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Rain, a hint of snow and wind a sure sign autumn has arrived.

Big flood last weekend, the stock had all been moved to higher ground so all safe.  The amazing flood banks held so that kept a lot of our lower ground free from water, but we almost had the Allt Bronach Burn spilling out down the drive, but 3 bales saved the day!

Earlier on in the month we found a couple of swallow chicks that must have left their nest a bit early, hope they were ready in time for the big migration.

If you are needing some inspiration for things to do on your visit, Visit Cairngorms web site has an events calendar where local activities and events are posted, definitely worth a look

Telephone lines are down, not by wind but rain!  A large tree limb came down and took out our landline!  If you need to get in touch please phone my mobile 07888717866 fingers crossed the BT engineers will be out soon!

A wonderful selection of some of the goodies at the Kingussie Market, which will be in Kingussie on Sunday the 17th of September in the Gynack Gardens.  (Coming from the west the Gardens are just as you come in to Kingussie on the right opposite the Duke of Gordon Hotel.

For more information: Kingussie Market

Ideas for road trips, the West Coast is not too far for a day visit from Gaskbeg.  Fort William is only an hour and Arisaig about 2 hours.  On the way to Arisaig you pass through Glenfinnan with the famous viaduct in Harry Potter and also some important Scottish History! The Beaches at Arisaig are absolutely amazing and well worth a visit.  The picture is Camusdarach beach.  It was the location for the 1980’s film Local Hero.  The beach and dune system extends for quite a distance between Arisaig and Mallaig and includes the golden sands or Morar.

We were lucky to have a couple of Tawny owlets this summer, they were very good at being in the wrong place, in the middle of the road or on my wheels! so we had to be very careful.   At night you could hear them and their parents calling each other, their parents kept feeding them for a while.  Last week I saw one flying and landing properly in a tree so I think that is them fending for themselves now.  If you like wildlife I would recommend The Highland Wildlife Park is only 15miles from Gaskbeg and definitely worth a visit.  They have artic fox cubs at the moment Spruce, Storm, Rosie, Dena and Toots not sure which this one is but looking very cute!I (Photo credit Highland Wildlife Park)

The last pitched battle on British soil, that changed the Highland way of life forever.  The Jacobites led by Bonnie Prince Charlie were defeated in less than an hour by the much larger Government army led by the Duke of Cumberland.  Over a 1000 men were slain, the vast majority of which were Jacobites.

After the defeat, the Jacobites rallied at Ruthven Barracks (pictured above) before conceding.  The barracks are situated just out side Kingussie and well worth a visit.  Culloden Battle Field with its new visitor centre is a good day trip, it’s just out side the capital of the Highlands Inverness about an hour and 15 mins from the cottages.

We have just stared lambing and the sheep dogs are raring to go, this is a picture of 4 of our dogs waiting for the shepherd.  Meet (from Left to Right) Jim, Jock, Clarke and Joe.  Jim is the oldest he’s about 8 followed by Jock and Jim who are 4 and Clarke who is the baby at 2!

November has been an amazing month (apart from the last week which has been more like normal November weather) the temperatures have been phenomenal for this time of year.  The top photos are of the drive at the beginning of the month just hanging onto the last of their leaves.  The Rowan tree has lost all its leaves leaving just the berries, what a feast for the birds!

The farm has been very busy getting the tups out, and getting everything ready for the cows coming in for the winter.

What an amazing autumn we have had temperatures up to 14 and not going below 8 at night quite astonishing for the end of October.  The changing of the clocks is what really signifies winter though, it was really getting dark by 5.30 today!.

Just about to start gathering in the ewes off the hills, hopefully Ewan and all the dogs will be heading out to the high tops at the weekend, so I hope the weather stays peaceful

A wee note for anyone travelling between Laggan and Newtonmore, the road has been re surfaced which is great but they have left very dangerous ‘tar cliffs’ at the edge of the road which could cause serious damage, please be very careful.

A beautiful day to end July, and to go for a swim in the Spey.  House martins in full feeding frenzy to keep up with their growing chicks, and some cool ewes who are very happy to have their coats off.

We still have availability in August so please get in touch.

Bog cotton amazing this year, this picture is just up the back on the flats before you head up the hill.  Which is were the cows are heading for the summer as part of our environmental scheme