from College Campus

Like the variety of our students, we have a wide variation of placements ranging from low ground shoots in the Scottish Borders, to traditional deer forests, grouse moors and nature reserves. Students are given the opportunity to live and have experiences that most people will only dream about. Fortunately, many students have gained full time employment around the world and the majority of Gamekeeping and Wildlife Management positions in Scotland are now held by North Highland college graduates.

This again strengthens our position and allows us direct communication with the industry, where we are at the forefront of new and progressive ideas. Like all Industries, the global Covid pandemic has posed some tough challenges for the College and our placement providers, but hopefully, when normality resumes, we will look back and see, that instead of being overwhelmed by these challenges, we embraced them.

Going forward, we hope to improve on some of the new IT skills learnt, as well as dropping some of the ones that have not worked and hopefully, the new normal isn’t too far away and we can move forward once more in our bid to train the new Wildlife Management professionals of the future.

Our Land Management course will have to be dynamic to change with new legislation but also to cope with the demands of employers, who will range from private landowners, communities and both government and non-government organisations.

As long as we never lose sight of our students, as our “key performance indicators” and listen to both prospective and past students, we should be able to deliver to our students the best training possible for their future careers, in what is an everexpanding and exciting profession.”

For more information visit: https://www.northhighland.uhi.ac.uk/

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“Fortunately, many students have gained full time employment around the world and the majority of Gamekeeping and Wildlife Management positions in Scotland are now held by North Highland college graduates.”

Student on Exchange trip, Norway

The company continues to develop its range with the names reflecting the rich linguistic and cultural heritage of Scottish Gaelic: the premium vatted malts of Poit Dhubh; the connoiseurs’ blend of Tè Bheag, and the MacNaMara, finished in rum or Madeira casks. The whiskies are exported across the globe and are regular winners of the top medals in the annual International Wine and Spirit Competition. The Gaelic Gins, Uisge Lusach, are distilled at Eilean Iarmain and have gained a reputation in the booming Scottish gin market for their quality and character. Hand-distilled in small batches in a unique traditional copper still, this is a gin distilled from the heart! The refined richness of texture and depth of well-rounded aromatics of the Gaelic Gins winning medals in both the World Gin Awards 2020 and the International Spirits Challenge 2020. The iconic Stevenson Lighthouse of Isle Ornsay On the world-renowned Isle of Skye Eilean Iarmain offers visitors which features on the labels can be seen across the water from and guests an authentic and unique experience in an undiscovered Eilean Iarmain. part of the island. With two small hotels, an award-winning gin distillery and whisky shop, adventurous outdoors activities, a Outdoor Activities waterfront art gallery and stunning venues for weddings and The award-winning estate of Eilean Iarmain with its long-term celebrations, this idyllic Hebridean hideaway is the perfect place programme of environmental and wildlife conservation, provides to relax, unwind and reconnect with yourself, each other and with some of the most awe inspiring and spectacular scenery that Scotland has to offer. The rich diversity of habitats include nature. ancient native woodland, heather clad hill, open moorland, upland pasture and croft land. Here, the ancient language of Accommodation Hotel Eilean Iarmain, with its magnificent views, is situated in an Gaelic is evident not only in the landscape, the place names and idyllic position at the water’s edge, overlooking the historic stone local legends but also in our present day culture with many staff pier with Jacobean connections. The hotel retains an old-world across the estate being native speakers or learners.

OVER THE SEA TO SKYE

charm: wood-panelled rooms, a turreted tower room, blazing log fires and friendly, knowledgeable staff. Scottish cuisine - including seafood landed at the pier and estate venison - is served in both the candle-lit restaurant and the cosy bar which regularly hosts live traditional music. Outdoor seating is popular through the summer months with the panoramic views providing a stunning backdrop.

Just eight miles down the road, within walking distance of the small port of Armadale where the ferry sails from Mallaig “over the sea to Skye”, The Inn @ Àird a’ Bhàsair, enjoys views across the water to the rugged hills of Knoydart, and is one of the oldest inns on the Isle of Skye. The Inn features a clean and bright décor - a comfortable and relaxing base from which to explore Skye. Good food, including local seafood and estate venison, can be enjoyed in the wood-lined MacNaMara bar as well as the dog-friendly Am Bothan Bar, while outdoor seating provides the perfect place to relax and take in the views. The games room, with sports screen, offers a space for friends and families to chill.

The Gaelic Whiskies and The Gaelic Gins One of the first companies to market traditional unchillfiltered whisky which ensures a whisky of exceptionally soft and smooth character, with a long lingering finish.

The company continues to develop its range with the names reflecting the rich linguistic and cultural heritage of Scottish Gaelic: the premium vatted malts of Poit Dhubh; the connoiseurs’ blend of Tè Bheag, and the MacNaMara, finished in rum or Madeira casks.

Come to Eilean Iarmain and head out into the stunning landscape!

Wildlife walks in the company of Scott MacKenzie - UK Gamekeeper of the Year 2019 – are a once in a lifetime experience that will inspire, educate and entertain: sea eagles, hen harriers, rare waders, golden eagles, sea otters, roe deer and the majestic red deer. Or, test your rifle skills and learn about safe, ethical shooting on a simulated stalking activity, suitable for all levels of experience. Scott’s wealth of experience and outdoor skills make this a day to remember! Other outdoor activities include wildlife photography excursions, hill loch fishing and clay pigeon shooting.

Art Gallery The waterfront Gallery of An Talla Dearg is open from Easter until October, hosting a rolling programme of exhibitions by artists whose works are inspired by the landscapes and wildlife of the highlands and islands including renowned Scottish artists, Pam Carter and Derek Robertson. Each artist mans their own exhibition, the inspirational setting and intimate space providing them with the rare opportunity to work in-situ and to meet with visitors.

Individuals and groups are welcome and the friendly staff will be happy to help tailor the right package to meet all your needs.

Call or email today to discuss your Hebridean Getaway: hotel@ eileaniarmain.co.uk | 01471 833 332 Scotland in Four Seasons Spring 2021

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SCOTLAND BY THE SEA

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Words and Images by Neil Cunningham Dobson

veryone has a favourite route that they walk, a circuit they run, cycle and trips they drive. Scotland has some of the most breath-taking routes that you can take. Fresh clear air, amazing scenery, wildlife, towns and cities, architecture, dramatic weather and the freedom of open spaces.

For me, nothing can beat any sea trip following the coastline of the mainland and islands of Scotland. My career at sea since the 1970s has taken me to some amazing countries with wonderful coastlines all over the world. However, for me a “must do’ sea trip is one that takes you round the top of Scotland and down through the Minch, Little Minch, the Sea of Hebrides and eventually out into the North Atlantic.

My trip through the Minches starts with a scenic drive from my home in St Andrews up to Inverness and then on to Nigg at the entrance to the Cromarty Firth. Established in 1972 to serve Scotland’s oil and gas industry the Port of Nigg with its deep water berths, dry dock and some of the largest construction and assembly shops in Europe is well suited for mobile drilling rigs, subsea construction vessels and supporting the renewables industry.

The Cromarty Firth is a natural anchorage and a popular area where mobile oil rigs are laid up, awaiting contracts or up for sale Depending on the state of the offshore oil industry and price of oil there is on average 12 mobile drilling rigs at anchor in the firth.

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My voyages to the North Atlantic to my shipwreck sites off the coast of County Donegal, Ireland are around 400 nautical miles and on average take 48 hours depending on weather and sea conditions.

Leaving Nigg heading in a north easterly direction you follow the Sutherland and Caithness coastline, pass Wick and head for Duncansby Head and the Pentland Firth. Duncansby Head is the most north easterly part of the Scottish mainland.

The lighthouse was built in 1924 and marks the entrance to the Pentland Firth. On a good day you can see the impressive and imposing pyramidal rock formations of the Stacks of Duncansby. Unfortunately for me, sailing past here has always been at night. It is certainly on my ‘to photograph’ list of Scotland.

The Pentland Firth is the main route for commercial shipping from the North Atlantic to the North Sea. Over 6000 vessels sail through the Firth each year. Separating Mainland Scotland from the Orkney islands it covers an area from Duncansby Head in the east to Dunnet Head in the west of Mainland Scotland to Old head, South Ronaldsay in the east to Tor Ness, Hoy in the west of the Orkney islands. Midway in the Firth are the two Orkney islands of Stroma and Swona which have Lighthouse to assist in the safe passage and navigation of vessels through the Firth.

It also happens to be one of the most dangerous stretches of water in the world. With mountainous underwater pinnacles and trenches the sea floods through the Firth causing tidal races and whirlpools. The current has been registered at speeds up to 22 knots. Masters of vessels always try to passage the Firth with the current and tide behind them. The sea passage through the Firth is around 15 nautical miles.

Safely through the Firth you round the corner at Dunnet Head Lighthouse and head towards the Minch. Dunnet Head is geographically the most northerly point on mainland UK. During WWII Dunnet head was the location of two significant defence systems. Dunnet Head Coast Defence U-Boat (CDU) Radar Station that detected surfaced submarines, surface vessels and low flying aircraft out to a range of approximately 100 miles. Close by was Bufira Hill Gee station which was a radio navigation station.

Guarding the mainland Scotland entrance to the Minch is Cape Wrath Lighthouse near Durness in Sutherland. One of the 15 lighthouses built by Robert Stevenson of the famous brothers of the Stevenson family lighthouse engineers that lit the coastline of Dunnet Head Lighthouse at sunset Scotland.

Any sea passage through the Minch in any weather, any time of year fills my heart with joy. The scenery, wildlife, colours, weather and the sounds of the sea are spectacular and refreshing.

No two trips through the Minches are the same. There is always something new to see in all seasons and weather. The Minches have a rich seafaring history, from ancient Picts who crossed the sea from island to island in kayak type boats to Viking ships and the Scottish rowed and sailed Birlinn galleys, sailing ships and puffers and today’s modern shipping.

Scotland has a rich and diverse folklore and of course the Minches has its own supernatural sea creatures. The Blue men of the Minch are fabled storm kelpies. Half man half merman these blue coloured creatures live in the waters of the Minch. They can conjure up storms and capsize ships. Historians believe the tale may relate to porpoises, seafaring Picts, or the indigo coloured Gannet in the Minch clothing of the Tuareg Moor Viking slaves marooned near the Shiant isles off the isle of Lewis in the Minch.

The Minch or North Minch channel separates the Isles of Lewis and Harris of the Outer Hebrides island chain from the west coast of Scotland. It’s around 73 miles long, 46 miles wide at the north end and 16 miles wide at the south end. The Little Minch separates the island of Skye from the islands of Harris and North Uist. Around 28 miles long and an average 15 miles wide. It extends to South Uist where it meets the Sea of Hebrides.

As a busy sea route for commercial shipping, fishing vessels and pleasure craft a traffic separation scheme is in place to ensure the safe navigation of vessels. Northbound vessels transit close to the isle of Skye and southbound vessels transit close to Harris.

There is much debate about the origins of the name Minch. The word Minch is not English in origin.

South Harris towards North Uist

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It is not Scots Gaelic either as one of the Gaelic names is Cuan Sgith, which translates to ‘ocean of fatigue’. This is certainly true when transiting the Minches and crossing it in bad weather. The Minches are well known for strong currents and tidal streams that flow in two directions and the confused ocean currents found of the north end of the Minch. It is not thought to be of Old Norse origin either. The Outer Hebrides was under control of the Norwegian Vikings from the 9th century until the early 13th century. It most likely has come from the use of the French word for a channel, Manche. Seafarers were influenced by the word and it was anglicised into Minch. The earliest record of chart makers using the word was in 1745 with the word Mynch.

Part of the North Atlantic, the Sea of Hebrides covers including South Uist, Eriskay, Barra, Vatersay, Sundray and Mingulay in the Outer Hebrides and the Isle of Skye, and the islands of Cann, Rum, Eigg, Muck, Coll, Tiree, Treshnish, Mull and Iona, that make up the Inner Hebrides. The Sea of Hebrides is around 85 miles long and 45 miles wide. The south end then opens up into the North Atlantic. On my voyage through the Minches and the Sea of Hebrides I passed 12 lighthouses on the west coast of Scotland and 4 along the east coast of the Outer Hebrides.

The Minches and the Sea of Hebrides are full of wildlife. The seas here are home to and visited by some of the largest of marine animals, namely Basking sharks and Minke whale.

Up until 1995, Basking sharks were hunted for the oil from their liver known as squalene. This oil was used as an industrial lubricant and in cosmetics. Thankfully whaling in Hebridean waters ceased in 1929, however a Hebridean whaling station operated during 1950 and 1951.

Orcas can be seen in the Minch every year from May-August, and rare visitors such as Fin whales, Humpback whales and Pilot whales have been spotted. Regulars include Harbour porpoises, Common, Bottlenose, Risso’s, White-beaked, and Atlantic white-sided dolphins. Seals and otters frequent the islands and coastlines of the Inner and Outer Hebrides along with large colonies of seabirds. On my many trips through the Minches and the sea of Hebrides I have always seen dolphins and lots of various seabirds.

It is wonderful that the Inner and Outer Hebrides has such an important rich and diverse marine habitat. It is heartening to know that this is being protected for future generations to enjoy with north-east Lewis, Sea of the Hebrides, Shiant East Bank and Southern Trench all becoming Marine Protected Areas.

If you get the opportunity to go out to sea or make a sea passage through the Minches, you will not be disappointed.

Who knows what you will see and if you are really lucky you may have an encounter with the Blue Men of the Minch.

N

eil Cunningham Dobson is a deep-water marine archaeologist and salvor with over 47 yearsexperience in the marine and offshore industries. A native of Fife, Neil lives in St Andrews, the home of his seafaring ancestors.

He has worked on scores of shipwreck sites and supervised archaeological and salvage work on many high-profile projects in the oceans of the world. Neil is gifted with the unique ability to make science, history and archaeology understandable, interesting, and fun.

His shipwrecks and discoveries attract world-wide attention.

Neil has been the subject of many newspaper, magazine articles and TV documentaries.

Eilean Glas Lighthouse Lewis 38 Scotland in Four Seasons Spring 2021

Passionate about local history and Scotland, Neil enjoys his role as Fife Council Fife Ambassador promoting the Kingdom of Fife. He has recently expanded promotion of Fife with his bespoke walking tour/guide company, Footsteps Through Time (find on Facebook).

Gifts Ideas For You & Yours We love products made in Scotland, here are a few of our spring-time favourites Cairn Candle Co is a family business based in the Cairngorms National Park and drawing inspiration from nature and our beautiful surroundings. They handcraft luxury soy candles from their croft outside Grantown-on-Spey. Visit: www.cairncandles.co.uk

Caledonian Forest is a beautifully tranquil fragrance reminiscent of long walks through the forest. A delicate blend of pine, herbal and green leaf notes with a tempting fruity side of orange and raspberry. Perfect to bring the outdoors in.

Inspired by the Lairig Ghru: the most famous mountain pass in Scotland, connecting Deeside to Strathspey through the Cairngorms. Spice, citrus and floral scents combine in a beautiful fusion in this adventure-inspired fragrance.

J Boult Designs are a small Scottish business that makes handmade, shooting themed gifts from up-cycled materials including antler, fired bullets, shotgun cartridges and reclaimed wood. Visit: www.jboultdesigns.com

This uniquely designed key ring is handmade from two 12 bore shotgun cartridges wrapped in leather and riveted together to create a neat strong key ring.

These earrings are made from Scottish red deer antler. Every antler has a slightly different pattern and colour so each set of earrings is unique.

Scotland in 4 Seasons loves products made in Scotland, if you would like to see your products featured do get in contact.

Scotland in Four Seasons Spring 2021 39

Taste the wild with versatile venison

By Linda Mellor

40 Scotland in Four Seasons Spring 2021

S

cotland is a country well known across the world for ancient history and traditions, wild beauty, whisky, tartans and bagpipes, and for its rich and diverse wildlife. The land, sea and skies are home to an enviable range of species. Scotland has a startling 90,000 species of wildlife of all shapes and sizes, from secretive wildcats, high-flying golden eagles to leaping salmon found in lochs and rivers. The most recognisable of all is the Red Deer, the UK’s largest land mammal, found predominately in the Highlands.

In Scotland, we have four species of deer, our two native species are red and roe, and the non-native fallow and sika. Roe and Red deer are perhaps the most well-known. Roe are prevalent throughout Scotland, and can often be seen at dawn and dusk feeding in the open, close to woodland. Roe deer are a highly adaptable species and do not restrict their choice of habitat to the countryside, they can be see in towns, industrial estates, and suburban spaces. The larger red deer can be found in the highlands, out on the open hill. A magnificent stag with his full head of antlers atop a rugged landscape is a classic symbol of Scotland.

Deer have played a key role in human civilisation throughout history. Culturally significant, and symbolic of strength, deer were frequently the subjects of folklore, myths and legends. Since prehistoric times deer have been part of the human diet and a source of materials to make tools and clothing. In the16th century, venison was an exclusive meat: the king of meats, a status symbol, and only available to the king and his nobles, and was hunted in deer parks. These days, venison, wild and farmed is available to all (this feature explores wild venison). In season, visit a supermarket or a country butcher and wild venison will likely be for sale. Many restaurants feature venison dishes on their menus, from seasonal pies, burgers to fillets and casseroles.

Many people are looking more closely at their diet and where their food comes from, and are seeking out local, healthy, traceable alternatives. In Scotland, we have a population of wild deer, they freely roam the countryside, living healthy lives.

Scottish venison has a low carbon footprint, and fewer food miles, and contains a third of the amount of fat found in beef, and has less calories than chicken.

“Venison is extremely lean meat,” said Dr Laura Wyness, PhD, RNutr (right), “low in fat and saturated fat, high in protein and packed with vitamins and minerals.”

The health benefits from venison are numerous: “Venison is packed with a variety of highly bioavailable nutrients including iron, zinc, selenium and B vitamins. Venison has even more iron than beef, lamb or pork, so it’s very useful to help boost intake. It is a very low fat meat with 1.6g of fat in 100g of venison. This compares to 1.1g in the same amount of chicken and 4.3g in beef. Venison is also low in saturated fat, which is great, as a diet high in saturated fat can raise the level of cholesterol in the blood and increase risk of heart disease.” www.laurawyness.com

Venison is a highly versatile meat, and can be enjoyed in as many ways as beef, lamb, and pork. It is a wild organic red meat, free of additives, traceable, and 100% made in Scotland. Centuries ago, bears, lynx and wolves hunted deer, however, when the last wolf was hunted to extinction in 1700s, deer no longer had any natural predators to control numbers. Deer can damage plants, trees and other wildlife, so numbers have to be managed to reduce their impact and keep herds healthy. Deer also pose a risk to human life with road traffic accidents.

There is an increased awareness surrounding global food production, climate change, fragile land and marine ecosystems.

Transportation and distribution are also under the spotlight as food labelling now tells us where the food originates from.

Left page: red deer on the hill. Above: roe deer buck feeding in long grass.

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Castle Game, Linlithgow Castle Game’s main objective is to provide venison, and other game, to as many people as possible. Retired Police Officers, Andy Smith and Neil Gilmour set up Castle Game and started trading from Trinlaymire Farm, Threemiletown, in the Spring of 2018.

Andy Smith said,“our venison is mainly from the Roe Deer, we occasionally use Fallow and Sika. We get our deer from, in the main, recreational stalkers in and around the central belt.

The deer comes to us as carcasses and they are labelled on their arrival where the stalker signs the declaration that they are fit for consumption. The labelling process is extremely important as it starts the traceability route towards the final consumer.

The deer are hung in chills, and when needed, are skinned by us and fully butchered depending on our requirements. We offer many cuts of meat both to the restaurant/chef trade and also to the general public where we sell the venison either in our shop at the unit or through online sales.”

Above left: Andy Smith, and Neil Gilmour, Castle Game.

Above: Neil Gilmour hanging deer in the chiller 42 Scotland in Four Seasons Spring 2021

Our main objective is to supply game and venison to restaurants and also develop our own outlook for the game and venison market and make the produce available for as many people that we can. Very quickly we were supplying some of the best restaurants including Michelin star Tom Kitchin and awardwinning chef Roberta Hall (Great British Food Menu), along with many other fine dining restaurants in Edinburgh and the immediate surrounding areas. The restaurants tend to use the larger cuts of venison (haunches, saddles) and we use the rest.”

How can venison be used? “We are firm believers that venison can be used throughout the cooking world from a plate of venison Chilli Nachos on a Friday night to the fine dining experience that Michelin starred restaurants provide.”

Like beef, they are many cuts of meat to consider, we asked Castle Game what venison cuts are available, Andy told us, “neck is great for a slow cook, shoulder whole for roasting or as a rolled joint, saddles provide either on the bone or the prime cut of loin fillet, taken of the bone. Haunches provide individual haunch steaks, whole ‘on bone’ haunch or rolled haunch. Haunches provide the meat for diced venison. One of our top sellers is the shank, again, it does really well in a slow cook process. We also have venison mince available.”

The Award winning Castle Game also supply burgers to many of Scotland’s restaurants, “they go straight on the menu after being garnished and our award-winning Venison Cajun Burgers (3rd Place in the Eat Game Awards 2019) is a best seller.”

All Castle Game’s photographs were taken by Lisa Ferguson

Great Glen Charcuterie is based in the Highlands. The business was created by Jan Jacob and Anja Baak in 2003.

Fuelled by a desire to increase the shelf life of local venison they enjoyed, Jan Jacob started to experiment by smoking the meat. He was inspired by a childhood favourite; dried sausages bought by his mum in a local butchers in the Netherlands.

Despite the challenges of working with venison as it is a very lean meat with very little fat, he came up with a tasty and popular recipe. Encouraged by family and friends Jan Jacob and Anja took out the lease on a derelict butchers shop in Roy bridge.

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The shop was transformed into a high-end processing unit and from that point their business flourished and they have never looked back. In 2010, Jan Jacob gave up his estate day job to focus on their thriving business. By then their family had grown to six, and with the youngest in school, Anja became fully involved growing the business.

“Sourcing the deer from the surrounding estates has always been very important for us. We know the stalkers and estate workers who manage the wild deer population,” said Anja. “Because there are no natural predators anymore the wild deer population has to be managed to a sustainable level. We believe eating wild meat is a sustainable option and can’t be compared to high intensive meat production.”

Product development has always been at the forefront of Great Glen Charcuterie, and over the years time was devoted to developing new recipes. Jan Jacob continually improved and expanded their product range. Great Glen Charcuterie now sells a range of salamis, chorizos, bresaola and smoked venison to independent retailers across the country. Many chefs use the charcuterie and it is also on the menu of Scotland’s best restaurants.

Scotland’s leading Charcuterie producer has won many awards for their great product taste. Anja said, “what is important to us is sustainably using the amazing wild produce available on our doorstep and turning it into a high-end product that can be enjoyed by people all over the world.”

44 Scotland in Four Seasons Spring 2021

Eat more Venison?

Venison is local product, a great source of organic meat and is running around the countryside of Scotland. You would struggle to find a meat more climate friendly than Scottish venison. Visit a supermarket at anytime of the year and you will find a cosmopolitan selection of food. For many, there’s something satisfying about eating food sourced from our own country, and in some cases, county. Take Scottish strawberries and raspberries, and how delicious do they taste and look?

How satisfying does it feel to eat local fruit? However, eating a local diet isn’t a new foodie fad, it’s as old as the hills, and so is eating venison.

For decades deer management has been in the media. It is often described in highly emotive styles to incite alarm and is usually followed by animal rights campaigners calling for an end to animal cruelty. News articles have made claims ‘gunmen, hired killers, snipers’ were brought in to slaughter deer. Professional deer stalkers control deer numbers, it is a necessity, and the deer themselves will benefit.

Without deer management Scotland would be overrun. A dominant large wildlife species would have a significant, negative impact on land, trees and other wildlife such a ground nesting birds and insect life. Scotland’s deer population have adapted to town expansions, changes in land use and a reduction in woodlands - their natural habitat. Modern farming provides nature, and not just deer, with an never-ending food supply 365 days per year. Deer management provides us with venison, a healthy and versatile alternative to beef.

There are plenty venison options available to suit all tastes, try one, you won’t be disappointed.

Scottish deer, the valuable resource?

Yes: a positive for the Scottish Economy

Scottish deer are a valuable resource. The 2016 PACEC (Public and Corporate Economic Consultants) economic study, commissioned by the Association of Deer Management Groups into the financial aspects of deer management discovered that the deer sector contributes an estimated £140 million each year to the Scottish economy. Deer stalking is a popular recreational activity and a much-sought sporting tourism experience. The sector is thought to support in the region of 2,500 full-time rural jobs.

Yes: creative deer products

Other deer products are also available. Jamie from J Boult Designs, near Oban in the Highlands told us, “we use antler as it is generally a waste product from sustainable culls and our aim is to bring more value to deer in Scotland. I feel that Red deer and Roe deer in Scotland are generally undervalued as they are seen as a pest rather than the last largest mammal in Scotland that should be revered.

I believe that our handmade antler products are popular for this reason, and because they are unique, tactile pieces that connect the owner of each J Boult Designs piece to the glens, burns, woodland, and hills where the deer are” J Boult Designs ethically source materials from local estates, and Jamie makes all the products in his workshop, “We believe in using waste products and as much environmentally friendly materials as possible. Everything that we make we try and source it from local businesses and estates.” Also see page 39.

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Deer Pens

Made by Gamekeeper Scott MacKenzie, “I like putting together things that have a connection to the landscape I live and work in and these red deer antler pens really hit the mark. And what better way to use a material that symbolises Scotland’s industry, oak staves from whisky barrels”. You can contact Scott on Instagram page @Skyegamekeeper or my Facebook page Scott MacKenzie Skye Gamekeeper

Deer handbags Becoorie in Comrie, Perthshire stocks a range of beautiful handbags made from deer skin and with some styles combined with Harris Tweed. These bags are made in Scotland and are available in a range of styles, designs, and sizes. Visit www.becoorie.co.uk

Deer Art Looking for deer art?

Look no further than the award winning Artist Justin Prigmore.

On the left is, ‘October on Jura’, Oil on Linen, 30 x 48 inches. The red deer masterpiece is for sale at the House of Bruar Gallery.

Justin’s website: www. prigmoreart.com 46 Scotland in Four Seasons Spring 2021

Scottish Wild Venison Charcuterie salami - chorizo - pepperoni - smoked venison - bresaola Made in the hearth of the Scottish Highlands from locally sourced wild venison.

Our charcuterie is available from independent retailers across the country or buy direct from our online store.

We have a range of specially curated gift boxes for a taste from the Scottish Highlands to treat yourself or a friend.

info@greatglencharcuterie.com

01397 712121

WWW.GREATGLENCHARCUTERIE.COM Scotland in Four Seasons Spring 2021

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48 Scotland in Four Seasons Spring 2021

Wild wood pigeon ramen with venison & miso broth

By India Annand from J Boult Designs

This is a delicious, spicy and nourishing noodle soup to have. It's so hearty, perfect for winter evenings in front of the fire.

Serves 2 people Ingredients: 200g Ramen noodles 2 wood pigeon breasts 1 tablespoon of Gochujang Paste Coconut oil 1 teaspoon of soy sauce 3 garlic cloves chopped 1.5cm piece of ginger finely chopped 200g of oyster or chanterelle mushrooms (or button mushrooms) loosely chopped [you can use dry mushrooms as well] 1 litre of water A few tablespoons of venison stock (or any wild game stock) or a beef or chicken stock cube 1 tablespoon of white miso paste 2 tablespoon of mirin A handful of coriander finely chopped 4 handfuls of spinach fried 1 tablespoon of sesame seeds 1 fresh red chilli sliced thinly 2 spring onions sliced thinly 2 chicken's eggs (or 4 quail eggs) boiled

Pepper Method: Marinade the pigeon in gochujang paste and soy sauce. Put aside.

Fry the garlic and ginger together in a pot. If you're using fresh mushrooms add these and lightly fry them for a few minutes. Add 1 litres of boiling water, venison stock and miso paste. If using dried mushrooms add them now. Put heat down to medium or low. Stir occasionally.

Meanwhile chop coriander, spring onions and red chilli. Put aside. Get eggs in a pot to add boiling water to later and get spinach ready to be fried in a small pot too.

Get a fry pan and put coconut oil in it. Put the stove-top on high. Once this is hot, add pigeon breasts whole. Cook for 4 minutes on each side. Put the thermometer in and once it hits 50 degrees take off the heat. Wrap in tinfoil and let meat rest in a warm place for 20 minutes.

Add boiling water to eggs and boil them for 5 minutes. Add noodles and mirin to stock in the pot. Once the eggs are boiled, peel them and chop them in half. Fry spinach for a couple minutes and put aside. Slice the pigeon breast lengthways.

When you are ready to serve. Add the broth and noodles to bowls. Then place the spinach on top with pigeon breast and egg. Top with coriander, spring onions, fresh chilli and sesame seeds.

Enjoy!

Scotland in Four Seasons Spring 2021 49

Skye in Springtime

In the Highlands and Islands heading to the dens at this time Words by Scott MacKenzie, Head of year has become Gamekeeper Stalker somewhat of a Photography by Stewart Dawber cultural tradition and there are many stories about this The mind and the eyes sense the daylight hours stretching out, the face welcomes the tepid warmth of the sun and the ears tune activity through our history. in to the return of familiar bird song that is now blasting out But the ones I from dawn till dusk. It is enjoy listening to are of the characters still remembered in living memory from my those small but noticeable local area and one in particular comes to mind. signs that tell It starts when three local crofters were out on the high ground the outdoor early one morning gathering their ewes to move to the lower person that slopes ready for them to lamb. One of these crofters whilst up on spring has the high ground thinks to check an old turf and dyke wall that made its held a fox den some seasons before. Sure enough, the tell-tail return. signs of fresh excavated earth and the odd feather gave the game By the end of away. Hurtling down the hill he was off to inform the others that there’s work to be done with the gun before darkness. All the March hear ewes now moved down to the lower slopes they decide a “cup of at Fearann Eilean Iarmain, we have usually finished the annual tea” in the house is in order to make a plan for waiting out for Red Deer count. I always look forward to the deer count, it’s the vixen. interesting to see how the deer have faired through winters grip and to understand if your deer management plan is working in favour of the welfare of these iconic beasts or where areas of your Now, after any gathering and especially if a plan is being formulated a “good dram” is usually a feature in any good plan may need to be tweaked.

Highland or Hebridean household. It seems that this plan was lengthy as was the afternoon and only an empty bottle reminded Of course, its always a pleasure to see familiar faces within the them of the job in hand. Leaving the house with shotgun in deer groups. Often stags will wonder off your boundary during hand and while there was still daylight, they head to the den the red deer rut seeking out Hinds next door, so a sigh of relief is often exhaled when you spy a particular old friend returned in sight and get hunkered down in a suitable area in sight of the den. It seems shortly after they settle in an argument breaks March to his bachelor group. out as to who is going to take the shot should the vixen make an appearance, it is at this point the vixen is spotted by one of It can be quite amusing watching bachelor groups during early them and a calm descends on the group, the elder of the group spring. The majestic Royal, Monarch and Imperial stags, who, grabs the gun, lines the bead upon the vixen, with the end of through the rest of the year hold court within the group. They dominate the hill with the lions-share of the hind groups during the barrel doing what could only be described as circular motion akin to a spin cycle on a washing machine, a shot rings out, the the rut are now nervy, wide-eyed seemingly sulking as they are vixen is still standing, one of the other two men snatches the the first to cast their majestic headdress. They are very mindful of their younger counterparts still sporting their less majestic but shotgun, stands, takes a second shot ! The other two men are now squinting through the black powder mist as they watch very pointy antlers. the white tip of the vixen’s tail propelling her through the heather and off into safety, they turn to ask their comrade what April is the lambing month here on Skye and plans are made happened only to discover him on his back on the wrong side of in anticipation of heading to the high ground in search of “An the turf wall at the point of falling asleep!

Sionnach”, The Fox. 50 Scotland in Four Seasons Spring 2021

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To listen to an old Bodach recount this story with actions following the dialogue will send you into fits of laughter, but there could have been a very different outcome when alcohol and firearms are in the mix. Thankfully, things have changed when it comes to predator control and this spring activity is now carried out by real professionals. Its important that we treat predators and their management at this time of year with the utmost of respect, correctly done it not only cuts down livestock predation but has a knock-on benefit for our ground nesting and wading birds too.

The wrong jump point can often lead to one of the rear legs being trapped between the top wires, not a nice sight for anyone to find, let alone a deer manager.

Now its late spring, the red deer calves have run the gauntlet of the stock fence, they’ve ducked and dived the talons of the Golden eagle and its much larger cousin that flying barn door, the White-Tailed eagle. There dappled spots are all but gone and they are fattening well, what now could possibly upset there hedonistic Hebridean spring days? A flick of an ear, a kick of a rear leg and a shake of the head, its more irritating than The arrival of Red deer calves in late May and into June is a joy Scotland’s political parties on polling day, THE MIDGE! to witness. Watching expectant mothers slowly, secretively move We are heading for summer!”(see page 46 for Scott’s pens) away from there family group and disappear, only to return scottmackenzie-skyegamekeeper.co.uk days later with a wee calve in tow is truly amazing. Some years particularly after a hard winter I will spend time out on the hill looking at the calving numbers in particular groups. Witnessing the interaction between mother and calve gives you a sense of there strong bond, you will also bare witness to how Hinds can be intolerant of another Hinds stray calve looking to suckle, sometimes a nudge of the head or a tap of the hoof is enough to make the calve bleat out and its mother to come looking for her wayward offspring.

The Spring months can be very hard on red deer calves with regard to stock fencing. Red deer will move to different areas to graze be it through the day or during the night. Mum will often jump a stock height fence with ease, but her calve will often pace back and forth along the fence line desperately trying to get back to mum.

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Scotland in Four Seasons Spring 2021

Spring Fishing With Simon Barnes When I see the signs of spring, I know I won’t have to wait too much longer to get out fishing. Of course, the winter fishing has helped keep us anglers happy and now some of the salmon rivers have had their opening days – though not with the usual flourish of pipes and whisky (well, maybe the whisky…).

For me the crucial date is the Ides of March – the 15th. This is the traditional start of the brown trout season. You could guarantee I would not have been at school on that day!

There is a lot to be done in preparation. First job is to find the fishing bag (or rucksack) and tip out the contents on my workshop floor. The wrappers from the last sandwiches need to be chucked and I will have to sneak the Thermos flask, now filled with coffee “yoghurt”, back into the house to be sterilised.

It is always good policy to clean and dry your kit, including waders, to avoid transference of disease and parasites between waters. Check your life jacket/ buoyancy aids and service them as required. Check the gas bottle is in date too.

Oh my word, the fly boxes! Well, those that are readily to hand. Others are still in pockets of random jackets or abandoned in vehicles. The boxes need completely reorganised once again (as they were last spring) and flies donated will need to be gathered up (windowsills, sitting room and office are likely hiding places) and added to the collections. Like many fly fishermen, I will have far too many flies and really only use about half a dozen patterns throughout the season.

Of course there will be shortages of some and these need to be replenished. This spring I did not go to any angling shows where I normally source flies.

The shows in Belgium and the British Fly Fair International in Stafford were cancelled.

Reels – well, once they have been tipped out on to the floor they need to be serviced. For this you need to strip off the fly lines and clean them in a bowl of warm slightly soapy water.

It’s amazing how much dirt accumulates – might take two goes to clean them properly. Dry the line and then use one of the many line treatments available. It really helps keeping the line in great order. It would be a good idea to do this once or twice through the season but I’m not that disciplined. Check the line backing for faults and attend to them.

While the line is off the reel, it is a good time to clean and service the reel itself. All the old grease and dirt should be cleaned out (a cotton bud with WD40 is good for this) and then a light engineering grease applied sparingly to the moving parts.

Next, waders: did you hang them up to dry and store? Holes should be fixed if there were some and there could be new mouse holes so check them well! Diver Dave in Bridge of Don is your man for fixing them (Tel : 0797 0041 452). I have a new pair of wading boots (a Christmas present from my wife) so they don’t need checking.

Rods – these need a check and a clean. Dirt can accumulate round the ring feet and under the reel seat. Clean thoroughly with soapy water and a toothbrush. Check the rings for damage: worn or broken rings are the enemy of fly lines.

Talking of rod building, people often think of a new rod for the season ahead. There are many rods available off the shelf. However, I make bespoke rods for the individual and absolutely love the process.

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“I have my favourites, however, spring doesn’t usually arrive in the high hill lochs until May or June” Things to consider are many and varied and the best thing to do is have a chat with me. We’ll talk about what type of fishing you are planning and what length and weight of rod might be suitable. In the last issue of the magazine we were chatting about winter fishing for different species and I ask the same question here, what fish are you targeting? In a loch or river? Large or small? Open or overgrown? All these features have an influence on the type of rod you need. After that, what comes next is personal preference. What type of handle? I have a wide range to choose from, including one which has been designed specifically to assist those with arthritis or injuries where casting is impeded. Reel seat: traditional wooden down-locking or more contemporary?

Again, I have a huge selection, and each can have a “reel” influence on the look of the rod.

Another very personal choice is the style of ring and thread colours that fasten the rings to the rod. There are infinite combinations possible: favourite football team, college colours or even flag colours you wish to showcase. Finally, your own personal inscription? Whatever you would like, this is total customisation for you.

Do you have a favourite destination? I have my favourites, however, spring doesn’t usually arrive in the high hill lochs until May or June. Spring on the riverbank can be so beautiful as the trees begin to bud, the hedgerows showing early flowers, cowslips and primroses out in full bloom. Birds arriving, making partnerships and nests. Seeing the first hatch of March Browns followed by Dark Olives. Wonderful!

The first salmon of the season is truly a wonderful sight. The one pictured on page 53 was from the river Ewe and was so fresh you could smell the sea on it. Perfection.

I’ll be there at the off, hoping for that first tug of a trout.

Mind you, it’s more likely to be a tug from being stuck in the heather or a tree. But with luck it will be the first trout of the new season. An absolutely beautiful creature that I have dreamt of all winter…..

Tight lines everyone.”

For the rod of your dreams visit: https://simbarods.com/ 54

Scotland in Four Seasons Spring 2021

Let’s chat!

We talk to Glencalvie’s Head Ghillie, Daniel Logie, about fishing, wildlife and working on the River Carron “Although a normal fishing season seems to be distant memory at the moment, I was delighted to be asked to share a little about my day-to-day workings as Head Ghillie for Glencalvie Estate as we gear up for the new season ahead.”

It’s not just fishing?

“A large part of my job, in addition to fishing with guests, is riverbank maintenance, ensuring paths and pools are strimmed to a good standard. Strimming the banks is much like painting the Forth Road Bridge, by the time you get to one end and you have to start again!”

When did you start fishing?

“Growing up in the village of Helmsdale, fishing was always a big part of my childhood as my grandfather was a keen salmon angler and I was introduced to it from a very young age. I was lucky that some of the locals took me under their wing and passed on their timely knowledge which stood me in good stead for my future career path.”

Tell us about your riverbank wildlife?

“There’s an abundance of wildlife of all shapes and sizes. Whilst fishing at Glencalvie and Gruinards you may be lucky enough to see the red squirrel along with a family of otters and if you’re fast enough you may spot the kingfisher.

There is also a larger visitor you may see when you are fishing. It’s not uncommon to be accompanied by Honey, the red deer hind.”

How did you your career start?

“I started as a trainee gamekeeper at 15, working on various estates, salmon fishing and deer stalking. In 2017, I started a position as a Beat Ghillie on the River Conon. Then, in 2019, I took on the role of Head Ghillie of Glencalvie Estate. In my role I am responsible for guiding guests to the most likely spots for success, and most importantly, ensuring guests have an enjoyable stay at Glencalvie.”

Tell us more about the Glencalvie beats?

“I like to ensure my fishing beats have a good balance of being maintained to a high standard whilst also allowing nature to thrive which I feel is a very important aspect of managing the countryside. When fishing at Glencalvie throughout the spring months, it wouldn’t be uncommon to see wild orchids growing, an abundance of bluebells throughout the beat (the carpet of bluebells are a spectacular sight) not to mention the ancient Caledonian pine forest through the upper reaches of the river.”

What is your favourite time of year?

“My favourite time of year would have to be the end of April, and the beginning of May. We see so much new life beginning to evolve and the salmon advance on their journey to eventually reach the spawning grounds. The changes in seasons really makes me appreciate the surroundings. Whichever way you turn, there’s a different view to take in.”

“There is also a larger visitor you may see when you are fishing. It’s not uncommon to be accompanied by Honey, the red deer hind.”

Tell us about the Salmon?

“Glencalvie falls is one of the biggest obstacles salmon will face in Scottish rivers. There is a thing called a standing wave and salmon use this to their advantage to get over the falls. A standing wave is when water falls from a height into a pool which cause oxygenated bubbles to come back to the surface which is a surge of water. Salmon have learned to time when this happens which gives them the advantage. Only the elite will achieve this.”

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Genetics and life fitness have a big part to play in them being successful as not every salmon will have the ability to overcome the falls.”

The Head Ghillie role has many elements to it, what’s the favourite part of your job?

“One of my favourite parts of my job is teaching people how to Spey cast. It’s a great feeling when you’ve helped one of your fishing guests achieve a new skill, and one that will hopefully lead to a lot of success on the river.”

When are you open to guests?

“We open on 11th January but do not open to guests until the end March and we close 30th September.”

Fishing at Glenclavie is fly only, what can recommend for spring fishing?

“Fly wise in the spring can’t go wrong with a Willie Gun, black & yellow, depending on water height, maybe tubes or big Doubles.

Then later in the spring, when water temperature is higher the Collie Dog works well.”

If you are interested in fishing with Daniel on renowned River Carron, find out more information here: glencalvieestate.co.uk All images supplied by Daniel Logie.

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Photograph by Richard MacGregor Scotland in Four Seasons Spring 2021

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Creative Countryside

By Jade Cruickshank

V

ibrant bulbs sprouting through, bird song from the abundance of garden birds, Sparrows, Starlings, Blue Tits and Chaffinches to name a few.

Bright green grass pastures, endless moorlands, the crisp air, dew on the young blades of grass glistening in the sunlight as I stride on. These are a few of life’s simple pleasures that belong to Spring.

I always feel it is a time for a new chapter when Spring arrives. After all, nature has it’s way of telling us it’s about to wake up. New leaves grow on trees which will see them through the year. I see this as a time for us to grow as well: new beginnings, adventures, and dreams.

The morning sunrise streaming through the thick forest trees is always a beautiful sight. It reminds me that longer, warmer, brighter days are coming. This leaves me feeling uplifted, especially after a long hard winter. New inspiration to get up and go - lets do this!

My rural Scottish community exudes a vibe of coming alive again.

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Wonderful sights, long walks with my family and Hamish, the dog, in the evening through the glen watching the vibrant sunset kissing the hill tops. Scotland you truly are beautiful.

“feeling uplifted, especially after a long hard winter.

New inspiration to get up and go - lets do this!”

Spring in the gardens is a great time. As not many weeds are visiting quite yet, it gives me time to plan (the fun bit). The vegetable garden requires lots of digging-over to ensure good quality soil for optimum drainage, yield and root growth. Whilst extremely time consuming, it’s a great work out. It will dramatically reduce weed growth (weeds- the bane of my life!).

Whilst doing this it is an ideal opportunity to decide what to grow.

Last year in the estate vegetable garden we had broccoli, carrots, kale, peas, neeps, and leeks, all 200 of them, so a clean slate gives you a chance to figure out what worked really well and what didn’t. For example we grew cauliflower, however, Cauliflower and I did not get on.

Also with a slightly colder climate than the rest of the UK its great to establish the fruits and vegetables that do well in our part of the country. Leeks do exceptionally well along with our neeps and carrots. This year, I have plans to keep the well proven staple veggies but also have a go at growing some garlic, onions, pumpkins and possibly rainbow carrots. The pots and planters need some life in them too. Every year our hanging baskets at home have bright trailing Geraniums and Fuchsia’s which give reliable vibrant, long-lasting colour but are also low maintenance thus allowing more time to focus on other aspects of my jobs. Growing your own vegetables is very rewarding as is harvesting your own meat and Spring is just the ticket for that.

Spring also means the Salmon and Trout season officially opens in my neck of the woods which means plenty of weekends spent by a river casting a line. My children have a tremendous passion for fishing, especially my 9-year-old daughter, from fly-tying to identifying species of actual fly in the vicinity to assist with (artificial) fly selection, to a natural appreciation for the fish she has just harvested.

We try to make sure our children are exposed to the best sources of knowledge out there for the sport they love. In the summer of 2019 we attended an event by SYCET (Scottish Youth and the Countryside Education Trust) which gave my children a great opportunity to learn all about Salmon and Trout fishing.

A picnic basket with an abundance of homemade goodies, all made by myself of course, and the odd bottle of fizz thrown in but only if it is a hill that’s walkable from home, is the cherry on top. This of course is only doable if you get the good, but wildly unpredictable, Scottish sunshine.

From the bugs in the water to casting, riverbank management and fly-tying. At the end of the day all children were given the opportunity to cast a line into the River Tay on the Meikleour beat. Needless to say they left with so much confidence which resulted in the love of the sport really taking root. I guess if you start them off with the best knowledge they are almost guaranteed to be left with a natural curiosity and desire for more.

We recently discovered that great-great-grandad was quite the fisherman back in the day. His claim to fame was reeling in a 40lb salmon with a length of 46” and girth of 42” caught on the woody island stretch of the River Tay. The photo was thought to have been taken in the early 1900’s and named “The Big One.” It’s certainly a great piece of family history to be proud of and also to look up to. Hopefully one day it will be repeated.

Fishing isn’t just a hobby, its teaches the art of patience and when you are surrounded by some of Scotland’s finest rivers and landscapes.

I couldn’t think of a more suitable training ground. Its also a great life skill - knowing how to catch dinner, prepare it, cook it and then the best bit…. enjoying it.

However, I do crave the odd day where we get a good downpour - gazing into the garden watching the ducks waddle through puddles with my hands wrapped around a warm cup of tea. In the background there is the smell of hot cross buns ready to escape the oven and to have a generous spreading of butter melted over the warm fluffy raisin-soaked dough…. that’s if the kids haven’t beat me to it!

“A picnic basket with an abundance of home-made goodies, all made by myself of course, and the odd bottle of fizz thrown in”

If spring in Scotland has taught me anything, it’s that we already have everything around us that most people need. Embrace it, try new things, look around you, learn a new life skill, do that big ridiculous walk you’ve been planning. Now is the time to start that new chapter, get up and go and be proud of it.

Follow Jade on Instagram: @ thecountrywomansdiary

The later part of Spring for me is all about family. Over the Easter holidays we enjoy picnics in the hills surrounded by pockets of rich and blooming Scottish countryside. From hares to birds of prey, Red Kite’s are particularly numerous in our area, and wild game, its rich with life and new beginnings and there is no shortage of things to admire.

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OUR STORY

with Fiona Grant of Glen Lyon Coffee Roasters

“This Spring, Glen Lyon Coffee celebrates ten years in business.

Based in Aberfeldy, we’re an international team of six, roasting delicious, ethically sourced, speciality coffees and supplying cafés, restaurants and individuals across Scotland and beyond.

It was a family camping trip down the West Coast of the States where we came across a number of micro-roasteries that inspired me to set up a coffee roastery back home in Glenlyon.

Unless you’re a gamekeeper or a shepherd, work opportunities tend to be fairly limited in a remote Highland glen so those of us that are lucky to live in such beautiful places have learnt to be quite resourceful. I found an old Turkish coffee roaster for sale on eBay, installed it in the bothy next to our house and started selling small batch roasts at farmers markets.

The first years were definitely the hardest with no staff and no heating in the bothy. Our biggest challenge was getting lorries to deliver green coffee beans to us along 10 miles of single-track road with several having to be regularly dug out of snowdrifts! As the business grew, our move to our nearby town of Aberfeldy a few years later was inevitable. We are so lucky with our wonderful and supportive local community in Aberfeldy and all the amazing outdoor adventures that our local area offers. Meanwhile the daily commute back home to Glenlyon is a chance to switch off and disconnect from work.

There’s nothing like seeing a group of stags casually walk in front of your car or a golden eagle circle high up above to bring you right back to nature.

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We source our coffee from Latin America and East Africa and travel to meet our producers every year (although obviously not in the midst of a global pandemic!).

My husband Jamie and I met in Bolivia where we were both working as journalists and this is definitely one of our favourite coffee origins to buy from and visit. We always buy our coffee seasonally and early Spring sees the arrivals of our direct trade Bolivian coffees arriving at the roastery, shortly followed by some delicious Costa Rican and Guatemalan beans.

In 2019 I qualified a Q grader, which means I’m licensed to grade and score arabica coffee. There are just a handful of us Q graders in Scotland and the speciality coffee scene in Scotland is a supportive and friendly one.

As the green coffee buyer for Glen Lyon I travel often to meet producers and spend most of my day roasting samples and cupping potential new coffees as well as carrying out quality control on every batch of coffee we roast. A business is only as good as its team and we are so fortunate at Glen Lyon to have such a fantastic team with collectively over 50 years of experience working in the coffee industry.

Being based in a remote rural area of Scotland with limited work opportunities, we are proud to provide a relaxed and supportive work environment for our staff, pay well above the living wage and offer job security with permanent contracts.

At the heart of Glen Lyon Coffee is our mission is to put people and the environment before profit and a commitment to zero waste is something we feel very strongly about. Our packaging is all fully compostable, we make local deliveries in our company’s electric car and plan to get solar panels installed on the roof of our roastery next year.

Every year our team plants trees in the Highlands to offset our carbon footprint and we have partnered with the Scottish rewilding charity Trees for Life whose vision is of a revitalised wild forest in the Highlands of Scotland, providing space for wildlife to flourish and communities to thrive. A percentage of sales from True North, our latest blend, will be raising funds for the charity to go towards planting trees.

Despite the lockdown, 2021 so far has been a busy year for us which also saw us launch our Coffee Academy, in partnership with the youth charity Project Northern Lights, to support school leavers into work with a threemonth mentoring program, internationally recognised qualifications and work experience.

It’s no secret that lockdown has seen increased mental health issues, anxiety and isolation among young people and we hope that our Coffee Academy will help boost participants’ confidence, social skills and selfesteem and have a positive impact on helping young people find their feet and employment as we come out of the pandemic.”

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FOREVER SCOTLAND with MHAIRI-ANN TROUP

Each season we talk to Scots living elsewhere and ask how they keep their connection to Scotland alive

“

I was born in Aberdeen Royal Infirmary and grew up in Kingseat and Newmachar, Aberdeenshire, where my parents still live happily today. As a child my favourite place was (and still is) Beauty Hill in Kingseat, where the family would regularly walk and play in the woods. Walking in pine forests today still evokes the memory of throwing pinecones with my brother and sister. I also loved Balmedie Beach, beautiful in the summer and wonderfully bracing in winter.

Bennachie is another place I love; it is such an iconic hill, and I was so happy to have been able to take my boys, Rex, and Hartley, there as well. Seeing them sat at the top of the hill where I sat when I was a little girl was a memory I will never forget.

I also have lovely memories of the family caravanning in Aviemore, Speyside. We had a lot of fun playing rounders and being such a competitive family, the card games round the fire would go on late into the night. Another beautiful place very close to my heart is Fyvie Castle, in the village of Fyvie near Turriff. My grandparents are laid to rest there and it is also where I was married.

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My strongest memory of spring in Scotland is of the snowdrops in Kingseat. My father took some beautiful photographs and has always called me his ‘Snowdrop Princess’. As spring took hold after winter, my father would hone my shooting skills in the woods of Kingseat.

I’ve been out of Scotland now for over 20 years, but it is so important to me to keep the Scottish traditions alive and despite living in Sussex, there is a strong Scottish presence.

When we meet up with fellow Scots on occasions such as Burns night, my English boyfriend is always amused at how much my accent broadens, with a smattering of the Doric dialect.

In a Covid free world, I would usually try and get back to Newmachar twice a year. Every January I attend a shoot with the ‘Barra boys’, run by my brother Scott Troup, a gamekeeper in Aberdeenshire. Another chance to go back and visit my friends and family later in the year is a bonus, but one I always aim for.

For me, the most iconic image of home is that of a stag. I am fortunate enough to live on a country estate in Sussex with a beautiful herd of deer. Although smaller than the magnificent creatures in the Scottish Highlands, I find myself watching them from our bedroom window for ages and remembering the impressive sight of stags amongst the heathers of home.

The image of a stag adorns many items in my home as a constant nod towards my roots.

I may live in a beautiful little corner of Sussex, but Scotland will always be my true home and very much where my heart lies.”

I am fiercely proud of my Scottish roots and my children have always celebrated and been aware of the relevance of Burns, Hogmanay, and St Andrews Day. Burns Night in particular evokes real emotion and as we were locked down this year I was the only true Scot. However, I still got emotional when addressing the haggis with bagpipes in the background. I always do a Scottish quiz on Burns Night with my boys, which keeps their knowledge of Scotland, its traditions and heritage in their minds. In fact, most reminders of home make me emotional. Seeing pictures of my brother and his gorgeous black Labrador retrievers brings back so many memories and seeing his new venture, Camaloun Gundogs, take off makes me so proud. I would love to be walking the hills of Aberdeenshire with him in the spring.

I love watching Scotland play rugby and was the only person belting out ‘Flower Of Scotland’ in a very English rugby club during the last Six Nations. The sound of bagpipes always gets me stirred up too. I would often sit and sing Amazing Grace with my Grandmother and she also taught me Ceilidh dancing. We would laugh so much and seeing this dancing now takes my mind back home with great fondness.

I am extremely close to my family and speak to my Mum and Dad every day. I always look forward to little parcels from them, as they will contain numerous bags of Rhubarb Rock and butter biscuits. Like most things Scottish, the imitations down south just aren’t the same. I miss the real taste of locally produced haggis with my mother’s sublime whiskey sauce. I couldn’t believe it when the only whiskey we had in our house for Burns night was American! I was straight to the shops to get some Famous Grouse! The other dish I miss is mince, tatties and skirlie, now that’s a real taste of home!

Bio: Mhairi-Ann Troup is a shooting instructor and mother of two boys from Aberdeen, now living in Madehurst in West Sussex.

“I have always loved and competed at clay pigeon shooting and wanted to give something back to the sport by way of coaching. In 2016 I was honoured to be named CPSA ‘Coach of the year’. My aim since then has been to introduce more women to the sport and launching Dynamic Ladies Shooting Club has set me on the path to achieving that. Just before lockdown in March, I was named as one of the first shooting ambassadors for Musto clothing. To find out more visit my website www. dynamicladiesshootingclub.co.uk, or find us on facebook and Instagram.

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Photograph by Linda Mellor, Culross 64 Scotland in Four Seasons Spring 2021

Waiting for Persephone Words and photos

by Kona Macphee

Photo by Patrick R. Andrews

As an Australian living in Scotland, I’m perpetually entranced by northern hemisphere seasons: their colours, their weathers, their sheer distinctness from each other.

It’s not that Melbourne, where I grew up, didn’t have seasons. It’s just that they never seemed as clear-cut and individual. In a place where little vegetation was deciduous, and ice and snow were vanishingly rare in the city, seasons didn’t so much change as gradually smear from one to the next. Sometimes it seemed that Melbourne, with its volatile weather systems, could have as many seasons in the course of one day as it did over the entire year.

As a transplanted writer, I noticed how much the European seasons began appearing in my work; somehow they seemed so much more metaphorical than their Antipodean equivalents.

Spring, in particular, was just so outrageously brazen, an outbreak of childlike glee: the sullen winter mud-patch of my garden suddenly crayonned with multicoloured shoots, the fruit trees exuberantly daubed with messy blossom.

The rebirth and renewal of spring is endlessly allegorised, not least in the ancient Greek myth of Persephone, condemned to spend the coldest months of every year in the underworld while her mother Demeter grieves her absence in the wintry world above.

Like Demeter, I too spend the winter months in a kind of resigned mourning, waiting for a spring unsealing and reunion.

My underworld has its own barred threshold. It’s a winter-white garage door, behind which sleep my trickle-fed treasures — my motorcycles. Sadly, while I can withstand a leather suit in a Sydney heatwave, my Australian-made inner thermostat has no setting for “sub-freezing”. Come the single-digit temperatures — late October through early March — my bikes take to slumber, while I take to pining.

There are good reason why bikers quip that “God made Scotland for motorbikes”: the variety of stunning scenery in such a compact country, the mix of big and small roads, and most of all the geometry — not straight lines and flat planes, but glorious curves and bends and twists, undulations and ripples and ridges and summits. To ride a motorbike in Scotland is to experience shape at its most physical and exhilarating.

Why do I ride motorcycles in the first place? I’m no thrill chaser; I feel no call to dance on the crumbling edge of peril.

Adrenaline is, in fact, my least favourite endocrine secretion.

I don’t enjoy the everything-in-slow-motion intensity when a jolt of it spurts into my brain. I hate the sick, trembly-fingered, shaky-kneed comedown that follows. Adrenaline is a sign that I’ve gotten it wrong: misjudged a turn, neglected a hazard, become distracted. It represents a ‘teachable moment’ perhaps — but not a state to aspire to.

No, I don’t ride to scare myself, to perpetually push an envelope a little further. I ride because being out alone on a bike, flowing like poetry on an empty Highland road, is the ultimate experience of what these days is described as ‘mindfulness’.

The solitary motorcyclist is present — in the moment, in the landscape — in a way that is rare in everyday life, and difficult to achieve in the sealed box of a car. Many riders, including me, use “just going out for a ride” as their primary mental health maintainer. Perhaps it works because it’s an effortless form of meditation — the whole noisy conscious self falling away, replaced by a kind of no-self that consists of nothing but the corners ahead and the lyrical lines being traced around them.

Motorcycling in Scotland brings, in certain moments, the purest and sharpest form of joy I’ve ever experienced. Cresting a steep summit to discover a wide, dramatic strath opening out below, weaving through the madly romantic topologies of Glencoe, exploring a tantalizing, tiny side road for the first time, that sudden explosion of joy can make me shout aloud inside my helmet, shed tears, fall in love with the entire universe all over again. Who couldn’t be addicted to that?

My bikes and I have the good fortune to live in the Perthshire town of Crieff, which is a superlative base for multi-day motorcycle touring in Scotland. I’m now sharing the joys of this touring motorcyclist’s paradise via the Crieff Cloverleaf, a fourday touring route centered on the town (www.cloverleaf.scot).

Come spring, I look forward to savouring the Cloverleaf’s many riding pleasures with other bikers. For now, I stand on my snow-laden driveway and look wistfully at that white door, waiting for Persephone.

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The Wilderness hotel You book a night in the Wilderness hotel, and arrive just as a huge storm takes out the power. The torrential rain floods the road and the local river bursts its banks. There are no phone signals, no power or communication with the outside world until morning. The staff greet you by candle light. Let your imagine flow as you answer the questions below.

Our spring-time traveller is Hugh Munro, a short story writer (see page 69 for Green Cottage) Q. All the rooms are haunted and you can pick any room in the hotel to sleep in. What room would you pick and who would haunt it?

A. I would pick room 9, The Glen Affric Room, and it would be haunted by John Buchan.

Q. Your clothes and footwear are drenched in the downpour but in your room there’s a wardrobe full of clothes and shoes in your size. You can help yourself, what do you pick to you wear?

A. A checked flannel shirt, with my clan tie, a warm Shetland crew necked sweater, autumn coloured cords, thick woolly socks, sturdy brogues and a warm fleecy body warmer Q. What do you see out of your bedroom window?

A. As I look out of the window I see a dark loch enveloped in mist. A moon trying to pierce the grey, outlying craggy mountains and trees on each side of the water and a small fishing cobble moored by a small pier.

Q. You are one of four guests at the dinner table in the snug by the huge fireplace, who are the three other guests, what shape of table and where would they sit?

A. A round table with high backed wooden dining chairs possibly oak. My guests would be Rt Hon. Brian Wilson, Billy Connolly, and Dr. Carol Colburn Grigor.

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Q. What would you eat? Remember there’s no power.

What would you drink?

A. We would commence with a starter of salmon and creamed cheese with rocket salad, tomato and oatcakes.

Then follow on with the main course comprising of quiche, cold game including venison, pheasant, grouse, ham lettuce, cucumber, beetroot chutney and coleslaw.

Sweet would be a sherry trifle or Cranachan minus the toasted oat-crumbs then we would finish off with a cheeseboard of cheddar, Scottish brie, cottage cheese and some blue Stilton accompanied by crackers. We would enjoy a bottle of Red Chilean wine 55 South, maybe a dram of Malt; Cragganmore with the starter and a glass of Tallisker with the Cheeseboard Q. The power is restored before dawn, so after a hot breakfast, the skies are clear, and the flood waters have subsided you check out. Where are you going on your onward journey?

A. The isles of the west.

We dedicate this page to good news, things we love and enjoy

W

e love spending time outdoors and what better way to enjoy it than going fishing. Angling has many physical and mental health benefits, a relaxing day spent outdoors surrounded by nature and wildlife feeds the soul. Fishing is open to all whatever your fitness level is and there’s no upper or lower age limit. In Scotland, we have an endless amount of locations to fish, from big salmon rivers to hidden hill lochs loved by brown trout.

Our friends at Simba Rods in Crieff are bespoke trout and salmon fly rod makers. Call Simon, he’s the knowledgeable fishing guru and the creator of the world famous, ‘wee loch rod’.

Simon will make your dream rod. See pages 53 & 54 for more information.

Huge congratulations to Mr & Mrs Hutchens. The beautiful Scottish sunshine shone for Cara and Ali when they married in early January 2021. All of us at Scotland in Four Seasons HQ wish you both a lifetime of joy and happiness!

Looking for a bedtime drink? Look no further than this wonderfully soothing, organic nighttime tea from Pukka.

One cup puts you into a relaxed state ready for a peaceful night’s sleep.

Zzzzzzzz.........

Have you tired Highland Brie? It’s a delicious cheese with a smooth, soft texture.

Mmmm...

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Designer Life in Fife with Lucy Turner

G

etting out and enjoying the longer days close to the sea is one of the reasons I love living in this part of Scotland.

We are lucky enough to have the stunning Fife coastal path right on our doorstep. If you follow this, you can either walk a short distance and take in the local scenery or make it a proper hike and take the route as far as Kincardine heading west and south or Newburgh heading east & north. As we are so close, we are lucky that we can go anytime and avoid lots of walkers and tourists. The villages start to get busier as the days warm up and tourists and day-trippers appear to explore the winding streets of Pittenweem, Crail and Anstruther.

I normally fly away early in the spring to warmer climes, as my desire to get proper sunshine is too great by November and I have usually booked a weekend break somewhere warm.

This year I am going to obviously stay in Scotland, and it will give me a chance to properly explore this area and all it has to offer. I will walk further along the coast and investigate the local villages on foot, rather than just jumping in the car and going where I need. I have been here for nearly two years and I still do not know the area as well as I could. There are some exciting businesses in the East Neuk and more seem to be starting all the time. We can buy plenty of local produce as this area is fortunate to have great fishing, farms, sea salt, seaweed, and honey, just to name a few.

It is nearly a year since I started my vintage business and even though it has been a slow and weird year, it is exciting to think that it is that time already. How quickly it has come round, despite the obvious stagnation that has happened in the last 12 months.

68 Scotland in Four Seasons Spring 2021

I have loved vintage all my life and from a young age I would go round stalls, fairs and markets with my mum, she was an antiques expert and had her own shop in Reading. I grew up in that curious and wonderful world and Mum knew some fascinating characters. While she was haggling over a piece of furniture, I immersed myself in the shops looking for unusual pieces of my own. We knew all the traders, so I was safe wandering off and exploring. The places we visited were usually located in one big building or an old warehouse.

One such place was Merchant’s Place in Reading, which we visited nearly everyday and I would poke about looking at clothes, jewellery, vinyl records and ornaments. It covered 2 floors so there was a lot to keep me occupied. I still exchange Christmas cards with one of the traders there…strange but true!

I loved to frequent jumble sales as a teenager and throughout my life my passion and eye for the quirky and collectable has stayed with me. I have bought and worn vintage clothes for as long as I can remember, and I am now incorporating that passion with my textiles training. I ran my own design business for over 10 years.

I started East Neuk Vintage in the Spring of 2020. It seemed as good a time as any to incorporate my vintage passion with a new venture and the extra “downtime” I had then.

Through my new website, I have been selling pieces and on other online forums like Instagram and Depop. I am lucky to have always had a studio space, which I think is essential to working well. I find it totally frustrating when I do not have access to a working area. Now it is just a table and sewing machine, with fabric and garments filling the rest of the space, but that is going to change as I start working on new projects.

This year I am getting more into the up-cycling side of vintage.

I love to rework and redesign garments. I have been relining jackets with contrasting fabrics and appliquéing designs on the inside.

In 2021 I will be looking into getting out and selling at vintage fairs and I will be investigating pop-up locations too.

It is great that vintage is starting to have a resurgence. I think with everything that has been happening in the last year, people are realising that fashion is very much a throwaway industry and that the production of clothes harms the environment. We have more than enough clothes in the world to not make new ones for quite some time. Reducing waste and reusing really is something that people are becoming more aware of and if they are not then they should.

www.eastneukvintage.com

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avid spotted it first. He had taken a road running cross country back to his home in Edinburgh after a sales meeting in Cornhill. The route had followed the River Tweed to its completion in the North Sea at Berwick upon Tweed; that town that lies in England but whose football team still plays in the Scottish Division.

There it was, sitting on the brow of a hill overlooking the village of Lauder on the A68 a detached and remote cottage. The for-sale sign, much weathered, gave details of the agent.

“No time like the present,” he thought to himself. It appeared exactly to be what he, his wife Ellen, young son John and Magnus their red setter were looking for. At present they rented a flat in Stockbridge with no garden or real privacy. With the prospect of another arrival on the way they had agreed that a move to the country would be preferable and had saved a deposit. Travel would not be a problem for either of them; Ellen drove too and could easily commute to her interior design clients in the City.

Her father had bequeathed her his beloved vintage Mini Cooper when parking and one-way systems became too much for him.

The thought of that garden and perhaps even some home-grown vegetables was very appealing.

Finding a convenient turning point he did a three-point turn which any driving instructor would have been proud of and turned back past the red doored cottage and headed to the agent’s office in the nearest village. By the time he found it the clock inside showed 5.15pm. At first glance it seemed no one was about but then a woman bustled through from the back whilst donning scarf, hat and gloves.

“I’m sorry,” she said. “We are just closing up for the weekend. I’ll try my best to help but I am standing in for the receptionist and if you are enquiring about any property then you will need to come back or call on Monday to speak to Mr Douglas McVicar. He is in charge of residential sales.”

Disappointed, David explained his interest in the cottage at the top of the hill.

“Well,” she said, “I do know about the property you mean but there is very little recent information about it on file. It is called Green Cottage and it seems to be new to the market.”

Even better, David thought to himself.

She continued. “No schedule has been prepared, no viewing times or closing dates set and that’s all I can really tell you. You will have to excuse me now as I had pre-set the office alarm and if I don’t leave the premises the alarm will waken the dead. When you call on Monday tell Mr McVicar you spoke with myself, Sadie Gilbraith.”

Without further ado David found himself outside on the High Street from where Ms Gilbraith had seemed to vanish.

David took another look in the for-sale window to make certain that Green Cottage was not advertised and retraced his steps to his car, up the hill passing the cottage on his left again. Yes, it was the perfect fit for Ellen and his family. The garden was full of colour but needing some attention.

Night was falling by the time he reached home, the lights twinkling from the hill overlooking Scotland’s Capital and, although now April, it was dark enough for him to register that he was late home. Hallelujah. For once there was a parking spot outside the tenement flat for which he was grateful. Usually they were like hens teeth, especially when laden after the weekly supermarket run.

Green Cottage

by Hugh Munro

He was excited. He ran at the stairs, two at a time. Opening the front door he failed to notice Magnus in the vestibule and tumbled over him, landing heavily on his right knee which buckled under him and he saw the linoleum rising up to meet him.

Hearing the commotion in the hall and, first to reach him, was his son, John, whilst Magnus proceeded to lick his face up and down.

“Away, Magnus” he cried clutching his leg in agony. Magnus took the hint and retreated to the sitting room, tail between legs whilst being followed by John.

“Mum, it’s Dad...he’s had an accident...you’d better come.”

“Mercy, mercy!” exclaimed Ellen. “What on Earth is this rumpus?

I was busy getting supper ready. I was thinking something a lot worse when I heard the din. It’s your favourite, lasagne. Still warm in the oven. John and I have already eaten. We waited but you’re late so in the end I gave him some money to go to Franco’s and get us a fish supper. Look, you’ve slipped on the linoleum. Your knee is the size of a balloon.”

“I didn’t slip. Magnus was pretending to be a doorstop. It’s my own fault. I was in such a rush to tell you some exciting news.”

“Here, let me help you.”

“No I don’t think it’s serious.”

“I don’t think we need to visit minor injuries but sit down and I’ll get a bag of frozen peas to put on it. Now, tell me all about it, why the excitement? what’s happened?”

With a cup of tea in his hand and sitting in his favourite armchair the whole story was retold of the journey back from the sales meeting and the discovery of Green Cottage. The village had a bank, a small supermarket, a Health Centre, a library, and a Primary School and to trump it all a direct train link to Edinburgh.

“It’s just what we’ve been looking for. It’s not too far from the city for your clients. I’ve not seen the inside yet but from external appearances I’m sure you’ll love it too.”

Scotland in Four Seasons Spring 2021 69

“That’s as maybe but we still need to see it. What did you say it was called?”

“Green Cottage. With a red door.”

The bag of peas along with an evening full of discussion on their wish list for their next property made the evening fly past. Ellen was getting a better idea of the pros and cons of a positive move.

What was the potential for alterations, what would the asking price be, how accessible would it be in the Winter? So many questions.

David told her that he had noted interest with the Agent’s office and that it appeared that most viewings took place on Thursday evenings or Saturday mornings, but he would sort that out on Monday with Mr McVicar.

It was Ellen who closed the discussion that night with “Why don’t we just take a run out there tomorrow? Drive past it and let me see what I think? If it’s got a lovely garden then that’s just up your street but I’ll be there most of the time especially for the foreseeable future.” She pointed at her baby bump. “If this is as good as you say we need to get a move on before it gets snapped up.”

The next morning David’s knee was still swollen and painful. He worried he would not be able to drive for a few days. He spent the morning calling his mortgage advisor, yes, he knew it was the weekend and then a family friend who was a conveyancing lawyer.

Meanwhile Ellen had left him to it and taken the dog and John out for a walk to the park.

Sunday dawned and gave the promise of a bright spring day. The hot bath and an early night had worked miracles and Ellen was still keen to see the exterior of the cottage and the village itself. After a quick breakfast, all four set off for Kirkie and Green Cottage.

Ellen took advantage of the unexpected trip to deliver to clients some material samples en route which delayed their arrival at Kirkie until almost lunchtime. They walked around the village and Ellen reflected on what it would be like to live there.

Yes, she admitted to herself, David was right. The village had all the amenities they would need. More importantly she could see herself living here. Another glance in the Agent’s office window confirmed no advertisement of the property and so they moved on to the cottage itself.

“David,” she said as she nudged him in the ribs, “don’t drive so fast. Give me a chance to see it. I see what you mean about the sales board being the worse for wear. Perhaps it hasn’t sold because of the state it’s in inside? It’s a pity we weren’t here yesterday, maybe there were other viewers, and we could have decided if it was a waste of time.”

As the car approached the corner John said excitedly from the back of the Mondeo “Look, Dad. There are two old people working in the garden.”

David got a second jab in the ribs as Ellen said urgently, “pull into this lay by here!”

“What do you think I’m doing? Are you thinking what I am?”

“Yes. We can but ask. Explain how we’ve made a trip to see it.”

David opened the car door and walked the short distance to the front of the house where the couple were quietly working. He returned to say that the couple had introduced themselves as Mr and Mrs Cameron and would be delighted to show the family the property. Five minutes later he was ushering his family through the gate and seats had miraculously appeared in the garden for them to sit down. A sharp barking came from inside the cottage.

“Drat. She said I left Cambridge in the bedroom. He’s our West Highland terrier, very sociable and nosy. Is that a red setter I see in 70 Scotland in Four Seasons Spring 2021

your car? Away you go and let him out. I’m sure the dogs can entertain themselves in the garden whilst we talk.” said Mr Cameron.

“Now, Stuart will show around the cottage. It’s such a lovely day.

In fact why don’t you look around whilst I make us all a pot of tea and you’re in for a treat as I’ve just made some scones. Great to have with my homemade blackcurrant jam. It’s no trouble.

Stuart and I were just about to stop for a breather and a wee snack. You’ve put yourself out and you menfolk look thirsty.

Over the years we’ve become pretty self sufficient here. I hope you two are gardeners. Right off you go with Stuart and he’ll show you his pride and joy. His vegetable plot. He leaves the flowers and berry bushes to me. That’s my domain. Look, the two dogs are good friends already. Now, watch yourself on this doorstep.” said Mrs Cameron.

The cottage was truly everything the young family wanted.

“Yes,” said Stuart Cameron. “You certainly are in need of a bigger property.”

Ellen thought that a few cosmetic changes might be in order but otherwise it was perfect. The garden had been well established by Flora and Stuart Cameron. Even John had been delighted with the lawn at the rear where he could play football with Magnus.

As they all sat down in the front garden amongst all the beautiful spring flowers and shrubs David hoped against hope that his dream might come true.

“Unfortunately, we don’t have a schedule prepared yet but if you’re interested shall we get down to brass tacks? How much are you prepared to offer? We are looking for a quick sale as we’ve got our eye on a property on the West Coast. The price of this is £220k. What do you think?”

It was a no brainer. Trying not to choke on his scone David answered. “It will need to go through my solicitor David Laird but it’s within our price range and so I’m willing to shake on a deal here and now...especially if I can have another scone?”

Mr and Mrs Cameron were delighted and promised to alert the senior partner at Melrose, their agent, the next day. As Flora and Ellen chatted over another cup of tea, Stuart gave David a more in-depth tour of the garden and told him what would be included with the sale.

It was a very happy and excited family that piled into their car after a search for the dogs in the woods behind the cottage. As the hunt for them was underway Ellen noticed on the small console hall table three schedules for the property. She tucked one into her handbag.

How strange, she thought, Stuart had said that they weren’t ready.

At the last moment Flora Cameron handed a brown paper bag to Ellen through the passenger door window and shouted, “enjoy!”

“What’s in the bag, Mum?” asked John as she placed it in the footwell of the car. She put a finger to her lips and hushed him.

“It’s a secret. You’ll have to wait.”

As soon as David arrived at work the next day he called his lawyer to go ahead with the offer to the agents for Mr and Mrs Cameron as a matter of urgency. He added that the offer needed to be accepted formally by that Friday. He then got on with his routine Monday but found it difficult to concentrate He did receive a call from Mrs Gilbraith to say they were sending out the prepared schedule by post. He thought he’d give Ellen a quick call to update her.

“Oh, I forgot to tell you, John. I already have one. When you were dog searching I popped back in to use the loo and there were some on the table. I picked one up.”

“Didn’t Stuart say they hadn’t been prepared yet?”

“Yes. Maybe they were a first draft for review?” Perhaps you should call the agent and tell them not to waste a stamp?”

“OK, then. I’ll leave a message.”

That evening the talk around the possibilities of the cottage overtook any mundane television viewing.

“We don’t need to make any major changes. Just some general tidying up and overall maintenance in the garden. What are your thoughts?”

“Oh, my plans are very simple. There’ll be a bit of jam making going on in between feeding the new baby. Shame to waste the crop that there’ll be later in the year.”

The next day David received two calls in quick succession on his hands free whilst driving between clients. One from his lawyer friend to confirm that the offer had been made the previous day and the second from Mr McVicar the senior agent which left him puzzled. Mr McVicar indicated that there may be a problem with the sale of Green Cottage and asked if he could visit David at home at 7pm to discuss further. He had declined to give further details but said that he was indeed in receipt of the formal offer.

The fear of potentially being drawn into a bidding war for the property did not leave David for the rest of the day.

At precisely 7pm, accompanied by the backdrop of heavy April showers, a small dapper man in his fifties wearing a Crombie coat and a three-piece herringbone suit rang their doorbell.

Ellen placed the soaking coat in the airing cupboard whilst Mr McVicar presented David with his conservative business card.

“Mr Douglas McVicar, Senior Partner, Melrose LLB.” David ushered Mr McVicar into the sitting room where Ellen had already provided a tray with teapot, cups and saucers, scones, and jam. John was out at Cubs and Ellen would need to keep an eye on the time, but she gestured for Mr McVicar to sit in the armchair closest to the fire.

“Now, Mr McVicar. Tea or coffee? What’s your preference?”

“Oh, a cup of strong tea would be kind, Mrs Ramsay,” he said as he sat down.

David was eager for the conversation to move on to the pertinent question but was taken aback at the abruptness of Mr McVicar.

“Can you tell me why you chose to put in an offer on Green Cottage when my assistant Mrs Galbraith clearly stated that not even the schedules had been prepared?”

“Oh, that’s simple,” David retold his experience of Friday afternoon, his keenness to express interest as soon as possible given their immediate need for somewhere suitable to purchase.

“On Sunday, at my behest,” interjected Ellen, “we took a trip to look at the village itself and the cottage from the outside so I could get an initial feel for it. We spotted Mr and Mrs Cameron in their garden and they couldn’t have been more accommodating to us and kindly let us view.”

“And this was yesterday? Sunday? “asked Mr McVicar “Yes, I only saw it for the first time on Friday as I told you,” repeated David. Where on earth was this conversation leading?

There was a long pause broken by Mr McVicar who said, “yes, that does sound straight forward. When I arrived at work yesterday I received your formal offer from your solicitor which is all above board and totally in order.”

“So can you tell us of the “problem” you mentioned to me on the phone today and the need for a meeting?”

Mr McVicar pulled an envelope from inside his jacket pocket.

“Mr and Mrs Ramsay. This is not easy for me. Now you both met Mr and Mrs Cameron. I’m wondering out of these three photos,” he eased them out of the envelope, “can you identify them?”

Ellen and John immediately pointed to the photo showing Stuart and Flora.

Mr McVicar nodded. “Yes, you’re right. I’ve known them both for over twenty years. We were members of the same bowling club until recently. I regarded them as two of my closest friends.

As a fresh-faced graduate from University they took me under their wing when I first moved to Kirkie.”

“You speak in the past tense about them,” interrupted Ellen.

“Yes,” said Mr McVicar. “Indeed. This is the problem that I have. I’m feeling quite shaken about these events. Mr Ramsay, would you have anything stronger in the flat than tea?”

David returned with two small glasses of whisky to keep the strange man company.

“So, as I said, I’ve received your offer and will probably be able to accept it by Friday as you have requested. However, you may wish to withdraw once you hear me out. Today I made a few discrete enquiries myself as to whether I could vouch for your integrity as a couple and I was not disappointed. I have no doubt that you met my friends the Camerons yesterday.”

“Did you not believe us?” asked Ellen. “They were such a lovely couple.”

“The problem is,” said Mr McVicar, having drained his glass and coughed to clear his throat. “The problem is that on Sunday a year ago to the day the Camerons were visiting their only and much beloved grandson in Australia. A holiday of a lifetime and a great adventure. Unfortunately, they were killed in a road traffic accident in Melbourne. At the time I was on an Easter holiday visiting my own parents in Skye and the news was broken to me when I returned to work. So, when you “met” them on Sunday they had been dead for a year. It has taken me this length of time to sort out their estate and I’d only just got around to putting the cottage on the market.”

“But I saw the sign on the cottage on Friday. That’s why I came to your office” said David.

“Yes, and on Sunday I picked up a copy of the schedule. How do you explain that?” asked Ellen.

“Well, that part does have a rational explanation. Prior to their trip to Australia, they had spoken to me about their intention to move to the West Coast. It was just before my holiday, so I left Mrs Galbraith to start the ball rolling. I believe she had provided a draft schedule and contacted the agency that deals with our For Sale boards. They would have gone ahead and erected it. Was it a new board you saw?”

“No, it did look pretty weathered.”

“Well, it had probably been there for over a year and we had forgotten to ask for it to be removed. I’m so glad that you got to meet my dear friends. They were repatriated along with their daughter and grandson who were also in the crash and all are in the Kirkie graveyard. What a turnout that was. They are truly missed. I have no rational explanation for what you experienced on Sunday, but I totally believe you, right down to the hospitality you were shown.

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That was Flora’s life. Her baking and chutneys always won prizes at the summer fayre. Now, after all this if you feel that Green Cottage is not for you then there will be no penalties for withdrawing your offer. If, on the other hand, you’d care to proceed then no-one will be happier than me.”

Offering his hand he thanked them both for their hospitality and asked Ellen to call a taxi for him. Just as he was leaving Ellen said, “I’m so sorry for the loss of your friends but I’m glad you believe us. That scone that you enjoyed earlier. You complimented me on my baking skills. That’s something I’ve yet to master. The scones were handed to me by Flora on Sunday.”

In a truly dazed state Mr McVicar asked the taxi driver to take him to the train station.

For a long time David and Ellen sat facing each other, each lost in their thoughts and recollections of Sunday. They sat motionless until John came running through the door.

“Mum, Dad. I’m home. Did the man say we can have the cottage?”

Ellen spoke first, looking at the remnants of crumbs on the plates and the jar of jam.

“I think the signs are good.”

David looked at their son, winked and said, “It’s all ours if we want it. You’ll need to change cub pack though.”

“Cool with me”.

A short story by Hugh Munro Bio: Hugh Munro is a born and bred countryside lover. Early days confined indoors recovering from Polio therefore a keen book reader, The 39 Steps is a favourite. Likes a good story with a twist at the end. Hugh has incorporated this idea into the short stories he writes. The characters in the stories, or yarns, as Buchan might have called them come from observations of people he has seen and met. He paints a picture of them in words derived from his working life as a barman: in one of the most beautiful areas of Scotland, Glen Affric, The Ben Wyvis and Galley of Lorne in Argyll, Taxi driver as a student at Aberdeen College of Education in his youth and career wise in later years, teacher, media person, photography, and radio presentation for BBC Heartland fm, and East Coast fm. Education conservation and onsite Dementia Fundraising in Supermarkets across Scotland. Loves listening to the telling of stories and the history of Scotland is keenly researched! It all adds up to someone who has a keen sense of humour and comprehensive knowledge of his native country through personal excursions.

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Scotland in Four Seasons Spring 2021

Meet Deerness Distillery Orkney

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hat made you decide to build a distillery in Orkney?

Spontaneous, self-sufficient, and with a little spirit thrown in for good measure – that’s Stuart and Adelle Brown – founders of Deerness Distillery – Orkney’s first distillery for over 130 years. It is here that they produce the only gin and vodka distilled in Orkney. It is the couple’s sense of adventure, combined with a yearning for a more family-friendly way of life, that brought them from the other side of the world in Australia to Orkney’s shores. They explained that Stuart’s work in Australia had meant that he was away for long periods at a time and so they returned to the UK so that they could spend more time together as a family, with their three children So, after Adelle was successful in getting a job with NHS Orkney, they moved to the county and purchased their new home, with just over five acres, in Deerness.

So, how did Stuart, a chartered engineer, working on multimillion-pound plant projects all over the world, and his pharmacist wife, end up designing and building a distillery in Orkney – having only moved here in 2014, three years later they had a plan….. Spirit-making had been a hobby previously, they explained, that just grew into a business idea and so, although the journey into distilling has been something of a whirlwind, from conception to launch in just over a year, the idea has been ruminating for much longer. The couple first designed and constructed the distillery themselves with the assistance of family, friends and neighbours. Construction started in September 2016 and, with the weather on their side, the building was complete in February 2017. During construction much time was also spent researching botanicals and how each would complement each other and affect the overall taste of the finished product.

Why have a deer as your logo when there are no deer in Orkney..?

From the beginning all of their designs have been handcrafted by our designer Caroline, for example, the deer in the distillery’s logo is an original; designed and lino-cut by their designer. The deer logo was inspired by the knowledge that hundreds of red deer bones have been found on the Brough of Deerness and surrounding area, located just a few miles from the distillery. It is surmised that these bones gave the parish its name and hence the distillery’s name, Deerness Distillery.

What’s next for Deerness Distillery?

The distillery is growing with plans to commence a new whisky range (first new whisky distillery on Orkney in over 135 years), using grains grown by our local farmers and malted in house at the distillery. We have a new cask room to be built on site and a new visitor’s area, shop, tasting room and take away tea / coffee and snacks. We have plans for a few more liqueurs, some bespoke gin’s using home grown botanicals from our poly tunnel and some alcoholfree tipples.

There is an intriguing, and ongoing mystery of surrounding the red deer that arrived on Orkney, some 5,000 years ago.

Researchers analysed deer samples from archaeological sites in Orkney and the Outer Hebrides, and found they were probably brought across the ocean by humans from as far away as central Europe. The analysis revealed rather unique DNA sequences. Research continues to discover the source of the unidentified population of deer.

In what ways are you inspired by the island environment?

The Orkney islands life never stops inspiring you, driving and walking around the island is amazing, with stunning scenery, nature and traditions around every corner. We have used that inspiration in our bottle designs, their names and their flavours (Fresh, clean and unforgettable! Just like the Orkney’s). With an island riddled with history from Neolithic, Viking, world wars, fishing and farming there is so much inspiration to choose from!

Can you take us through the process of producing a bottle of gin, from distilling to production?

Producing a bottle of multi-award-winning gin comes from years of experience experimenting with botanicals and understanding food and taste combinations. The creation process - the spirits are distilled by hand and to enable this within the building are three traditional Portuguese handmade copper alembic stills – each have been named!

So there’s “Walt” a 5 litre test still; “Zing” the 30 litre vodka still and “Matilda” the 300 litre gin still. ‘Walt’ is selfexplanatory, with any new recipes being first distilled in a small quantity for blind tasting and evaluating. ‘Zing’ is used solely for distilling vodka, ensuring that there are no traces of botanicals that can interfere with the desired pure taste of the end product. ‘Matilda’ is used solely for the distilling of gin, a process that in total takes around 1 week. The botanicals are added to grain spirit over a 24 hours period before a 12 hour hand controlled distillation process occurs.

During which the still is entirely operated by Stuart, keeping a close eye on the temperature and output of the spirit and in doing so produces a quality artisan gin or vodka. After the resulting vodka and gin is cut with purified Orcadian water (produced by a reverse osmosis system, designed and built by Stuart), which enhances the smooth finish to their spirits the bottling process begins. Each spirit is manually bottled into a variety of sizes; 100ml, 200ml and 700ml and passed down the production line for labelling. Labels are applied, again by hand and the product is the packaged to await delivery to their new homes !

What tipples do you produce, and which are your favourites?

We produce 3 gins (Sea Glass Gin, Scuttled Gin & Vara Gin), 1 vodka (Into the Wild Vodka, UK’s most Northerly distilled vodka) and 1 coffee liqueur (Orcadian Moon coffee liqueur) It is very hard to pick a favourite as it depends on the mood. Spring and summer is G&T / vodka time, whereas winter is coffee liqueur with Espresso Martini’s or spiced hot coffee liqueur, not to mention the cakes, brownies etc you can make.

Our spirits have received many awards over the years including The UK’s best gin, best vodka and Worlds best liqueur in 2019 & 2020 to name but a few.

Visit: https://www.deernessdistillery.com/

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Photograph by Linda Mellor 74

Scotland in Four Seasons Spring 2021

Fish Suppers, Kite Surfers, Prawns & the Moon

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Living inland in rural South Lanarkshire, it has always felt like a treat going for a walk on a beach. The closest beach from Strathaven is Troon. If I’m not out fishing on Saturday with my buddies, then one other treat which I can share with my good lady, is visiting the beach at Troon.

Getting a good walk usually in typical west of Scotland brisk, breezy conditions.

Which is exactly why this beach is so loved by dog walkers, kite surfers and wind surfers alike. Having spent a few weeks in Morocco in my youth trying to become a competent surfer I really appreciate the skills and the drama of kite surfing, and it’s a fantastic subject for photography.

When the wind blows strong the most skilled of them are out flying at death defying heights (looks like 50 feet plus) and with the drama of mountainous Arran in the background and the town to the North, it is wonderful to watch.

When I’m on this beach I like to make sure I’m armed with the camera and the telephoto lens to try and grab the action.

I find Sports photography is tough work as you need to set the camera on a continuous high and just keep shooting 100’s and 100’s of shots until you get one that is worthy. Every once in a while, you get the shot.

Troon also has great cafés, ice cream shops, restaurants, a harbour, marina and a great fish shop where we stock up on Langoustine, Scallops, and other delights when we are there.

The other great highlight for me is, what I believe to be, probably the best Fish & Chip shop in Scotland. The “Wee Hurry” does Lobster Suppers as well as more traditional suppers. All made fresh and to the highest standards. My personal favourite is a Tempura King Prawn Supper. There is a magic to how they fry.”

Alan Scott, words and photograph.

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Tales from a Skye Croft

By Claire Nicolson

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very day, at some point, I look across Isle Ornsay and the Sound of Sleat to Loch Hourn and the wee hamlet of Corran nestled on its shores. Doing so on a late January morning last year, little could I have known that a collie pup was being born who would change my life, bringing comfort, joy and challenges. Fast forward a few weeks during which the world began to change in ways none of us could have predicted, when one Sunday afternoon we set off to collect the tri-coloured bundle to be known as Gryff. As it happened, this turned out to be our last family outing before the March lockdown was announced and talk in the car included the new buzz words: Covid and Coronavirus. Timing, is everything, and in this case, fortuitous: within days, we found ourselves confined to the croft, getting to grips with home-schooling, home-working and getting to know this lively new boy. The hens clucked their disapproval from beneath the old trailer like Morningside ladies at the bus-stops of my youth; the sheep warily eyed him, something in their DNA cautioning them to stay alert; the cows looked down their long noses impassively, reserving judgement. Gryff remained unfazed; I fell in love.

He wasn’t destined to be MY dog: we needed another and had life continued as normal, I would have been involved but in a more secondary role. However, now stationed at home I took on more of the work - with the boys providing exemplary support...manys a Zoom meeting was spent with half an eye on their antics outside!

Gryff was good for us all in this strange new world.

The days lengthened and Skye unfurled and bloomed - in stark contrast to the horrors being reported near and far. The sun shone almost every day, and the peace, quiet and space outside was a calming balm - and quite irresistible when combined with a playful pup!

Quartered in a kennel with one of the other dogs, Gryff was growing into a loveable rogue. He learned to open the front door, inviting himself into the house much to the chagrin of the old Jack Russell who snoozes the days away, the perk of scraps from the table his alone thank-you-very-much.

Lambing came and went, leaving us exhausted but satisfied, the boys dedicated to the six pets that demanded regular feeding Freakshow Frieda, Pretty-Not-Priti, Speckles and Freckles, Black Slash and Not-Dead-Yet - and who all developed an indifference to the attentions of an inquisitive young dog that prevails even now.

Gryff and I bonded over cups of tea on the rock below the house every morning - and every other spare minute I had.

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Scotland in Four Seasons Spring 2021

“how fortunate we were to have had such an overwhelmingly positive experience in these darkest of times”

By now we were experimenting, working with little groups of sheep in the pens or the wee park.

The dark nights arrived along with a new head torch, plans for winter projects were hatched - anything to be outside with my beloved companion! The wind blew, the rain fell, I bought new A real pair of round-up rookies to be sure, though Gryff at least loppers...then a better saw. had generations of bred-in knowledge to draw on. My nights The dark skies of a Skye winter with countless stars enthralled were spent thumbing tattered volumes of Tom Duncan’s and us and one cold and clear evening as I sat on ‘our rock’ gazing David Kennard’s, the latter a hero in our house thanks to his upwards, considering - almost guiltily so - how fortunate we were second-to-none Mist: Sheep Dog Tales children’s tv series. to have had such an overwhelmingly positive experience in these darkest of times when Gryff jumped up behind me. His chunky The hens, amidst noisy disgruntlement, became fair game for a paws engulfing me, head resting on my shoulder, those deep eyes ‘practice sessions’ and security had to be stepped up in the coop peering round, seeking mine and I knew it then: he absolutely when Gryff mastered the catches and could free them at will. was destined to be MY dog.

Fortunately, a mother pine marten nesting nearby with her kits failed to capitalise so the only losses were a few eggs and those the results of occasional, boisterous canine thievery.

By August, we were raking hay in the evening sunlight, thankful for the light breeze that kept the midges away. Then the weather turned and wet spells that in previous years would have seen me retreat to the kitchen, saw me invest in better boots, better waterproofs, sagely nodding in agreement with Billy Connolly: there’s no such thing as bad weather, just the wrong clothes.

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My Outdoors

by Lana Richardson

“It is great to be able to leave the head torch and many layers behind and enjoy the steadily lengthening days and slowly increasing temperatures.

I spent the majority of my thoroughly reminisced childhood being partly ‘feral’, I mainly found myself being free range in the outdoors of the remote Northern reaches of Scotland in Caithness and Sutherland. My days were usually spent trying to stay on a naughty pony, at the right end of a fishing rod or shotgun, on a sandy beach, up a heathery hill or up to some sort of mischief with friends which we would later find ourselves in trouble for.

It all made for great memories.

I feel very fortunate to still be able to immerse myself into nature so effortlessly from my doorstep. My life still very much revolves around my sheer love for the outdoors and this undoubtedly reflects in how I spend most of my time in work and play. During the spring I am able to restart some much-loved hobbies which are temporarily put on pause during the winter months.

The rivers around Scotland are open again after their closed season over the winter months to allow the salmon to spawn. By this time the spring Salmon run is usually well under way, you will most likely find me literally buzzing to get a fly on the water at any given opportunity. Fishing is my main passion which has stuck with me since I was a young girl. I may be biased in stating this, but I believe Scotland to have some of the most rewarding and unique trout and salmon fishing in the world. If you are a keen fisherman or fisherwoman then it is certainly a fantastic place to live. I find fishing for the most part very exciting and full of anticipation but at times very relaxing and a great opportunity to reflect. It is usually at times of reflection I’ll hook a fish, rarely at times of anticipation!

I promise the fish sense when I’m trying too hard.

Near where I am currently based in the Cairngorms National Park, at Rothiemurchus, I have a dear friend who owns and runs a trekking centre with all ponies there being native breeds to Scotland, mainly Highland ponies. With riding from a young age, having my own ponies and working in the equine industry for a while upon leaving school I have encountered and spent time with many different breeds of horses and ponies. Highland ponies are by a country mile the most stubborn, intelligent (not always a good thing) yet unconditionally lovable breed I have had the pleasure to spend time with. The Highland ponies at Rothiemurchus come properly back from their winter holiday in the early spring and I help in my spare time to get them fit for the busy summer ahead. This includes riding out into the heather and through the Caledonian Pines with the stunning back drop of the Cairngorm mountains. The bonus of the springtime being no flies and even worse, midges!

Mountain biking is a more recently discovered obsession of mine. The thrill is like nothing else I have experienced, if you can manage to stay on a notoriously sketchy stretch of downhill single track, it makes for an unbelievable sense of achievement. The Cairngorms has some fantastic bits of downhill and also more mellow mountain bike tracks.

I have, in more recent years, taken to enjoying hill walks and climbing Munros. While growing up I can remember trailing up hills behind my parents, either deer stalking, on dog walks or just for fun. I vividly remember grumbling and whining, ‘’how much further’’ and ‘’can I have a piggyback’’. It is safe to say I have not always been fond of a walk. There is something about being at the top of the hill which gives me complete clarity and a brief moments peace from day-to-day life. The air seems easier to breathe and time seems non-existent, especially on a good visibility day without sideways rain, as Scotland so enjoys gifting us with quite often.

My favourite hill walk so far has to be Morven, it is the highest point in Caithness and on a clear day you really do feel on top of the world. This last while has certainly made me appreciate Scotland and everything it has to offer us more than ever.”

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Scotland in Four Seasons Spring 2021

The Simple Life

By Wills Kass

N

o longer does the ice on the horses trough have to be broken as Spring has arrived.

Spring is the blossoming of new life, and it is a time when I feel at peace and look forward to a busy year in the garden. The buds appear on the trees, the flowers begin to make their return throughout the garden. Spring is my favourite season bringing positivity and new beginnings.

The blanket of snowdrops, daffodils and crocus miraculously begin to appear out of the cold ground throughout January February and March. The excitement never leaves me when seeing the bulbs we have planted the previous year slowly bringing new life into the garden. The thought of colours so bright and the birds feeding on the blossom of the fruit trees is truly inspiring. Appreciating the smallest wonder of nature is so rewarding.

The birds are seeking out their partners and checking out the best bird boxes and trees to build their nests. Sitting listening to all the birds and trying to guess which species/gender they are is a great subject for Lou and I. We can sit out all day watching and discussing the birds activity and it gives us a break in our busy lives. There are two magpies that frequent the garden and sadly they do prey on the new chicks nestling in the trees. This is part of nature and although the thought of them stealing eggs and chicks from other nests, nature is there to be observed. The little quails were taken from their run overnight. The predator probably being a stoat. There is a stoat in the stone pile and now and again it runs through the garden. They are very clever at squeezing through the smallest of spaces. Lou set a live trap, but nothing ever came into it.

The quails provided lovely little eggs, they were ideal for salads. Lou will probably buy more quail shortly when the weather is warmer.

They do not like the cold therefore will not lay eggs.

Work around the garden is an all seasons, ongoing project. January we were busy pruning back the roses as they were dormant.

February/ March is time to remove all the dead leaves and stems in the herbaceous border.

The reason the old leaves are left from previous year is to prevent the cold frost from damaging the roots of the plants. This is out with the old and encouraging the new. Pruning back the trees and shrubs encourages new growth and the plants will flourish throughout their year. The plants are there to help the insects survive.

Our little pygmy goats, Pixie and Pebbles are jumping around so happy that spring is here. We will look forward to the following spring as they both will go on to have kids then. They are so simple to look after and love walking around the decking when we are having coffee. So naturally curious and playful which is why our grandchildren love them so much. Although well known escape artists all gates and fences must be in good order!

Our Christmas tree gets recycled by the goats. The brambles that hang over the fence at the bottom of the garden is a favourite with the goats. Nothing is wasted when the goats are around.

The Highland ponies are slowly losing their winter coats after a very cold winter, but they are so hardy nothing phases them.

There is only one thing that perturbs them and that is the herd of red deer that run through their field at times. Something or someone has spooked the deer that graze in the nearby woods.

The Reds and the Roe deer have been feeding on our left-over apples throughout winter. The damaged apples also feed the birds especially the field fares. Orla and Oscar have a little notebook so I can record all the creatures they see around the garden and fields. It is important for them to learn about nature.

The swans still flying along the field at the bottom of our garden.

They too are preparing their nest although they take their time and sometimes it is nearer June/July when the signets hatch.

Hopefully all signets will survive this year and not succumb to Mr Fox. Looking out the window every morning reminds me how fortunate I am to live in such a beautiful place. A simple life in our beautiful but delicate countryside.

“Looking out the window every morning reminds me how fortunate I am to live in such a beautiful place.”

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Scotland in Four Seasons Summer-time Edition Scotland in Four Seasons is published 4 times each year and we aling with spring, summer, autumn and winter.

The magazine is available in paper and digital formats from our website.

Visit our website www.scotlandin4seasons.co.uk COMING UP IN OUR SUMMER EDITION We explore Fife, and how case it’s coastline, ancient villages, historic nooks and crannies, and talk to those who live and love the Kingdom.

Also, in our Summer issue of Scotland in Four Seasons we meet Artist Catherine King and explore her connection with Scotland.

The Scottish landscape and coastlines are her major sources of Inspiration. She can usually be found with a sketchbook and watercolours on a hillside or beach and in the summer with an easel and Canvas.

This next issue will be packed full of summery content, interesting tales, heart-warming experiences and new discoveries and fabulous photography. Join us!

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It’s a way of life....

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