Aultbea...NW Scotland

JohnC6

JohnC6

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We arrived Friday afternoon. Last night, at 10.15pm..sunset was 10.27..about a dozen red deer came into the field next to our accomodation. They were about 75m away. It was dusk and we didn't have any lights on whilst watching them but a stag saw us. It looked directly at us. We didn't move and eventually it got back to grazing. There were about three stags with fantastic sets of antlers. I've only seen one once before....18 years ago on Mull. I've never seen a herd of them before. After about 15 minutes they all left the field and 'walked' along the narrow road out of sight. one jumped over the fencing into a field. Shortly afterwards...still some light left..along came a barn owl. It came within 25m of the house. It seems that they are scarce round here and prefer inland farmland. Some of the visitor book entries mentioned it and the deer., too. Also otters on the shoreline. The lady next door..family from Kent..said she saw one at 8.00am this morning, just off the shoreline.

This morning we took a short walk..still a bit knackered after the journey here..and saw lots of oystercatchers and ringed plovers all walking on the shoreline rocks. A small flock of rock pigeons hung around,too. An arctic tern flew over a few times. These are what we've seen but my wife's Merlin app identified others. She's unable to access 'history' on the app which I find surprising.From memory I think a sanderling was on the list, an eider duck and a white wagtail. Right now it's windy and pouring down so I don't expect to see the deer nor the barn owl this evening. The photos of barn owls I've seen on here have been taken during daylight hours. I just enjoyed the moment re the deer and barn owl. The forecast is,unfortunately, for more rain with sunshine not coming uhtil Wednesday. A case of 'better late than never'. The weather/temperature...currently 14C, is another reason I wouldn't want to life up here.
 
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Hope you get camera ready in case the deer come again.
Last time I was in that "area" I was five years old and staying in a caravan in Scourie. My dad was a keen fisherman and did his best to teach me how to fly fish, now, 68 years later, I still can't cast properly.
Think Scourie is maybe 90 minutes north of Aultbea.
Hope you get a chance to get the deer shot.
Oops, meant to ask , how are the midges?
Enjoy your break.
 
We like it over that side of the country, there's a viewpoint on Aird Point looking across to Isle of Ewe where we sometimes stop for lunch on the Gairloch - Poolewe circuit. For us it's not the weather that would stop us living there, we like the cooler temps, it's the long way from anywhere and lack of decent broadband.

The weather forecasts have been particularly crap this last couple of years. I look for nicer spells for when I can think about a good long walk or a hill, and it always changes through the days leading up, and even on the morning. Then it rains anyway! We haven't had much of a dry spell since January.

Anyway, have fun and get out and about anyway!
 
john1953 said:
Hope you get camera ready in case the deer come again.
Last time I was in that "area" I was five years old and staying in a caravan in Scourie. My dad was a keen fisherman and did his best to teach me how to fly fish, now, 68 years later, I still can't cast properly.
Think Scourie is maybe 90 minutes north of Aultbea.
Hope you get a chance to get the deer shot.
Oops, meant to ask , how are the midges?
Enjoy your break.
Click to expand...
Yes..I have my 7D11 with the Canon 100-400 mk11 on the tripod. Also have a Sigma 150-600 for the shoreline ringed plovers.oystercatches which I hope to get on Wednesday when the elusive sun makes an appearance. Thursday,too.

We brought two cans of midge spray and a tube of Antisan for any bites. I've only seen one insect on the windows and that was just a regular one probably wanting to come in out of the rain and wind...lol. I'd forgotten about the midges.. Looks like we're midge-free.

www.smidgeup.com

The Scottish Midge Forecast

The Scottish Midge Forecast uses data from biting midge traps and mini-weather stations across Scotland to give you a view of midge levels in Scotland.
www.smidgeup.com www.smidgeup.com

As life has it, next week is wall to wall sunshine but we'll be at Southerness, Solway Firth, for another week. RSBP Mereshead is quite close by.
 
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BethAtTheHug said:
We like it over that side of the country, there's a viewpoint on Aird Point looking across to Isle of Ewe where we sometimes stop for lunch on the Gairloch - Poolewe circuit. For us it's not the weather that would stop us living there, we like the cooler temps, it's the long way from anywhere and lack of decent broadband.

The weather forecasts have been particularly crap this last couple of years. I look for nicer spells for when I can think about a good long walk or a hill, and it always changes through the days leading up, and even on the morning. Then it rains anyway! We haven't had much of a dry spell since January.

Anyway, have fun and get out and about anyway!
Click to expand...

I've been saying we are in Aultbea but we are a mile or two on at Ormiscaig and the Isle of Ewe is right across the water. We went for a meal last night at the Aultbea hotel..just down the road and are there again on Wednesday. I have good binoculars..Swarovski... so keep an eye on the shoreline birds and wildfowl from the house. Must be about 30-50m away.

Here's the accomodation. The deer and Barn Owl visit the field to the side. It's nearer than the photo suggests. I'm writing this post sitting on the dark blue sofa...lol.

blisshaus.co.uk

Luxury Accomodation and Amazing Views on the shore of Loch Ewe - Bliss Haus

Perfectly placed to immerse yourself in the wilderness and the many outdoor activities and adventures on offer in the Highlands. Bliss Haus sleeps up to 4 people: 2 in the king-size master bedroom with en-suite and 2 in spacious bespoke steamer style bunks.
blisshaus.co.uk blisshaus.co.uk

I was chatting with tarric in the WAMT thread about the wi-fi. The tv runs on it and it keeps dropping out. I agree. It's too remote. Well, that's some comfort knowing the recent summers haven't been good. We can't go out walking because when it's not proper rain it's that soak-through drizzle and constant wind. Tomorrow the wind will be 25mph with 40mph gusts. I've only seen one yacht on the loch. A moment ago the sky began to brighten up but now the rain is back..we see it coming across the water from the Isle of Ewe.

This is an excellent forecast site we were told about yesterday. Really detailed.

 
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Just checked accomodation no availability until 31st Oct, be safe from guisers where it is. Full availability for November, could be lovely to be there with a sprinkle of snow, assuming roads were clear enough for journey in and out. Good lady and I have a monthly trip, nothing confirmed for later in the year, will have the chat.
The dropping out of tv due to internet wouldn't be a problem for me, good lady may feel differently. Films or tv series would overcome that , and in November it will be dark by 5pmish if not earlier, ideal to binge watch a series over a glass of wine.
Don't know what is wrong with my phone, smileys not working for me.
Look forward to seeing your photos.
Once again ......ENJOY.
John
 
Unfortunately John you arrived with some rough weather.

Apologies if you already know the following but a couple of nearby good places, IMO, are the beaches at Mellon Udrigle(minor road leading to it is at Laide a few miles north of Aultbea) and Firemore(it is on the opposite side of Loch Ewe from where you are staying and the turn of to it is at the Mace shop in Poolewe.

The walks section of this site( https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/ ) is useful. Details of lots of walks, with photos.

That was a good sighting of the deer. I'm always a bit amused that the stags in velvet wander together easily now but in a few months will be kicking seven bells out of each other.

Hope you manage to see a white tailed eagle. Over a few years I've seen about six and three were around Loch Ewe, but understandably its the luck of the draw. I saw two within half an hour and then none for over a year.

Hope you have a great time.

Dave
 
Tringa said:
Unfortunately John you arrived with some rough weather.

Apologies if you already know the following but a couple of nearby good places, IMO, are the beaches at Mellon Udrigle(minor road leading to it is at Laide a few miles north of Aultbea) and Firemore(it is on the opposite side of Loch Ewe from where you are staying and the turn of to it is at the Mace shop in Poolewe.

The walks section of this site( https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/ ) is useful. Details of lots of walks, with photos.

That was a good sighting of the deer. I'm always a bit amused that the stags in velvet wander together easily now but in a few months will be kicking seven bells out of each other.

Hope you manage to see a white tailed eagle. Over a few years I've seen about six and three were around Loch Ewe, but understandably its the luck of the draw. I saw two within half an hour and then none for over a year.

Hope you have a great time.

Dave
Click to expand...

The rain is so heavy that we won't be able to get out. We nipped to the local store..in the car..only to find it closes at 2.00pm. There are huge puddles on the road and vehicles doing about 20-25mph.


The orange colour rain radar will be here at about 8.00pm. That's really heavy rain. The dark blue is quite heavy,too. Same forecast for tomorrow.

weather.metoffice.gov.uk

UK rainfall radar map - Met Office

Our rainfall radar map shows precipitation and rainfall rates across the UK. Includes forecasts up to 5 days and observations from the last 48 hours.
weather.metoffice.gov.uk
 
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