‘A Rare and Special Place’.

This booklet is a record and a celebration of Scottish Natural Heritage would like to The Taynish Art Trail 2015. The project was express its sincere appreciation to the coordinated by Caroline Anderson of Artmap Argyll artists who have participated Scottish Natural Heritage and Lesley Burr in the Taynish Mill Art Trail and to Rob of Artmap Argyll. Mulholland for allowing us to look after his The trail included the work of nine local mirror figures again this year. artists: Sian McQueen; Jane Walker; Lucinda Hopkinson; Kirsty Brady; Louise Artmap Argyll artists would like to thank Oppenheimer; Jane Smith; Lesley Burr; Caroline, Gordon and Doug for all of their Margaret Ker; Melanie Chmielewska and patience and assistance, often making the visiting artist, Rob Mulholland. impossible possible!

The photographs of the artworks are Dedication accompanied by extracts from The Poet’s Roses are red Seat notebook in which visitors were Violets are blue invited to record their thoughts, feelings Doug and Gordon did good and observations about their experience of Caroline did too! Taynish. (and everybody else) We hope that you enjoy sharing in the sentiments of the visitors who unanimously anon agree that Taynish is indeed, ‘A Rare and Special Place’.

Extract from Notebook at Poet’s Seat – Sound of the Summer Taynish 2015 Flying fish on a sea of grass They twist and tumble, like happy We were just passing….. stopped on the children beach in our kayaks and saw you there. Running and laughing in the sunshine. Thank you for letting us join you in the April last I saw them on the loch, blessing of your beautiful bench. twittering A wonderful work in stone and carving in I thought my heart would burst a glorious setting. And I worry, on windy days like this, how they find food for young, or barn doors closed when work is done. Soon on the farm road, under darkening Skies I’ll see them on the wires …each year I cry a little more …. When the swallows fly

Taynish is a magical place. One of my favourite trees is the silver birch. I have enjoyed sitting here reading George Campbell Hay’s poem “To a Bonny Birch Tree” p6, and having a “wee go” at reading it in Gaelic p5. “Do Boidheach”. Lovely to celebrate the seat with Liz and the So I opened this box expecting cake and kayakers. found none, A little bit sad. I know cookies will go stale Two visits in two days! It is so but mint cake is perfect! magical here. How hard our In short, lovely scenery needs cake. forebears worked 200 years ago. Also midges…..ahhhh! Midges! How lucky we are to live in such a beautiful country.

We thank you for art, poetry, statues, stones, sculptures, spiders webs, paintings, tapestry, mosaics, ancient woodland, mill, stream, sunshine!

Myrtle Johnston sat on this wee box with three grandchildren and had good fun on the rocks.

We love Taynish, a special place now even more magical with the hidden artworks to find.

Summer has come to Argyll at last, if Lucy and Robert are exploring the forest. only for today, and it is heartbreakingly Reminds me of what makes me happy. beautiful. Warm walk in the rain, enjoying the Love this place fact that the art makes us look anew Love my friends at nature. Love my dogs Love life! Just been stung by a bee It meant no malice It gave its life for its impulse But now here we are Mac Molluch, wee black Scot And Long Tall Jane in this spot Feeling at peace and lives pulse And a wee bit like Alice! What a fantastic box, seat, view and favourite artists work. Hope you will repeat next year now we’re living in Craobh Haven

Picnic in the bright hot sunshine with the Taynish is a really beautiful place, I grandchildren. Every day is different here. loved the artwork along the way. The shiny sea people have marched nearer. We even made a game out of it. Do they walk when no-one is looking? Whoever spotted it first got a point (I won.) My favourite one was the spider web. It was very detailed and pretty. It must have been a very talented spider. We found a shrew and it crawled right up onto my granddad’s hand and I got to hold it. It wasn’t scared at all, in

fact it kept crawling on the path Me and my boys just chillin. Love it beside us so I put it in the grass so here, such a treasure. it wouldn’t get hurt.

Came down with my big son Colin and Daisy the dog. Sat watching the fishing boat come down the Loch.

First visit to this lovely place. So many magical things to see. Fantastic views. Stopped to sit a while and just relax.

Magical Taynish full of wonders Natural and made. A tiny shrew held in my granddaughter’s hand Her pleasure palpable. Art installations, thought provoking, Amusing, clever, so at home in this setting. Beautiful! Sitting here with my husband Together now for almost 50 years Taynish is awesome; I love the creatures Glad to be alive and happy. and spiderweb and also the art!

Scotland – the most beautiful country in the world – whatever the weather.

The eye is greedy for colour Probably my favourite place and view in Light shifting tones on water the world – truly stunning! And land. Kids spend ages playing on the shore – The ear is gentle, passive as such a shift from our lives in London. It receives the play of wind Love the art installations – an added In branches and water over stone feature – brought art to life. The skin touches tone, air, moisture suddenly connecting Healing. Wonder of warmth then chill All in flux yet eternal The senses receiving messages Of the spirit revealed in nature

Beautiful – I feel happy!

Stillness rippled by the gurgling burn as smooth mirrored bodies are made to pebbles. Tranquillity dappled with children’s laughter and puppy dog splashes.

I liked the deer, I liked the giant spider’s I like the waterfall web and the mirror people. I love the beach Playing games in the wood with granny and I liked the wooden stick deer and the pops giant diamanté spider web! But I really Happy liked the mirror man and woman. Running fast My brother falling over in the burn! Such an inspiring view – too beautiful for words. Visiting again one of our favourite Thank you to the artists for amazing spots. A lovely sunny afternoon to art works. spend at the beach – walking in the woods and enjoying the wonderful scenery. We love it!

Blowing a gale now and these poor people in the water are fighting to stand up!!! Love the spider’s web and off to see the rest of the art. Lovely to be here.

Have loved everything here!! Amazing Blue salt water, brown seaweed cobweb!! Wonderful experience. Smelly bog myrtle, hardstone seats Mirror people, shiny rocks A truly magical place to contemplate Blowing winds making waves rise. the people we miss the most. Wind and waterlillies Waves and wild flowers Sunshine and Sand Clouds and blue sky.

Wonderful – really enjoyed it Our children loved the art treasure hunt Can’t find number 12 Loved the poems too.

Approaching the shore The Fergusons actually have a house I couldn’t ask for more here for holidays, but unfortunately we The beauty of the sea haven’t taken a walk this way in ages. Seems just for me We were amazed at the transformation Ebb and flow of the mill and how beautiful all the I don’t want to go wonderful artwork is!! My personal The beauty of the day favourite piece was the glass waterfall. I Will not go away thought it was very smart and pretty. Wind and trees Looking forward for the mill to continue I love the strong breeze transforming, will be back very soon to The beauty of the world see more. Is constantly unfurled.

I really enjoyed walking through the forest and being close to the sea.

Rippled water, Sun kissed, wind swept White horses playing like dolphins From the Poet’s Seat at Taynish.

I enjoyed everything like the waterlillies and artwork. My favourite artwork was the birds.

Taynish, Taynish We came…..it was rainish! Taynish, Taynish Have you spotted the mosaic fish? Taynish, Taynish Magical…. Make a wish!

Auntie Tracey brought us to this lovely place We’re from the sunny side of the UK – Leicester.

Wonderful to see great art in such beautiful surroundings. Fab!

I love the woodland and the beautiful view. And all of the amazing sculptures hanging from the trees and floating in the river. My favourite thing is the massive spider’s web and the bronze and silver people stood on Today we went to Kiells then Danna now the rocks. I think this is the best Taynish. We’re staying at Castle Sween for place so far in my holiday, this place is a week which you can see from Danna. amazing. The work here is impressive. Not too shabby. The best might be the statue of I like the spider web! the girl and the dog.

Beautiful, I love the deer!

A most enjoyable amble through the trees, honeysuckle and artwork. Isn’t nature wonderful! All very inspiring.

A beautiful restful place. We enjoyed the artwork, particularly the woven oak leaves. The trees are lovely, especially the old oak.

The peace, The peace, tranquil, silence And beauty

We come here very often. Though so close to South Kintyre by sea how far and different again it seems. We loved all the sculptures and art but especially the girl and dog (with wings) the roundness and substance and equal size of the side by side figures. The mosaic fish are lovely, the little tessellated shapes echo the foliage of hemlock water dropwort and choppy running water. I also loved the pictures of toads, the warty patterns in their skins and

true to life expressions in their eyes. Who would have through that art would What a fantastic find enhance the beauty of Taynish – but it What an inspiration truly does. A nature/art sandwich. Peace and tranquillity Heaven I love this place, especially all the different pieces of artwork! They The water twinkles and the cobweb reflects are amazing! off the sun, boats bobbing up and down on the water and the shimmering mirror A place to listen to the sound of windblown people. silence.

We always love this little trail – what a delight to find all the art objects and the boardwalk to the lily ponds which will give enormous pleasure in the future. Changes based on imagination and love of the area – thank you.

I love nature and all creatures. I like sitting by the sea and listening to the waves just at sunset. I also love poetry and simple stuff and I like making

friends and playing with my cat, Sunny Yesterday we went a walk and found a Boy and my other pet Tiddles, my giant geocache box. So today when we saw African snail. this I was like “GEOCACHE”! Beauty, natural and manmade Roses are red A place of wonder and song Violets are blue Of space and balance, of beauty Midges are pests and nostalgia through the decades And clegs are too! always calling home (inspired to write again and led by the Whoever you guys are who organised this poetry of others) need a medal! Well done, excellent. Hope you keep Hello beautiful Scotland! We’re from going! Vancouver, Canada, a long ways away and we absolutely adore the lovely scenery. We’re just two travellers travelling around Europe for the summer. We’d like to write a lovely poem inspired by this place….but, we’d rather spare anyone from reading it.

Thank you Scotland for being so beautiful Waving green, rippling blue, layered green, and welcoming. We hope to be back soon. white speckled blue, warm light, swirling crystal air. I like the forest because there are Peace at last lots of nice things We love the artwork and the scenery is pretty.

Art, historical remains and the most beautiful landscape. My three passions all in harmony and today the sun shines – at last. What more could I ask for?

I like splashing in the rock pools!

I liked seeing my grannies tree.

What a magical, beautiful place here in . Taynish. These words on the stone Perfect afternoon for a dip in the sea. bench touched my soul and all the art on Joined the mirror figures for a seat at the way down here helped me think of the rock. An idyllic spot. life and what is really important for me. Our son is tamping through the water A beautiful day in a beautiful place. and the world seems to stand still for a Inspired installations. The Argyll moment between the busy normal life. artists are superb! Thank you god for this place and thank you Scotland and Poet’s Seat for making We have to care much more for our it possible for us to experience this great world to save such places for the future. moment. All what the nature gives, we should give back as our ancients did.

Beautiful to walk amongst nature along with art inspired by nature. More please.

We picked the best day of the year, nice walk and beautiful art, well done to all.

Super walk and fantastic views, relaxing and good for the wellbeing, great art!

Once again here I am With my master Love coming here for a swim And to chase sticks That are thrown for me.

Beautiful place

Amazing view and sculptures This walk just gets better and more A true delight, a beautiful unexpected enchanting. Thanks to the wonderful arts adventure. Makes you stop and think for a and crafts additions. A little bit of heaven minute about what life is all about. on earth – thank you guys! What an absolutely beautiful place. The sea is beautiful, love the carving. Outstanding and thank you to those who have made it so. A delightful place full of excellent artworks and pleasant walks. Well worth coming Beautiful, peaceful, inspirational – thank back again. you.

The sea is as blue as the sky Victor – I liked the Adam and Eve The sea sounds like the breeze Julie – I liked the spider’s web The sun feels warm on my skin Andy – I liked the old mill I like walking through the forest. Sarah – I liked the mosaic fish Jen – I liked the glass waterfall Sean – I liked the mosaic fish Jenna – I haven’t got enough eyes for all this art!

I feel an ocean breeze here The water is as blue as the sky The sun shines more than the moonlight And I will never lie.

Unchanging, the rocks adorn the shore Unchanging, the waves lap the rocks Sunday morning, 23rd August 2015. Unchanging, the foam atop the waves Returning to this spot after about 15 Life changing, this special place years from when I last lived and worked in Argyll. Delighted to see the Amazed by the creativity in these! sensitive art placed appropriately in Beautiful. Especially the spider’s web! the landscape. Spotted the article in the Oban times but I will miss the The flowers growing tall weekend coming. Hope many more There’s no prettier sight to see people will visit and enjoy Taynish. Come to Taynish and sit beside me! View at Taynish What is this life A late August morning If full of care Balmy wind from the east We have to time For one’s nose, skin and eyes To stand and stare. A veritable feast! (In this case to sit….well I am getting old) Amazingly beautiful place right on our door step Something is held here Late afternoon In this ring of hand cut stone – elemental Bit windy and sunny peace. Lovely blue skies out to the west With gratitude to you for offering this Best 49th birthday ever! haven of creativity x A wonderful place on a wonderful A memory to hold day –happy birthday Lizzie!!! Of arriving at this place To share time with Splish, splash, crash A special friend. Gurgle, whoosh A moment precious and timely Nature’s sounds Held by the running water And splashing on rocks A reflection of love and trust A timeless friendship Breath of a long phase of life

Stumbled upon here after a last minute decision to come back to the area and stay in Tayvallich. Amazing place, lovely and peaceful. Artists, you are amazing and so, so trusting. Thank you!

So I will build my altar in the fields The blue sky my fretted dome will be And the sweet fragrance that the wild The day we laid Granda Wullie and flower yields Granny Gumboots to rest. Gone but not Will be the incense I shall raise to thee! forgotten – miss and love you loads.

The mist has lifted!

Sizzled sausages here in summers of 1970 and 72 with our children. Lovely to return.

Seven years of visiting 2/3 times a year and still our favourite walk/views. Dogs love splashing about while we admire the view.

Dragonfly, spiders web Sky so blue Mirror men at tides edge Hills so green Wicker deer, mosaic fish Life so short Toss a pebble, make a wish

Hide not your talents From use they were made What’s a sundial in the shade?

Morning seat and reflection. Life is for If all the girls lived over the sea living – enjoy fellow travellers! What a good swimmer Kieran would be!

Sun shining, diamonds glistening on the We really have to burn this book water, dragonflies and butterflies freely We’ve hidden it in a nook roaming all around us in this magical Within a crook place. Truly a place where heaven and Still….we have to burn the book earth meet. Today I’m blessed to be Before he begins to look here and share in the beauty of Taynish Just don’t look! with my dearest friend Christine. As we sit upon the Poet’s Seat, sun shining What a wonderful spot down on us sharing in all our happy So peaceful and beautiful memories and times gone by. Knowing A gurgling brook that good times will always be and this A gentle breeze beautiful place will always be here for And sunshine – perfect many to share.

What a glorious day in a fantastic place. Paradise found!

There’s not a lota otters t’see Where the otters oter be But glad we came to see Where the otters oter be!

Budapest, Budapest, that’s what they call it in Budapest My lad’s in Budapest Taynish, Taynish that’s what they call it in Taynish I saw a fish in Taynish A visit to Taynish It jumped and bumped in Taynish. was more than I could wish on a lovely summer’s eve Sitting here enjoying the peace, silence and with my beloved Steve! view

Beautiful peaceful place. Wonderful We came here on a whim to come across art in nature and To see the otters swim nature in art. Alas they didn’t appear So we are off for a beer! Thank you and goodnight!

Blue skies, very very warm, beautiful still day. Our puppy Luna, is caked in mud after launching herself off a wooden walkway into a bog. She is happy. Thank you for sensitively honouring this special place.

Ever changing Taynish This is a very special place for our 45 years after the family came to family.We said goodbye to our dad in Tayvallich – 4 of us are still coming – this beautiful spot and planted a tree at and our grandchildren also come. We all the other side of the loch. love this place. There is a very special garden where the trees of memory grow, For the observant amongst you – marked by the kindness and concern should eternity or infinity be in an that good friends show. hour? Its roots are cherished memories Of good times in the past Serene and beautiful – heaven! Its branches tender promises That hopes endure and last Now l know more than yesterday. It’s a place of peace and beauty Where bright new hopes can start As they say in the Highlands It’s memories’ lovely garden “It’s beautiful just!” That soothes the hurting heart. Loved the poems – read one about a hawthorn to my husband. Thinking Blustery afternoon I’ll buy the book. Dogs had fun playing in the sea Beautiful spot.

Boats and sails pass us by and we look over the loch. A view to ponder and enjoy

From Bury St Edmunds Suffolk to this lovely spot – thank you – loved the photos too.

What a lovely tranquil place of Scotland Lovely place, glad we decided to go left – different to Sheffield. instead of straight on. We’ll be back again. What a lovely idea to put an anthology Love peace and happiness – blessed be. of tree poems in this special area – I’ll be back often. The world may be in a terrible mess, with refugees and all that stress If one could have a single wish Peace and calm at beautiful Taynish.

Magical!

Thank you for making this beautiful place I sit and wonder where to next? accessible for wheelchairs. Mind you we How can I take myself away still have to make it back up the hill! From this shore and blue sky? Loch Sween flat calm beckons We came back to this oasis of And Jura awaits, but for a tranquil beauty. Moment more I will sit in peace And smile at the babbling of the brook. Great to revisit the mill and what is now a picnic area. In summer 1967 I ran a scout summer camp here and used the mill as our kitchen area.

After the rain stopped the sun’s pale, weak light pierced the grey clouds on the headland. A sliver of silver brightness lay on the loch’s waters. The burn burbled in the background. Is there something swimming. Maybe an otter?* Normally I am passing by in the Puffer *Yes it is! – unaware of this calm spot. We are here with the dogs who are enjoying a I came here to write a poem and to my swim. It is sunny and calm – an surprise I found this wonderful Indian summer before the cold comes anthology of the poems. The collection and we will spend the winter by a big and this place – such inspiration to me. fire, toasting chestnuts. This will be a memory.

Beautiful, so close to heaven, almost perfect. It’s a good day, good to be alive, good to be here, Thank you!

Summer at last! What a lovely and novel idea having a poetry seat – love it! We come here every year and it is always a place of peace and calm and tranquillity.

Enjoying the perfect sun and gentle breeze

whilst watching all the dragonflies buzzing This place is lovely – like a dream. around.

It is a calm, beautiful and natural place. Lunch by the loch on a sunny

autumn day – Perfect! Good for the Only in Scotland :) soul. A warm autumn day of an

anniversary walk Roses are red We love living in Argyll – the most Violets are blue beautiful place in the world! Taynish is beautiful

Just like you! Sitting with my girlfriend of 6 years. It’s

MAGIC here…. What more can I say. No view, just a magical mist on the loch. True simplicity and silence at its very We can feel the warmth of the sun above, best. it looks just like the moon. We return to Sunshine and fresh air all you need and see the view another day, but this is a love forever. beautiful memory. Loved reading all the moving words in this book, so good to One should be inspired at such a perfect know Scotland and Argyll are so much scene appreciated by visitors from across the With sun dappling the water of bonny Loch world as well as here, even through such a Sween terrible summer. Great idea to give people A yacht sails past, going out to sea the opportunity to write and draw – so Forever free much creativity! No otters or eagles to be seen today But it matters not Beautiful spot and the sun is This is like a land that time forgot shining. We are from Cheshire where we have our own “Library in Came on a whim from the fog on the Landscape” at Teggs Nose Loch Awe to sunshine and ozone – Country park. Great idea! absolutely stunning and our dog Tazzy loved it too. Our second time here and we love it more than the last time! On holiday from SE Swishy trees, blowy breeze, England and staying not far from here. Cups of tea and sandwiches The weather is autumnal but fab! It’s so Such a fantastic place! quiet and peaceful here, you can chill, savour the stillness of your surroundings. It’s so beautiful and I will remember it forever.

The colours, beauty and tranquillity made this the perfect venue for a perfect day.

The light which once rested upon the water creeps up onto the hill and encroaches the sky with pink and blue light. Water runs beside you, the motion and noise taking each worry away with it. As the wind rustles overhead sheets of amber and green flutter down and encase you in a swirl of autumn. The light eventually fades and the sky’s vibrant powers cling to the tree tops into the trees and out of sight, awaiting the What a spiritual place where the next day of anticipation. stillness soothes the soul. A single autumn birch leaf dancing on Roses are red an invisible spider’s web Violets are blue “It’s magic here” Doug and Gordon did good Indeed it is. Caroline did too! Dam building, stone skimming, (and everybody else) Dragonfly chasing, frog spotting Lizard watching, rock scrambling Sunshine warm on our faces and so Bird watching, tree identifying unexpected. A truly babbling brook. Playing, chatting, thinking A frog seen in the stone. Stillness and What a beautiful place. movement – just lovely. The seat is an excellent addition to this wonderful spot Taynish is a very magical place – thank you! Myself and my family have enjoyed coming here over the years and I hope The sun is shining brightly in a cloudless we will continue to in the future. autumn sky. The brook is babbling and gurgling as it runs towards the sea, Beautiful still nature by the loch sparkling and twinkling on its descent. The And children in later years may rest water is a mirror still. It holds the trees While greener the grass grows and brown dappled hill in its frame. Beauty My love will always show and peace. But time runs out, tick tock, tick tock.

Today I saw dragonflies, lizards, robins, mushrooms, berries, brambles, frogs, fish. I liked it today, I was with my mum and my nana, they liked it too. It wasn’t sunny but warm.

We saw lots of dragonflies and a wooden fish!

Even better second time round!

Sitting by the shore listening to the babbling burn on a sunny day – what more could a body ask for? Perfect!!

The passing of time all around slowly Stunning day, amazing place. We had to the fore as the water slips past. forgotten how beautiful West of Scotland is. Faster to the right with the urgency of the burn The perfect ending to fantastic week’s Pushing, pushing towards its holiday. destination.

Sitting by the sea I remembered this: I Libster, lobster, lobster lee We Sitting in the deep blue sea See Libster, lobster where are you? Tree Gone to lunch, back at 2! Sea

What a hidden gem! Shut your eyes and listen to the sound at Beautiful spot, and well thought out. the end of this sentence Will visit again “You’ve broken the b------pen son! Said mum! The metal men in the loch really allowed me to reflect on life! Just when you think you have seen all the beauty Scotland has to offer you stumble upon this little piece of heaven. Peaceful Tranquil Stunning

A magical place hope to visit again

I opened this book and I saw the lovely words written inside.

I love the spider web so very much and The place was like a fairy-tale. It was it FRIGHTENS YOU LOADS! amazing to see all different artists come together to design something truly magical. The only problem are the midges!

I held the pine The pine held me Against the wind Then green needles in my hand Blew away

I really liked the deer!

Into the sunlight close by a rippling stream Breath-taking views that make you never want to leave, but once you do, you want to return immediately.

Roses are red Violets are blue This place is lovely The artwork is too!

The wonder of the world I sit upon this bench and wonder Its beauty and its power What to write of woodlands yonder Its colours and its shapes And as I look I try to think All these I have seen Of words to write in pen and ink Look ye also whilst life lasts Into the pages of this book I found nestled in a tiny nook Loch side water’s edge Kept safe and dry within a chest Wood’s stretch, sailing kedge Near to a bench where people rest Stream’s bubble, wind’s blow And as I sit some words appear Tide’s pull, time slow Jumping to the lines without fear Distant forest, rocky cairn Forming themselves into a verse Shoreline home, mirror men They write a story of a woodland curse We visited this place for the first time last Where animals like dragonflies year and quite simply loved it. Finding the Turn to glass before my eyes silhouettes was great fun. This year it was And deer that when they next are our first place to re-visit and we have loved frozen finding the mosaics. It really is like a little And turned to a statue willow woven piece of heaven and we love it. Thank you And people who have strayed from for all you do to keep it and make it so the shore special. Are turned to glass forever more (Molly Macleod age 11) Love the new bench, such a lovely view so calm and peaceful.

Opened the box Had a look What did we find? This lovely book!

I have known this spot for fifty years Its beauty and tranquillity valued today more than ever Its lack of mobile signal and Wi-Fi only enhances its appeal

Only thing missing today is the frying pan. Had many frying pan feasts here with family and friends over the years. Such a beautiful and relaxing spot. Love the bench.

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