Round-up on leaving Skye

25 October 2005 Off By nonsavant

Now returning to the remainder of my time on Skye at Rubha Phoil. Over the 11 days I spent at the Ru I also coppiced some willow and broom, primarily to allow more light into a herb-growing area. New shoots from the coppiced willow will be woven into a living fence and archway. I visited the Ardvasar community polytunnel and admired the courgettes, some of which must have been around 5 inches in diameter and about a foot long. I also learnt some plumbing and generally helped-out around the place. I had a day off to visit the point of Sleat – great views of Eigg and Rhum.

Looking to the Isle of Eigg from the Point of Sleat

Sandy and I also had a trip to Aberfeldy last Thursday. Sandy was attending the launch of a gardening book which featured the Ru, and it was an opportunity to visit Jacqui Hazzard’s Herbalist’s Garden in Pitnacree. We stayed there on Thursday night, and all three of us visited Culdees on Loch Tay on the Friday. Maryse at Culdees made us feel very welcome, with coffee and lunch, and we had a tour of the site taking in the friendly goats and teepees.

One of Jacqui’s scarecrows in the morning mist

On the way back to Skye, we stopped off to see the Fortingall Yew. It is reckoned to be 5000 years old, making it the oldest living vegetation in the world. Difficult to get a decent photo as it’s heavily protected by a wall and fence. We took the Schiehallion road to Kinloch Rannoch, and then back onto the A9 past the Loch Errochty reservoir.

Loch Errochty reservoir

Beautiful scenery in this area, and the sun setting as we headed towards Spean Bridge was stunning.

Horses in a misty glen near Dalwhinnie

Sun setting over misty glen