First Steps ......

towards making sense of the croft by exploring all the way to the loch with plenty of slipping and sliding on the way. Today (Sunday) we created a small set of steps, in the broadest sense of the word, to improve the slippiest bits of the path we have made.  And a rocky step plus handrail / post to avoid a big drop via tree roots.
We have a rocky loch shore complete with stranded jellyfish, rocks and stones, sea pinks  and seaweed plus a great view up and down the loch. 

Lochside just after high tide

The way back up is in there somewhere!

Steps - of a sort - to avoid the sudden slips down.

We have also toiled in the higher woodland to remove dead wood, clear a path, avoid the boggy bits and have trailed twine a la Hansel and Gretl so that we don't get lost on our return. 
There is a huge amount of work to do but at least we have made a start. Of course, to do all of this tools are required so we now have a brush clearer, a D saw and new secateurs. Those plus a spade and lump hammer all have to be carted down and back again. Good exercise for those involved. 

Away from the croft we have visited the Clan Donald centre in Armadale on a glorious late summer day with family who came up for a visit. They arrived to clear blue skies and sunshine which lasted for the whole trip.  We were able to dine on the patio, visit the hills and Portree and went for a lovely meal at the Stein Inn at Waternish. It's not until visitors ask questions like where do you go to buy clothes that you realise just how much our lifestyle has changed. 

We also visited the community woodland at Armadale where there is a trail through an alternative community (and then some) that takes you to an otter hide and a close up view of seal island. We traipsed through the wet wood land, over carefully placed sheep's wool where the ground was very wet (an odd and slightly smelly experience) to the rocks where we could hear the seals before we saw them. The views to the mainland across the Minch were fantastic. 

Mum sitting by the otter hide while the rest of us scrambled to the shore

Across to Knoydart, sea like a millpond today

Before our visitors arrived we have explored Coire na Banachdich then circled back off piste to pick up the track from the ridge to Sgurr Dearg. This was on the midgiest of midge days and we were unable to stop even for a drink so we ran back to the car and had our lunch at home.  

We also  climbed back up the route to Sgurr nan Gillean and went higher than before until we were on the rocky ridge above the Bhasteir gorge. Decided to descend into the gorge, across the rivers - easy with low rainfall levels - and back on the path to the planks we had crossed on our way up. This was a delightful circle, adventurous in places with good views all around. 

Our other venture into the hills was back into Coire na Banachdich where we had "enjoyed" the midge walk, to continue up towards the back wall of Coir an Eich . Up through a rocky cleft, steep on scree and rock and as high as we were comfortable with before stopping for lunch. Some climbers go this way to the Inn Pinn. We sat in howling icy rain to eat our lunch before retreating back to the car. 

The August weather station stats read "raining on 21 (out of 23 days) in August" Snow fell on the Cairngorms, walkers reported hail and sleet on the tops and the temperature fell to below 5 degrees here at Fernilea. It was cool enough to test the fire, which soon warmed us up but doesn't it look good. 

Cosy

We had a week of rainbows, always in the same place across the loch - vivid and beautiful.

Double bow

Full arc

Once our visitors arrived, the weather perked up and summer was on again. 
 
The bikes have been out at last. Tested on the road to Portnalong then down (and back UP) the road to Carbost although I confess to waiting at the top of the Brae (hill) while Gary braves the tourists at the distillery and the steep uphill back to the corner where we pedal back UP to the house. One week wind assisted on the UP, the next wind against. Managed to stay on and pedal both weeks.

Did I mention the chainsaw and maul?  Both have allowed us (Gary) to increase our supply of wood for the winter and with the number of trees to be felled lower down we should have sufficient wood for several years.

Splitting the chainsawed logs with the maul

Next few weeks will bring the Referendum, voting cards safely stashed, very little factual information to assist with decision making. Lots of rhetoric, much emotion and many slogans around. We saw rocks, lamp posts, fences, cars and  boats painted with the YES slogan. The YES people have visited the house with their literature, no sign of the Better Together bunch.

Our local hydro scheme is due to start the building phase soon and we have offered to record progress through a blog. Small scale scheme which will provide income and electricity for the community. A good rate of return on your investment although you have to be a local crofter to participate.

We also eagerly await the first sighting of the Aurora Borealis which is visible on a clear night looking north - if we can stay awake that is. During the clear skies earlier this week we had our first glimpse of the dark skies / stars fro the patio. Amazing. 

Hoping to "map" the woodland so that we can start thinking about what and where soon. 

Also planning on climbing the ridge to view the brave souls attempting Inn Pinn - if we can scramble up. Should make for some good photo opportunities. Will share if we get there.