Isle of Lewis, Scotland

Off to Lewis again, hurray.  Set off at 5.30 am from Taunton with Millie the dog as a companion.  Mum thought Millie would enjoy Scotland.  Arrived in Gretna at 12 pm.  Filled up with petrol and carried on to Moffat for a picnic lunch.  Stopped off at the community nature reserve.  Just managed to shelter while we were deluged with rain and then hail stones.  Sun came out and I walked Millie around the reserve.

Moffat community nature reserve

Poppy at Galvelbeg B & B

Arrived at Galvelbeg B & B at 4pm.  Met by Nigel and Sarah.  Lovely B & B - Millie appreciated the treats given to her by the resident dogs, Murphy and Barley and I enjoyed the homemade shortbread.  Had dinner at the Murray Park Hotel - a good recommendation.  They are dog friendly there too, so I could have Millie in the bar with me while I ate a delicious dinner of fish cakes.


Set off around 9 am for Ullapool with a few stops on the way.  A longer stop at Rothiemurchus near Aviemore to walk Millie.  Arrived at 3 pm and checked in for the ferry.  Walk around the town and added to the local economy at the great bookshop.  An uneventful crossing on the new ferry - Loch Seaforth and arrived safely at ‘Ghinda’, Lochganvich, Lewis.

I stopped here a few weeks ago on my Visual Art weekend with Tanya and Mike.

I didn't notice these pans last time

Daisy field at Rothiemurchus

Another walk for Millie at Little Garve

Does this look like a famous Stout?

Strolled around the castle grounds and Stornoway on Thursday morning and visited the 4 estate agents.  Too early for rentals for November so I have to keep checking their websites.  Met Jenny and Jane for coffee and cakes in Delights and then back to Ghinda.

'Ghinda' tulips

Katie Morag exhibition at An Lanntair, Stornoway

Went to Ness and a quick visit to Europie beach - very windy so continued around the loop to Callanish for coffee.  A short walk for Millie at the stones and returned to Ghinda.  In the evening we all went to Tarbert community centre to see Willie Campbell and the Open Day Rotation.  Fabulous.

Deer in Achmore

I had planned to accompany Jenny and Murdo to meet people off the cruise ship and take them around Lewis.  Due to the weather, the cruise ship didn’t dock in Lewis so Jenny and I went off to Tolsta to see Anne and Donald.  We then walked on the beach.

First flowers of the machair

sheep bone

A good walk at Reef beach in Bhaltos on Sunday.

Millie enjoying her walk in the wind

Neve enjoying her walk too.

Micky joining in the fun

Neve after a last dip in the river

Yet another of  a 'Ghinda' tulip.  Have I mentioned the wind on Lewis?

Aqua fit with Jenny on Monday and lunch at a new cafe on Point.  Must return there to try out their coffee

Swallows at St Columbus church, Point

Millie and I taken by Jenny

To Harris on Tuesday for lunch at the Skoon Art Cafe.  Bought another of Andrew’s paintings.  A quick trip around the island and tea at Hebscape Cafe with a chat with Chris and Darren.  This was the first time for Jenny and Murdo and they were impressed with Darren’s photos.  I bought his book and hope to do a workshop when I finally get to Lewis for the year.

Leverburgh

Taransay from Harris though the car window, hence the tint

With window wound down after the rain stopped

Panorama of Seilebost, Harris

 Jenny accompanied me until Inverness on the way back home on Wednesday.   I left Millie in the car on the ferry so was able to have a good look around this time.  Good journey until the rain came down outside Perth and kept it up until the rest of the journey.  A pile up on A74 meant a couple more hours driving but made it to Lisco Farm,  which is 8 miles off jct 40 of M6 and makes a great stop.  Dog friendly, loads of homemade stuff.  Loved the ginger biscuits.  Great value for money with friendly hosts.  The best bit was coming down to breakfast and seeing proper butter in a dish rather then those horrid pats.  Would definitely stay here longer to explore the Lake District. 

Another long drive back the next day.  I stopped in Keswick for coffee - plenty of barista cafes here and the market was on.  Stopped off for a good walk at Sizergh castle near Kendel then onto the M6 at 13.30.  I had forgotten it was the English half term so it was stop start driving.  I left at jct 15 for Shrewsbury and a detour through Wales.  Still a long drive but better than the motorway.  Back at 9 pm.  Millie slept most of the way.

View from the bedroom window at Lisco Farm

Lucky enough to see the red squirrel in the morning

A quick look at the resident goats before I set off

Not to forget the female goats - blurred due to lack of light

This is on the road from Lisco Farm to the A66

Welsh poppies on the walk at Sizergh castle

The church at Sizergh

View from the church

 Next trip is to Slovakia, a Tatra photography walkshop.  Off on Sunday to Gatwick.

Little Ceste, Wales

Back in Wales, especially for the Wonderwool exhibition.  Decided to spend a week here and found a cottage via Sykes Cottages.  Staying at Little Ceste which is in Powys, about 12 miles from Bulith Wells where the exhibition was on.  (Postal code HR5 3QR)  Accompanied by my mum and her dog Millie.

Arrived at 4pm on Friday 24th April and met by Tony who welcomed us into a charming cottage.  Very peaceful but surrounded by sheep and lambs, so lots of baaing.  If you don’t like sheep and lambs then don’t read any further as there are a lot of photos of these critters in this blog.


After a restful sleep, mum, Millie and I set off for the Royal Wales showground and I spent a lot of money on wool and needles.  Also had a good cup of coffee.  We were only there for about an hour but had a good look around.  Off to Hay on Wye and picked up something for lunch then back to the cottage after the first of many scenic drives, this time via some of the black and white trail. 

On a walk from the cottage on Saturday afternoon

I did warn you about the sheep!

A gamboling lamb!

On Sunday we drove back into England and had coffee at Clun - my own coffee as I thought there wouldn’t be much open.  Had a good drive around and early back to the cottage.  Have had a good couple of walks with Millie from the cottage.  Have to stick to public rights of way, with the dog as we are in the middle of an exclusion zone to protect the red grouse.

Clun Castle -  notice with all the info below

View from the castle

riverside by the car park.

Stopped in Craven Arms and had lunch at the Discovery Centre.  This was taken on a walk from the centre, with Millie.  I like d the chimney.

A blend of a couple of images of a tulip at the cottage

Another walk from the cottage - searching for springing lambs.

We visited Bulith Wells on Monday and found a place for coffee.  Then to Erwood and a wonderful craft centre - new owners.  Back to the cottage for lunch but found I had left mum’s stroller at the craft centre so had to return for it.  Took an hour round trip and it was still where I had left it!

On the way back from the craft centre, we waited for these sheep to pass.

Finally, lambs in spring.

A long and scenic drive on Tuesday to Aberdovey via Aberwithsyth and back via Newtown and Llandrindod Wells.

A heavy frost

Too sunny in Aberdovey for pics.  Took some at the Llandrindod Wells lake.

 Finally made it to Warren Wood which is just off A44 near New Radnor.  Has a spectacular waterfall but it was diminished with the current dry spell.  Still took plenty of images.  Stocked up at Morrisons at Leominster and back to the Cheese making cafe which is on A44 on the way back.  Very good ploughman’s.  Also stopped off at the Water gardens - very good value at £5.  It also has a cafe.

On the way to the waterfall

Millie posing for a pic

Shows we haven't had much rain. 

Some closeups.

Lots of slates with people's names on.

Pics from the Water gardens.

This dome was decorated with wine bottles.

Cuckoo clock run by water but seemed not to be working as it was 1.30 pm when I took this.

More views from the Water gardens

Mum stayed in the cottage for a chill out day.  Millie and I walked to New Radnor across country which took just over 2 1/2 hours.  A little longer coming back as there seemed to be more up hills!  Or maybe I was just tired.

One of two pairs of red kites, I spotted

Views from the walk

More lambs

There were a few showers during the day but this rain hit me at 3pm when I was out in the open.  Luckily it was followed by sun and I dried out by time I reached the cottage.

Back home now.  Scotland is my next trip on 19th May.  Taking Millie with me to meet the collies on Isle of Lewis.