Garve & District Community Council: sub committee meeting

Sub Committee: Achnasheen and Garve News & Views

Minutes of meeting held on the 18th August 2010 Achnasheen Village Hall

The meeting was opened by the Chair Harry Grainge.

Present   Gill Ross, Laura Gauna, Alec MacKenzie,  Jim Curry,  Debby Peters,  Jean Bailey,  Kenneth MacLean,   Pam Morrison,  Jackie West,  Helen Grainge,

Apologies from Moira Harris.

Minutes of the last meeting were approved proposed by Gill Ross seconded by Jim Curry.

Jackie asked if she could read the email she had sent to Kenny MacLean on 4\8\10  after the Community Council meeting.

In this she stated that she intended resigning as editor of the News & Views because of comments made at the meeting which raised issues about her professional integrity in a public arena.

For over 35 years she has been a professional in PR, Marketing and sales.She feels the Community Council meeting was not the place to raise these issues, and was offended by the patronising manor of the comments, and felt it a vote of no confidence in her professional integrity. There is a sub committee of the News & Views to discuss these issues.

Kenneth replied that he had apologised to Jackie, and that it was no criticism on her professional abilities, he had been asked by a member of the public about the amount of adverts in the paper. Gill Ross commented this had been discussed at the previous N&V meeting.

The future of the N&V was discussed, Jackie will help the group to set up the paper by advising on layout, and she will edit the September issue to give the team time to organise.  There will be an advert for someone with editorial experience to help in future. Charlotte who does the school page has also resigned. Helen to look into getting someone from the school or parents council to have the school children involved in the paper.

A letter was read by Gill Ross from Moira Harris, in which she stated how lucky we had been to have had such a talented editor.  She also suggested that the AGN&V would be better as an independent newsletter with its own committee.

This had been the expressed opinion of the majority at the meeting.  Jean Bailey stated that there were at least two options: as a sub committee of the CC, or as a charitable trust.
She would find out all the details and let us know what we would need to do.  She also would look into insurance for the printer. There have been problems with payments to HOE for supplies of paper etc. Jean explained it was due to Bank of Scotland errors, the bills have now been paid.

The next N&V meeting will be in Achnasheen Hall on Wednesday 13th October at 7.30 pm.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Friends of the News & Views

The Seligman, van Dedeem, Smith/Verulam and Wilson families

The Aultguish Inn

Evie Urquhart

Mr. Friday

Mr. Monks 

R. J. Macleod

E.ON

Spa Pharmacy

The whole McBurney ‘gang’ from the cottage at Achanalt

The Douglas family (Glencarron)

Peter Burrows-Smith, Richmond

Highland Office Equipment

All N & V advertisers and sales outlets

Garve & District Community Council

Presentation by SSE 3rd Aug 2010

Richard Baldwin and Colleagues of SSE gave a brief presentation and slides at the start of the Community Council meeting at 7.30pm about the proposed upgrade of pylons and sub station at Mossford.  This was followed by a question and answer session with both members of the community council and the public.

Q: CC member. What about the possibility of underwater cable through the Loch?
A:   The problem is the weight of the cable.  This possibility has been looked at.  The difficulty of getting a vessel into the Loch is technically unacceptable.  The time scale for any repair to the cable is the problem and there would be a risk of the circuit being out of commission for months.

Q:  CC member. What about the preferred route nearest to Garve - the removal of trees above the village.
A:  The rebuild would be on the existing lower transmission line mainly between the old pylons; therefore the existing wayleave may require the removal of maybe four or five trees.

Q: CC member.  Was there an option for a line along the Loch side?
A:  It was found to be unfeasible

Q:  Member of the Public.  Why is it possible to underground the cable from Beauly to Denny and not the Mossford line.
A:  To underground the cable would be five times the cost of over head.  Over head is the best option and the benefit would be fewer pylons on the hillside.

Q:  Member of the public.  Are you going to apply to the wind farm developers for funding?
A:  Charges will be passed to the National Grid and the National Grid will charge the developers of windfarms and future wind farms.

The new line capacity will be 400 MW with a spare capacity of 160 MW
The substation will be of metal construction and surrounded by fencing.
The presentation was then concluded.


Draft Minutes
G&DCC Meeting held 3rd August 2010 at Achnasheen Village Hall
PRESENT: Jock Logie, Ruari Matheson, Pam Morrison, Jimmy Ruggles Brise, Jennifer Haslam, Jean Bailey, Jean Hollingdale, Kenny Maclean, Steve Jones, Bob Moir, Sue Tarr, Alex Mackenzie, Robbie Bain (Ward manager) and 18 members of public.

APOLOGIES: Cllr Jean Urquhart.

The Chairman opened the meeting  and gave a welcome to Matilda Urie from Eon; and to Pam Morrison as new member.

Kenny gave a tribute to Doug Winship, a previous chairman, who passed away recently.
Since the last meeting Cllr Jean Urquhart has requested that all Planning and Licensing are to be discussed at the end of meetings in the future.

APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES of the meeting 25th June 2010. Amendments to minutes of the last meeting were discussed. Amendments are:
Steve Jones Vice Chairman was Proposed by Jennifer Haslam and seconded by Jimmy Ruggles Brise.

The Chair thanked members of the community for voting in the CC election.
Achnasheen Primary School should have read that HC are proposing to formally close school, not going to close school.

Lochluichart Windfarm extension – this should read “scoping report” not “application”.

Neighbourhood Watch – Clarify that Ronnie Ross is contact for anti-poaching scheme; suspicious activity should be reported to Police. Pam Morrison also reported that “Geosearch”, an internet based activity requires people to look for clues in specific places (Achanalt being one of them).

Minutes proposed by Jennifer Haslam and seconded by Bob Moir.

MATTERS ARISING:
LITTER IN LAY-BYs:   Still ongoing.  Reply from Network Rail that they have cleared rubbish at Old Church layby. Grudie rubbish – no change. Various Members reported rubbish dumped at Wades Bridge, Little Garve.  A boat and various sorts of rubbish dumped in the old quarry Strathgarve.    ANYONE FOUND DUMPING RUBBISH ON FORESTRY COMMISION GROUND WILL BE PROSECUTED.
Jimmy Ruggles Brise observed that HC cleared a washing machine from Achnasheen promptly.

TRANSERV:  We are to have a representative of Transerv on 5th Oct 2010 to answer concerns for winter gritting and other matters, concerns were raised about Gorstan Junction.

ACHNASHEEN to LUIB ROAD:  Robbie Bain gave an update, two bad sections to be resurfaced this summer.  The nearest section to Achnasheen will not be done this summer but when funding is available – hopefully next year.

HIGHLAND COUNCIL ROADS:  Winter maintenance.  Tec Services reviewing procedures on 23rd September.  Our roads are already Priority One. Summer servicing of gritters is underway.

SIGNAGE LEDGOWAN:  Reported by Jimmy privately no replies so far.

ACHNASHEEN SCHOOL:  Chairman asked Robbie Bain if anything further has occurred.  A Committee meeting of Education, Culture & Sport is scheduled for 5th August 2010 to discuss this issue.  A letter was promised by HC about the tenancy to the occupants, nothing has been received to date.  Concern was noted for the tenants.

GARVE PLAY AREA:  G&DCC letter is with the Highland Council property dept, awaiting reply.
JAM JARS:  Many thanks for all jam jars received.

COMMUNITY COUNCIL FILES:  All files have now been received by Secretary. Kenny thanked Jimmy Ruggles Brise for arranging handing over of CC paperwork from Donald Northwood. Six Very Large boxes.  Jean does not have the room to store these in the right conditions therefore she asked the CC members if they would agree that Sue could store them for her.  All members agreed.

PRESS RELEASES: It was noted that an article in the Ross-shire Journal quoted “Achnasheen Community Council”. It was agreed that the chairman should be the only CC member to give press release. Anyone being contacted by the media should refer it to Chairman.

TREASURER’S REPORT: Jean Bailey reported that changeover of signatories not yet complete.
CC Balance - £1092.51; Senior Citizens - £910.71; War Memorial - £156.78; News and Views - £1258.79 .
HC Grant has not arrived yet – Robbie Bain to check.

FUNDRAISING:  Kenny suggested a Bingo night and he will check out dates.

NEWS AND VIEWS: It was confirmed that the photocopier belongs to CC therefore Trustees needed to be appointed. It was agreed by all that the Chairman and Treasurer be appointed. Kenny raised issue of the CC having two email addresses; it was agreed to use one (gdcc@fsmail.net) and Jackie West to put this in the News and Views. As a new CC, clarification was sought on various matters to do with the News and Views.

DIGITAL TV: the meeting was reminded that Rosemarkie analogue transmission switch off takes place on 6 Oct to 20 Oct.

WINDFARM COMMUNITY BENEFIT: Robbie Bain gave update on HC negotiations with Lochluichart Windfarm on Community Benefit.  HC and Infinergy have reached an agreement but haven’t got to stage of legally signing. The rate agreed is: £2750 per installed megawatt plus 3% increase per annum from date of commissioning for 25 years. No details of how the money is shared have been decided (this will be a community decision).
No negotiations so far with E-On re Corriemoillie Windfarm. Matilda Urie stated that E-On would like to know if CC wants to negotiate through Highland Council or direct with E-On.
Sue Tarr proposed that decision on negotiation re Corriemoillie Windfarm be deferred until next meeting to allow both the CC and members of the community to gather information. Seconded by Steve Jones and unanimously agreed.
To this end a sub committee was formed - Steve Jones, Jean Bailey and Kenny Maclean. Liaising with Robbie Bain (HC) and Matilda Urie (E-On). This sub committee will also gather information re Lochluichart Windfarm Community Benefit.
Steve Jones proposed that the sub committee approach Scottish Communities Foundation and other organisations for information and with the view to arranging a public presentation. Seconded by Bob Moir and unanimously agreed.

BROADBAND CHALLENGE FUND: Sue Tarr had enquired locally about broadband speeds in the area. Achnasheen and Aultguish exchanges have poor broadband and outlying areas of Garve Exchange (Garbat, Lochluichart, Achanalt) also have low speeds. Agreed to submit enquiry to Broadband Challenge Fund to see if it is feasible to improve local broadband through this scheme. Bob Moir agreed to lead application, Sue to assist.

CORRESPONDENCE: Some items left over from previous CC:
SNH – Fannich Hills Site of Special Scientific Interest (26/05/10); Planning Application (11/06/10) – GG Mackenzie; ILM Highland Fliers; Play Eqpt info; NHS Highland voices News; NHS Team Update Annual review; Consumer Focus Scotland advert; Annual Report 2008/9 Scottish Health Council; SEPA Review magazine; HC - CC review (04/03/10); HC – Budget brief; HC – CC Boundary Changes.

Items for current CC:
Planning Applications – nothing; E-on Drop-in for 18th Aug 2010 Achnasheen and Garve; Did You Know? Leaflets and poster; PDF file – re Achnasheen School; PDF file – Micro-generation on non-domestic buildings; NHS Team Update; News- Funding for broadband; Draft Mins from Torridon & Kinlochewe CC and Lochbroom CC and Shieldaig CC; Network rail Info sheet; Highland Environment Newsletter; HC Development Plan Scheme 2010; SEPA View magazine.

AOB: Offlets at Grudie – not cleared.
Trees under power lines in Garve – Bob has reported to Hydro. Hydro is going to ask HC for permission to cut or remove these trees.

Station Rd – Garve Level Crossing – Overhanging trees obscuring view for vehicles leaving Station Rd properties. Secretary to get in touch with Transerv.
Issue raised about speed at Strathgarve T-junction.

Tourist Information Notice Board at Garve Village Hall – Robbie Bain to look into possibility of removal.

Gorstan sign - Needs replacing. Robbie Bain to deal with.

Paper Recycling Bin at Achnasheen – needs emptying on a more regular basis. Robbie Bain to look into.

Smiley Speed Sign – There is a waiting list. Suggested that Garve and Achnasheen request one week each. Robbie Bain to pass on.

2 Community Benches – Not ready yet. Jock Logie to approach Einir Winship’s brother about Doug’s request for a third bench.

Achanalt Station – Pam reported that the lights are on 24hrs a day. She will phone Network Rail.

Kenny Maclean proposed that CC have monthly meetings; Jimmy Ruggles Brise seconded and all agreed.

Dates as follows:
Tues 7th Sept 2010 at Achnasheen; Tues 5th Oct 2010 AGM at Garve (NB earlier time of 7pm); Tues 2nd Nov 2010 at Achnasheen and Tues 7th Dec at Garve.

PLANNING – no planning applications.
Matilda Urie (E-on) stated that amendments to Corriemoillie plans will not be available until Oct 2010. The drop in day is 18th Aug (Achnasheen and Garve).
SSE Pylon Line – Agreed to send a letter requesting that SSE consider underground / underwater cables.
Lochluichart Windfarm Scoping report – it was agreed that CC should send letter stating that the windfarm had been approved on the basis that the number of turbines was reduced to 17; an extension would go against that policy.

LICENSING – none.

Date of next meeting – 7th Sept Achnasheen Village Hall at 7.30pm. All welcome to attend.

Chairman closed meeting at 11.25pm.


Agenda for next meeting:           
Tuesday 7 September, Achnasheen Village Hall, 7.30pm
Apologies
Approve the minutes of the last meeting
Matters arising from the last minutes
Treasurers Report
News & Views
Broadband
Correspondence received
AOB
Community Benefit Fund
Planning & Licensing applications
Date of next Meeting

In Brief

*Animal rights campaigners were heartened to learn of the WORLD FLOUNDER CHAMPIONSHIPS demise.  A competition, which ran for forty years, involved wading into the muddy waters of Galloway’s River Urr and stamping on the hapless fish in order to catch them.  This had to stop because Health and Safety demands for Insurance Cover became too expensive.

*At the Kelso Country day the wet weather did little to dampen the spirits of the trusty sheep dogs and shepherds (as far as I could see) and the day was enjoyable as ever!  At the Sutherland show I saw a champion Aberdeen Angus bull whose every inch shone like polished ebony and at Grantown Show we watched as the Dingwall breeder of a huge honey of a British Limousin cow led her and calf round the ring, displaying her ribbons as Overall Champion.  No wonder her owner was beaming broadly – he had the same success at the Black Isle Show during the previous week.

*The Caledonian 100 takes place on 2nd and 3rd October.  Walking and running enthusiasts can attempt 100 kilometres in 36 hours or lesser challenges of 50kilometres in 24 hours and 75 kilometres in 36 hours.  The event format is for teams of adults – minimum 4, maximum 6.  The route is through “the most stunning, remote and rugged landscapes the Highlands can offer”.  Think Cairngorms and Mt. Lochnagar.  Unfortunately (?) the closing date for entry was 31st July but those struggling to make a team can find help on line at SOLEMATES!

*My daughter’s plane from Gatwick suffered a lengthy delay due to the pilot being trapped in a motorway traffic jam.  This event reminded me of a bus driver’s story which told of his colleague’s need to spend the night in Inverness in order to be on time to drive the early bus to Edinburgh.  Static traffic in the Kessock Bridge area had just held us up in the most nerve-wracking manner.  My friend had a plane to catch......

*I quote a letter writer in a Scottish paper, “Surely it is time we had a National Task Force of experts in power-generating ungoverned by short-term political or commercial pressures”.  I couldn’t agree more.

*More than a third of customers questioned said they thought it too much hassle to complain about UK Broadband problems and another third didn’t have faith (so that’s what’s needed?) that Broadband providers could resolve their complaint anyway.  Ofcom announced that new regulations will make it easier to get help from 2011.  Hang on in there if you must!

*The RSPB has won funding for a “goose management” programme until 2013.  Recruiters are looking for Goose-scaring Field Operatives and will pay £9.00 an hour in Stornoway or £13.00 an hour to a Goose Scaring Co-ordinator on Uist.  Perhaps experience in other busy work-places would help you qualify for the job?

*It has been revealed that hundreds of retired teachers were brought back into classrooms last year.  As the government have cut hundreds of teaching posts it is now harder than ever for graduates to find employment.  This is tricky as new teachers (probationers) need the support of experienced teachers in our schools.  Understaffing is not the answer.

*It seems I was not alone in praising Eurostar and St. Pancras Station.  Katherine Whitehorn mentioned them amongst her “Reasons to be Cheerful” programme on Radio 4 and a neighbour said that whenever they travel to King’s Cross Station they start the day in nearby St. Pancras.  Also, I read in The Lady magazine a review agreeing with Katherine Whitehorn’s comments on the programme.

*A life-saving device has been developed by a Scottish engineer.  The device can warn skippers that their vessel is about to capsize due to excess water or excessive loads being taken on.  A red light and an audible warning alert the crew to take preventative measures and/or contact emergency rescue services.

*I think that, come winter, I will appreciate the insulation that has been applied in the loft of my house, but I suspect that during this summer the house has felt chillier inside due to losing the benefit of solar heat onto the roof tiles.  Yes, the sun did not shine all the time but I would not normally have needed to supply indoor warmth during mid-summer.
After the structure of The National Trust for Scotland was described as ‘Byzantine’ the number of NTS Trustees will be cut from 87 to 15.  There will also be a recommendation that ruins such as Strome Castle (NW Highland) should be transferred to Historic Scotland.

*“Vegetables don’t come much more stately than globe artichokes” began an article in Gardens monthly.  Well, I’m on my second attempt to grow them after reading that they will tolerate some shade in their first season.  I have 4 plantlets lurking behind some sweet peas this year so perhaps if I get them through the winter (they die down) I can grow sweet peas somewhere else and let them see the sun.

*Have you noticed how descriptive some well-known gardeners’ names are?  Pippa Greenwood (double whammy there), Bob Flowerdew, Anne Swithenbank, Bernard Planterose, Rosemary Verey and Bill Sowerbutts, my favourite of all.  Can you add to these bird names too?  Sarah Raven and Joe Swift.

*Bees have been the subject of environmental concerns these last few years so it was great to see them enjoying the flowers again, although reduced in number.  A young man I know who strims a lot of lawns used to wait patiently for the bees to fly off but now he thinks of them as B*** Bees as there are now masses of them, particularly on clover which has bloomed well this year.

*If you have time when passing The Old Church, Achanalt, please look on the table, outside the wall under ancient trees, for seedlings and plantlets which are rescues and surplus to requirements!  Donations (£1.00) in aid of the Senior Citizen Fund.  Hope you can use some of them profitably.

Pam Morrison

Memories of Skye

My Sheffield friend rang to tell me that in her daily paper Glenbrittle Campsite headed a list of the Ten Best Camp Sites in Britain. She laughed as she told me, because many, many years ago she, and her husband, had accompanied my husband, myself, and our baby daughter, on a camping holiday to Skye.

Glenbrittle was just a ‘place’ where the beach joined the hayfields with their very handy stooks to hide behind.  It was September, we saw the ‘tops’ of the Coulins for less than five minutes in two weeks.

However, my husband took me on my only serious climb and I remember the climb, the traverse taking in three tops and the thigh and knee shuddering descent down the great stone chute of Sgurr Alasdair.

Down we came, soaked to the skin, to where four friends had taken admirable care of our baby.

I donned a swim suit and ran into the sea for a swim.  The water felt so warm and I have never forgotten that day.

Pam Morrison

Going home: a journey of discovery in the wild places

“The place which you have selected for your camp, though never so rough and grim, begins at once to have its attractions, and becomes a very centre of civilisation to you: Home is home, be it never so homely.” (Henry David Thoreau, 1817 – 1862, US philosopher, author, naturalist).

When I tell people that I enjoy wild camping, I am often met with bemused looks and bewildered attitudes. Why would someone choose to head off into the wilds for a few days and nights with a heavy backpack? It’s not surprising that the potential effort and discomfort involved combined with an unpredictable UK climate should illicit an unfavourable response.

It seems so clichéd to say that our lives are full of meaningless distractions which manifest themselves in materialism, consumerism, Z-list celebrity worship and so on but maybe there is some mileage in the cliché.

Here I am, for example, chained to a laptop computer that rules my life because I allow it to. I’m also submitted to a daily onslaught of media mumbo-jumbo and that’s before I’ve read a newspaper or switched on the TV. Add to the equation messages via mobile phone, email, Facebook (I draw the line at twittering – it’s what birds do) that require action plus the deluge of information about what I should have in my home/eat/wear/look like/think/ blah, blah, blah. And how many hours do we all waste forced to be in the company of those people who, quite frankly, drive us to distraction?

However, this is not a rant against society as I freely choose to engage in all the above. Let’s face it, there are currently far worse issues in this world which I can honestly say, hand on heart, I am not solely responsible for – global economic meltdown, the destruction and plundering of the planet, horrendous natural disasters, mass poverty, to name but a few. But how does camping in the wild fit into this extraordinary jigsaw?

Wild camping allows me to re-connect with nature, our true habitat. We recently spent two nights at Sandwood Bay, that wonderful stretch of beach on the north-west coast offering majesty, grandeur and seclusion. Arriving at the bay after a 4 mile walk, a suitable site was located for a temporary home and the camp set up.

Gradually we were absorbed by the beauty of the surroundings plus the fact that there were no obvious signs of mans’ presence – no fencing, walls, telegraph poles, pylons, turbines, buildings, shops, cars, signage, just fragmented flotsam and jetsam presented by the tide. On the water, gannets and cormorants displayed their unique fishing skills. Slowly, one’s senses started to tune into sounds – the music of the inevitable ebb and flow of the sea, a gentle breeze sighing amongst the sand dunes and machair, the cry of oystercatchers and seagulls at the water’s edge and gossiping stonechats perched on grassy hillocks. Then one noticed the kaleidoscopic light display on the ancient Torridonian rock and Lewissian gneiss as the pink-red-orange sun lowered itself below the horizon.

Night didn’t fall but instead we were shrouded by summer’s half-light. By morning, we were a tiny part of this wild place, our alarm call replaced by the continuous song of ascending larks and the relentless North Atlantic Sea.

Wild camping also highlights how little we require materialistically to comfortably exist on this planet. In July we walked Wainwright’s Coast to Coast from west to east, dipping our boots first in the Irish Sea and twelve days later in the North Sea. We camped in a different location every evening, having covered sixteen miles each day.

One soon appreciates the simple necessities: a waterproof shelter, warm, dry clothes and sleeping bag, a good book, pencil and paper to write/sketch with, a lightweight stove to cook and brew hot drinks on and some basic cooking utensils. As for food, a one-pot pasta meal followed by a mug of tea and a bar of chocolate tastes like cordon bleu Michelin-star cooking after a long day’s walk carrying the equivalent of a small child on your back. This nomadic lifestyle dispenses with the physical and mental clutter we amass and carry around with us from one day to the next and there is soon a realisation that so much extraneous stuff in life is really of little consequence.

Different wild camping sites also offer situations that we wouldn’t experience in our permanent home. This year alone we have camped in the snow-covered Fannichs at 2500 ft above sea-level, next to the large, remote Haweswater reservoir in the Lake District, amongst the heather-clad Yorkshire moors, overrun with grouse, in the shadow of a 17th century stone bridge that once serviced a bustling but now disused leadmine and in forests and fields, by rivers and lochs. From within the tent I’ve witnessed all manner of weather conditions and listened to rain and wind lashing at its protective shell.

I’ve seen extraordinary skies, shooting stars and sharp crescent moons. I’ve watched a mole dig a hole 2 feet from the tent, a gaggle of geese take their evening constitutional on a lochan, a large flock of starlings darken the evening sky, admired the graceful leap of a roe deer and listened to and spotted a whole host of different birds, too numerous to mention here.

Every morning, as we pack up our transient home and its basic contents, all that remains is a flattened area of grass, heather or bracken, the only evidence of our brief stay. We leave with a tinge of regret, having become familiar with and comfortable in our surroundings and knowing that we probably will not travel along this way again.

Within our small yet civilised home, our lives, however, have been enriched that little bit more by the experience, as expressed in this final word from Thoreau: “I went into the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived”.

Moira Harris

Lochside

A great finish to July – and the start of August.

Like everyone else, including the birds and animals, I’m still waiting for summer to arrive, instead of endless cloudy, wet and windy days! So on the last day of July, it was either staying in again, watching athletics, or going out fishing in the rain. An easy choice for me, so out I finally went at noon.

Arriving at a spot on the loch where I had seen signs of pike movement earlier in the week, I cast out a large, whole Tesco mackerel which had, with a couple of its mates, been in the ‘bait department’ of my freezer for almost a year!

Within a few seconds of it hitting the water and as I put the rod down in the rest, the float vanished. Thinking it had been pulled under by the wind on the choppy water and needed an adjustment, I picked up the rod and surprisingly felt a pull on the line. As the line continued through my fingers and with no sign of the float, I still had no idea of the size of the fish on the other end. Any pike from 3lbs up could have grabbed the bait by the head and made off into the weeds.

As I only have the welfare of the pike at heart, I first use one single hook in the tail of the bait so when swallowed head first, as all pike do, the hook is invariably in its jaw, not in its throat and stomach area, as occurs when numerous hooks are festooned into a bait!  (Real anglers take note, please!)

Finally, the line stopped a good 50 yards away. I struck, the rod was bow-shaped and a very large fish was on. The weight on the line became increasingly heavy, picking up a mass of weed as the pike went up and down the loch 100 yards at a time. By this time I had seen the size of it as it leapt high, shaking its head, with the bait hanging outside its mouth. I could also see just how much weed was attached to the line. Would the line break?

But at last the pike was in the net, the hook in jaw removed, weight 9.5 kilo, photos taken (weed weighed 14lbs!) and back ‘she’ went (all the large pike are female). Half an hour later, using the same bait cast in the same spot, another pike was produced, weighing 15.75lbs!  Pushing my luck, I cast the now tattered mackerel bait into the same spot and had three runs in twenty minutes, all of which were dropped (probably just a small pike or a trout having a go).

The next day, August 1st, saw me rowing down the loch for a couple of miles with a light spinning rod, hoping to catch a trout. I watched an osprey scouring the water for fish for nearly an hour without a catch, flying high and low over the area by Lochluichart Station. I also had no luck spinning and had seen no sign of a fish, although on such a nice evening, trout should have been rising for flies all over the place!

On the 4th, another 20lb-plus came to the net, the only bite all day. This required a 1lb trout given to me last year but it did the trick, on a breezy, overcast day.

On the 12th, pulling into a reed bed, a duck flew up.  Taking a closer look, I saw its mate on a nest, staring at me with her bright red eyes but making no attempt to move. I carefully backed away and left this brave little duck to sit on her eggs in peace.

Again, I’ve had no sightings of otters although their spraint is obvious in places along the lochs. A few weeks ago an eagle was seen along the River Bran where I came across three dead sheep and a deer, but I haven’t been back since.

Friday 13th proved to be unlucky as another large pike was on, only for the trace to break, very unusual, but a kink in the wire was the likely cause.

Opposite where I was sitting, six crows were hovering over the heather and bracken, making the usual ‘cawing’ sound. All was peaceful  until suddenly all hell broke loose and they appeared to be screeching at and ‘mobbing’ something on the ground. Five of them flew up several feet. Then the sixth tried to take off from a mound of ledge in the heather with what looked like a small rabbit.

It became clear that an animal was clinging to the crow and bringing it down.  The crow couldn’t take off and disappeared out of sight into the heather, while its five mates were swooping and screeching. They eventually gave up and flew off.  Number six never reappeared. Whatever had grabbed it was too small for a wildcat and too big for a weasel – maybe a stoat or a mink, who knows?

I left my rods and had a walk around to the other side but only found three feathers! Two things were unusual about the incident:  I’ve never seen six crows together, nor so low down.  Usually one or two just fly high overhead so it will remain a mystery!

I finished the week fishing in gale force winds one minute, then blue skies and hot sun the next! Also, the wind changed from the east to the west around 4.00pm and three pike, 19.5lbs, 9lbs and 20lbs respectively, came in the period between 4.00pm and 5.00pm.  A phase in the moon?  Or just the old saying, “The fish bite best when the wind’s from the west?”

More next time.
David Willis

Thanks from E.ON

E.ON Climate & Renewables would like to thank everyone who came to the proposed Corriemoillie wind farm information sessions held on 18 August in Garve and Achnasheen. We presented our plans to over 40 people highlighting the decision to share access with the consented Lochluichart Wind Farm - this would minimise the impact on the environment and the community.

If you were not able to attend the sessions, or would just like to comment, please contact Matilda Urie, Corriemoillie wind farm project developer at matilda.urie@eon.com or write to:

Freepost RRSE-KZCU-AZJL, Matilda Urie, E.ON,

Westwood Way, Westwood Business Park,

Coventry, CV4 8LG.

From the Manse

Forward with Scotland’s Past!
The  Battlefield Band used this as their slogan -telling the traditional tales of Scotland and more with a modern twist to the music. But the past is somewhere that not all folk are happy to think about. The past “is a foreign country” as one historian put it. Lenin himself indeed sneered about Scotland that “it lives off its past and Mr Carnegie.”

Lenin got it right, in so far as history is big attraction for many who visit our country. No cruise ship arrives at our coast without a tour to a castle, or a battlefield. Our history then is important economically, but also there is a fascination with how folk lived.

This summer we called at the excellent Highland Folk Museum at Newtonmore. The best bargain in Scottish tourism (it’s free). The buildings collected from all over the Highlands remind you, if your are a bit older, of childhood days.

The 1930’s schoolroom had a thing that looked like an iPad. You could write on it but it didn’t need electricity. The slate and pencil must have been a bit noisy compared to an iPad! And further back in time there is a village of black houses, with their smoking peat fires central in the floor and their cosy thatch roofs. There is also a mid 20th century farm with the machinery and housing of a passing age. How small tractors were.

Scotland’s Gardens
For other tourists to visit to a beautiful garden as well as a castle is their pleasure. Indeed keen gardeners often buy the Scotland’s Garden scheme book, the guide to gardens open each summer. They go for inspiration and relaxation to gardens great and small but all lovingly cared for.

Finally, this summer after years of passing by Anna and I visited Attadale gardens at Strathcarron. No wonder the readers of Gardners’ World named it top in their ‘favourite to visit ‘ list. It was a sun drenched day we called and the setting and structure and above all the planting, so imaginatively restored since the great gales, made it a magical day. If you have never been it is open until 31st October (closed Sundays).

Sacred Scotland
Scotland’s Churches run a scheme similar to the Gardens. Area guides detail many of our churches from all denominations. Some are open regularly, others on specific days often at the same time as a local garden. For many a call to the key holder is needed to gain access. I have just added Lochluichart Kirk to the scheme. If you have access to the web it can be found at www.sacredscotland.org.uk

The details found online are not in print yet as the Highlands guide doesn’t get published until next year so it is still a work in progress. I have however discovered that the church cost £1,689.3s.3d to build.

Churches are part of the fabric of Scotland’s identity with many links to our history they are also sacred places pointing  to the Christian heritage of our land. There will always be change of course but the witness to Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour in the lives of people also found expression in the buildings small and large that to this day brings people together for regular worship as well as the great events of life and death. We lose something special when a church closes.

And finally...St Finnan’s Church
Thanks to those who gave me further information about he site of St Finnan’s church at Garve. The evidence was staring me straight in the face. KILLIN FARM of course this is Cill Fhinn, the church of St Finnan.

In Watson’s Celtic Place Names he notes that Loch Garve is still called Loch Maol Fhinn ‘Finn’s servants loch. He goes on to say there is a Gaelic saying that this church was one of the oldest in Scotland “Cill-Phinn; Cill-Duinn; Cill Donain, na tri cilltean is sine an Albainn”  “Killin, Kildun, Kildonan, the oldest cells (Churches) in Scotland”

Fraser Stewart

Out and Abourt - diary of events: music, games, markets, fairs and more...

October and November


OCTOBER:
Sa 2    Strathpeffer C. Centre Village Market 9.30 – 12.30
Tu 5    Poolewe Market 10.00 – 2.30
Fr 8     Ullapool Guitar Festival Macphail Centre to the 10th
Sa 9    Dingwall Farmers’ Market 9.00 – 2.30
Tu 12  Poolewe Market 10.00 – 2.30
Th 14  The Animals – Strathpeffer Pavilion 8.00
Sa 16  Strathpeffer Community CentreVillage Market 9.30 – 12.30
Tu 19  Poolewe Market 10.00 – 2.30
Th 21  Catherine Wheels children’s theatre group – Strathpeffer 10.30 and 1.30
Th 21  Brendan Shine, musician, Strathpeffer Pavilion 8.00
Tu 26  Poolewe Market 10.00 – 2.30
Th 28  Brabants Wind Quintet Torridon Hall 7.30
Sa 30  Rave On, Buddy Holly tribute Strathpeffer Pavilion 7.30 November

NOVEMBER:
Sa 6    Strathpeffer Community Centre Village Market 9.30 – 12.30
Sa 6    Exclusively Highlands Craft Fair and Su 7th – Strathpeffer Pavilion
Sa 13  Dingwall Farmers’ Market 9.00 – 2.30
Th 18  Art Fair Strathpeffer Pavilion to Su 21
Sa 20  Strathpeffer Community Centre Christmas Market 9.30 – 12.30
Sa 20  Echoes of the Mod Ceilidh Dance – Poolewe Hall 7.30
Sa 27 WCA  St. Andrew’s Night Celebration – Gairloch C. Hall 7.30