Photo by Peter Teago AN CARRANNACH The General Interest Magazine of , , , Kishorn, & Kinlochewe Districts.

Kayleigh Maclean Aged 15

NO: 387 JUNE 2020 COMPLIMENTARY

Lochcarron Area Covid19 Community Support coupled with a variety of unknown outcomes, it is very Fund. difficult to plan ahead. The funding awarded to us has made a massive difference to so many people, By now most of you will be aware that Lochcarron volunteers have been able to deal with a variety of Community Development Company has received issues at a local level and as the lockdown continues, funding to help and assist people residing in the we are aware that the number of people requiring Lochcarron and Kishorn area through the Covid19 support will increase. pandemic. Each community has their own way of working and the level of funding differs in each area, in This is the area covered. our case assistance came via The Supporting Communities Fund which is administered by Highlands and Islands Enterprise and from the North Initiative, TRADEBE and . The programme is managed by Lochcarron Community Development Company and covers a range of projects, aimed at assisting the community through the Covid19 crisis.

Covid19 affects every single person on the planet to varying degrees. In our area, we focussed our support package on those who are self-isolating, the more vulnerable, people with young families and those whose income has been reduced due to the pandemic. In order to best understand the level of need and the What’s the funding for? value of matching support required, we engaged in conversation with a number of local businesses, The overall package includes the setting up and members of the community, other local organisations, delivery of the following outputs: The Howard Doris Centre, The Ferguson Medical Practice, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and other Essential services provision including food Development Officer-supported organisations known to • be submitting applications to the SCF. deliveries. • Resources for growing your own food – Plant and The newly formed volunteer group, the Community seed exchange located at the Rockvilla Hotel Car Support Network responded quickly to the pandemic park. and set up a network of volunteers to support their Green/Red Flag initiative, an alert system put in place • Volunteer Co-ordinator service established and to assist anyone in need of medical assistance or help. operated, Elaine Porritt and Vicky Stonebridge Other volunteers took to their sewing machines to jointly filling the role. make face masks which are available to anyone and Households have access to basic food provisions. can be picked up from The Bistro or by contacting • Lochcarron Community Development Company. • Signposting service and chatline to direct you to

Given the unusual circumstances created by the virus, (Continued on page 2)

1 (Continued from page 1) the help you need. AN CARRANNACH

• Assistance with equipment for home schooling. Published by An Carrannach Society, Lochcarron.

• Expenses for homeworker volunteers making PPE. Chairperson: Joanna Macpherson

• Hand sanitiser and gloves made available for key Deputy Chair Roger Cundiff

workers. Editorial Content Material for publication must be emailed to Michelle Teago at • Small discretionary budget to help ease the [email protected] or a phone burdens imposed by Covid19. call to 01520 722688

Delivering the project was quite an undertaking and we Sub Editor Joanna Macpherson owe our thanks to the team of hardworking inspirational, volunteer food packers, mask makers, Area Representatives: local food providers, delivery drivers, the Community Network Group volunteers, Ryan and Lauren (The Applecross: Rockvilla Hotel) and Marek Dziezok. The contents of Kishorn: Carol Cocks 01520 733 213 Shieldaig: Helen Collins [email protected] the food boxes delivered were locally sourced and we Torridon: owe a massive THANK YOU to Emma, Hector and the

Team (Lochcarron Food Store), to Chrissie and Features: A Word from the Church/On Reflection Duncan (Lochcarron Garage), Shaun and Hazel (Lochcarron Bistro) and to Pnut and Lisa (The Gardening – To be confirmed Albatross) for their hard work. Nature Notes – Hatty Arthur – 01520 722 551 At the time of writing, funding continues to be available, Email: [email protected] please get in touch with us if you need assistance, we Advertising: [email protected] are here to help. E.Mail;[email protected] Local Rate: Entertainments, Sales, Services, Trade Whole Page £28, Half page £18, Quarter Phone;01520722987 page £10 Mobile;0749837343 Out of Area Rate: Please email us for prices News & info is being updated on facebook; www.facebook.com/lochcarroncommunity and new Mailing: Hilary “Post” Rooke website lochcarroncovid19.com Again a huge thankyou to all the volunteers who have Distribution: Anthea Zell made all this possible. Treasurer: Alec Cormack Mackays Cottage Strathcarron IV54 8YX 01520 722603 [email protected]

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2 All Saints (Scottish Episcopal) Mission Kinlo- chewe

HOLY COMMUNION is celebrated on the first Sunday of each month at 2.30 pm in the Church of Building (Lockdown restrictions permitting) Everyone Welcome For further information please telephone 01445 781454 Charity Number: SC004655

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND APPLECROSS, LOCHCARRON & FREE CHURCH TORRIDON LOCHCARRON & APPLECROSS Charity No: SCO32334

Scottish Charity No 038169. Due to the Coronavirus lockdown, there www.freechurch.org are no church services or other church Worship services are presently activities until restrictions are lifted. However, this does not mean that the available either online or phone church is on a break! We are still here to Please contact Rev Marcos Florit serve our communities in whatever way on 01520722999 or email we can. We produce a newsletter every [email protected] week to encourage each other and to for directions on how to get ensure that we feel connected and united connected. in our faith. We welcome you to join in. The service length is approximately If you would like to talk to someone or 1 hour. would like a prayer, please feel free to You may join by video or just audio. contact our Minister, Rev. Anita Stutter on 01520 722783 0r 07469759457. “The LORD is near to all who call on Email [email protected] him, to all who call on him in truth “ Psalm 145:18” ALL ARE WELCOME

www.freechurch.org

3 I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that ON you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. (John 17:24) This means that our flesh is above. He is the first fruits; and if there is such thing as the first fruits, it REFLECTION obviously means that there are to be more. This body of which the Psalmist said that it is “fearfully It is a matter of fact that when we think about special and wonderfully made” is there! William Barclay, a dates in the year it’s probably Christmas and Easter minister expressed it like this: In that come immediately to our minds, especially in a the Ascension the manhood of Jesus was taken up culture that is rooted in Christianity. We may also into the heavenly places, and, therefore, our add, if we think hard, Pentecost. But quite often manhood will also be so taken up. … Here is the there is one occasion that is simply overlooked: The answer to the hope which Tennyson expressed: Ascension of our Lord. “Thou wilt not leave us in the dust; Thou madest For the past month of May, the Christian Church man, he knows not why; He thinks he was not made calendar includes both occasions. Yes, I know that to die; And Thou hast made him; Thou art just.” this issue of the “An Carrannach” is the June issue, Those that set their hope in Jesus, can live with this but you’ll see, I hope, that it makes sense to keep assurance, with this hope, knowing that this hope thinking about, especially the Ascension. Because it will not lead to disappointment (Romans 5:5). is the Ascension of Jesus that, in a way, makes real Fourthly, it means that there are some things we for us everything that Jesus came to do, and it keeps can bank on. Since by means of the Ascension making it real as time goes on. Let me share a few Jesus Christ has been enthroned, He rules over all thoughts about it. things! And because He rules, and He rules with us The apostle Paul, writing to the church at Ephesus, in His heart, there are some essential things that said: But grace was given to each one of us take place: He intercedes for us (Romans 8:34). He according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore, always lives to make intercession for us (Hebrews it says, “When he ascended on high, he led a host of 7:25). He appears in the presence of God on our captives, and he gave gifts to men.” (Ephesians 4:7- behalf (Hebrews 9:24). In him we have an advocate 8) The author of the letter to the Hebrews said that in the presence of God (1 John 2:1). He is busy in as we live as Christians we do so looking to Jesus, the Majesty on High, that we may have rest in our the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy souls, now and forever. that was set before him endured the cross, despising Praise God for the message and ongoing effects of the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the the Ascension of Jesus; may we live always in its throne of God. (Hebrews 12:2) And, the apostle Paul light. tells us what He is doing there, of course apart from ruling over all, and all things—for this is the meaning Rev. Marcos Florit of being seated at the right hand of the throne of God—he is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. (Romans 8:34) Surely, there is much more that may be said about the ascended Jesus Christ, but the following few thoughts point to how relevant this is for us. Firstly, His ascension is the divine declaration that his sacrifice on behalf of sinners was fully accepted. It is the one who died and was raised who is there. Which is a source of joy for him and for us. Secondly, it means that he has given believers in Jesus Christ, as individuals and as a community, the gifts we need to live as we should. Certainly, the Spirit of God, but also everything that is needed for life and godliness. Nothing we need is lacking. (2 Peter 1:3-4) Thirdly, it means, and this is no minor thing, that one such as I am is there. A body such as we have, though transformed that it may never die, is there in the presence of God Almighty. As nineteenth- century Free Church minister, John ‘Rabbi’ Duncan, expressed it, “the dust of the earth is on the throne of the Majesty on High.” He is there not for himself, but also for us. He said this was to be the case. In the prayer he made for his followers before the crucifixion, this is the way the Saviour spoke: Father,

4 LOCHCARRON FOOD CENTRE, MAIN STREET, LOCHCARRON ROSS-SHIRE, IV54 8YD www.lochcarronfoodcentre.co.uk 01520 722209 WE ARE STILL HERE TO HELP!! WE HOPE YOU ARE ALL STILL WEATHERING THE COVID-19 STORM! WE ARE EXTREMELY LUCKY TO STILL BE IN A POSITION TO HELP AND THIS IS THANKS TO YOU FOR FOLLOWING OUR GUIDELINES! SO, A BIG THANK YOU TO ALL FOR YOUR KINDNESS AND UNDERSTANDING! WE NOW HAVE A MORE STRUCTURED DELIVERY SERVICE. DELIVERIES GO OUT AT 2 O'CLOCK ON DAYS SHOWN BELOW - MONDAY AND THURSDAY AFTERNOONS - ARDANEASKAN, ACHINTEE, CAM-ALLT, ATTADALE TUESDAY AND FRIDAY AFTERNOONS - ACHINTRAID/KISHORN WEDNESDAY - APPLECROSS (VIA ALFIE EDWARDS) EVERY DAY/ANYTIME - ALL AROUND LOCHCARRON PLEASE HAVE ORDERS IN BY 4 O'CLOCK FOR SAME DAY DELIVERY, ORDERS EMAILED AFTER THIS TIME CANNOT BE GUARANTEED TO BE DELIVERED THE SAME DAY. ORDERS WELCOMED THE DAY BEFORE YOU WOULD LIKE IT DELIVERED. YOU CAN ALSO PUT ORDERS IN FOR COLLECTION PLEASE WHERE POSSIBLE, CAN YOU EMAIL YOUR ORDERS TO [email protected]

OPENING HOURS ARE - MONDAY TO FRIDAY 7AM TO 6PM SATURDAY 9AM TO 6PM SUNDAY 10AM TO 1PM

WE ARE STILL FULLY STOCKED WITH MOST GOODS PLEASE CHECK US OUT ON FACEBOOK ( LOCHCARRON FOOD CENTRE - SPAR LOCHCARRON )FOR DAILY UPDATES AND PHOTOS OF OUR STOCK. PLEASE REMEMBER TO USE THE HAND SANITISER PUMPS WHEN ENTERING THE SHOP AND PRACTICE SOCIAL DISTANCING WHEN IN STORE. THIS IS FOR THE SAFETY OF NOT ONLY YOURSELVES BUT OUR STAFF WHO ARE PUTTING THEMSELVES AT RISK TO SERVE YOU! OUR DOOR HANDLES, CARD MACHINES, BASKETS, TROLLEYS ETC ARE ALL BEING REGULARY WIPED DOWN WITH ANTI BAC CLEANER.

MANY THANKS AND STAY SAFE EVERYONE! EMMA, HECTOR, PAM AND TONY

5 CNOCAN NAN OG with the wind still present. We should have moved An introduction to to a more sheltered site, but the party was tired and there was the hope that the wind would fade. After “How on earth did I get into this situation high all it was June! Making sure the party had eaten above Achnashellach with not a strong wind, we bedded down, willing the wind to die away and but a gale which has broken some tent poles give us a peaceful night. At least it was keeping and threatening to carry away another the midges away! Once settled I listened to the flysheet.... I was in charge of twelve young wind and could hear that it was increasing. A gust adults from the Outward-Bound School, came ‘charging’ down from the crags of Sgorr Burghead in Moray.” Ruadh, whipping spume from the lochan, striking the tents and away went some of the lads’ gear up It was in the 1950’s and 1960’s that the possibility the hill, cagoules, rucksacks and the odd billy. of using the hills and wilderness areas as a means Some flysheets started going, and there was a of introducing young people to the ‘great feeling of rain. My bivvy was secure and I tried to outdoors’ led to organisations like the Youth settle but soon one of the lads woke me to say that Hostels Association, local authority Outdoor one of his group was very chilled, so we got him Centres, and Outward Bound being developed. into my sleeping bag and quilted jacket and into The latter opened centres in Wales, the Lake my bivvy tent. After inspecting everybody we District, Devon and Scotland and I became made a very quick decision. I got them all brewing associated with Scotland’s only centre in Burghead. Although ideally placed for sailing with a very good deepwater harbour, it meant travelling to the hill areas of the Cairngorms, Glen Affric, Wester Ross and other parts of the Highlands. Taking young adults into the hills of the Highlands provided ideal opportunities for exploration. This led to many young people who had no concept of the wonders of Scotland’s scenic landscapes experiencing the hills and glens in all weathers and in all seasons, which in turn led to many epic adventures. It was with Outward Bound that I became very familiar with the lochs, hills and glens of WesterAlfie Edwards Ross, presenting often a cheque in for charge£2000 to Chris of W youngfor adults of varying abilities,the helipad fund. backgrounds and and once they all had a hot soup or tea I got them physiques. So it was, that a group of twelve young in rapid time (there is nothing like a good reason lads, accompanied by myself, hiked over from for motivation for things to go quickly), to pack all West Monar Forest down to Achnashellach to their personal belongings and sleeping bags into discover there were no shops but noted the their rucksacks and then collapse and boulder their existence of Lair Youth Hostel. We were camping tents and group gear and to leave it there. We got remotely amongst the high hills of this region under way to get to Lair Youth Hostel in a couple hopefully high enough to lessen the scourge of of hours where the warden saw our predicament midges. From Achnashellach we made our way up and had us all settled in. Being June and in the the good track, carrying our own gear and tents NW Highlands, it hardly got dark so after a rest, thus being completely self sufficient. As it was leaving three lads in bed, the rest of us did the trip near the end of our four day trek with the packs back up to Coire Lair with empty rucksacks to getting lighter and the party much fitter, we bring everything left behind back down. We all elected to go over the three tops of Beinn Liath learnt some valuable lessons, not least of being Mhor and camp on the bealach at the head of able to rise to and recover from a difficult situation Coire Lair. The weather was none too settled with without mishap. So ended our epic “Battle of a fresh breeze on the tops which made it much Coire Lair” cooler. We should not have camped in such an After a day’s rest we continued our trip to exposed site, but on the following day, leaving the Shieldaig in dry clothes and well fed having made camp standing, we climbed and Fuar good use of the youth hostel. This was for me and Tholl (Wellington’s Nose), all the lads revelling in the lads a great introduction to Wester Ross and their ability to cope and enjoy this remote and the Lochcarron area which I have since come back stunning part of the highlands. I can recall one to enjoy in full measure. Scots lad saying to me that he had not realised Scotland had such tremendous scenery. We got back to camp and settled in for the night Doug Angus

6 WEATHER RECORD - SLUMBAY APRIL 2020

Max Temp Min Temp Rainfall in Date: in oC in oC inches 1 8.70 5.10 0.32 2 6.80 0.90 0.13 3 7.40 1.80 0.24 4 9.40 6.20 0.07 5 16.50 7.80 0.29 6 10.90 6.40 0.05 7 12.60 7.80 0.01 8 8.70 4.30 0.06 9 13.20 4.70 ----- 10 19.10 8.20 0.15 11 11.30 3.10 0.05 12 10.70 1.10 0.02 13 10.10 -0.40 ----- 14 10.60 4.30 ----- 15 10.10 6.20 0.03 16 15.80 2.90 ----- 17 16.80 1.20 ----- 18 16.90 1.60 ----- 19 18.70 2.10 ----- 20 18.70 3.30 ----- 21 19.60 5.50 ----- 22 21.50 3.80 ----- 23 20.50 2.90 ----- 24 20.20 3.10 ----- 25 16.10 3.90 ----- 26 12.30 3.20 0.10 27 10.90 1.50 0.04 28 13.60 2.30 ----- 29 13.50 4.80 0.02 30 15.40 5.80 -----

TOTAL APRIL 2020 1.58 RUNNING TOTAL 2020 33.13 TOTAL APRIL 2019 1.76 RUNNING TOTAL 2019 25.54 7 THANK YOU AMATEUR PHOTOGRAPHIC KISHORN FIRE COMPETITION

This is to say thank you to all the wonderful, kind people who helped put it out. The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, lots of them, mostly retained volunteers, who willingly venture forth into they know not what. The residents of Achintraid and Ardaneaskan and the wider community, who pulled together CALLING ALL YOUNG AMATEUR and worked hard, to protect houses and PHOTOGRAPHERS! land, some also provided refreshments Here is an opportunity for all young and toilet facilities. PDG Helicopters, talented photographers to enter a whose pilot flew with great skill and competition. We are looking for a suitable made a huge difference and finally The photograph to print on the front cover of Scottish Ambulance Service, many, the An Carrannach every month of the year many thanks to you all, I am not going (except January). Each month a different to name individuals but you know who photograph will be selected. This will then you are and everything helped. be entered into the competition final to win the PRIZE of £100, to be awarded for the THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. Best Photograph of the Year, in December 2020. Colin Murdoch How to enter: 1. You must be under 21years of age on Achintraid Hill Fire February 1st 2020. 2. Only one entry per person, per month. We would like to thank everyone who was 3. The subject must be landscape or involved in trying to bring the hill fire under th local wildlife. control which started on Monday 4 May. 4. Submission as a jpeg in black & white The fire originated on Achandoilach and we or colour raised the alarm with the Scottish Fire Service 5. Your name, age, and contact details as soon as we noticed it, after which we must be included. called our immediate neighbours to alert them and then attempted to beat out the fire 6. Send photos to ourselves, it was astonishing how quickly it [email protected] spread, and in the unpredictable directions it By the 12th of each month chose to take. The first Fire Service appliance arrived followed shortly by four further Best of luck and get out and about with appliances, by this time the fire was spreading your camera! rapidly towards the East and within close proximity of our house. A long anxious night lay ahead for local residents and fire crews. The following day the hill fire still burned in some areas and a helicopter was brought in and utilised on the more inaccessible areas and eventually the Fire was extinguished. Thankfully there were no casualties and no homes lost. Everyone’s efforts are greatly appreciated. Mike & Susan Tweats. Achandoilach. Kishorn

8

SWRCCS Coronavirus Pandemic Response

The Coronavirus pandemic has brought challenges to all of us including South West Ross Community Car Scheme (SWRCCS). The situation is constantly changing but we are trying to ensure we follow the latest guidance and support efforts to limit the spread of the disease. This is an ongoing rapidly changing environment but we will continue to support members of the community and our volunteers affected by the situation with the full backing of our funders.

What we are no longer doing

SWRCCS will no longer be able to take passengers on journeys unless there are exceptional circumstances. Only the most essential journeys will be considered and these would normally be with the full backing of the local health professionals, including GPs, dentists or opticians. If you need such an essential journey then please phone Peter on 01520755737 (home) 01445791335.

What we are doing

SWRCCS is working with local people, volunteers, shops and cafes, local medical practices and others to provide support to vulnerable groups and people who are self isolating and have no local friends, neighbours or family who are able to support them. There is a huge amount of support already out there and we certainly don’t want to undermine this fantastic community spirit or take its place, but we are there for anyone who can’t - for whatever reason - access that. SWRCCS telephonists are to regularly contact previous clients and others who are isolated to check on them and to see if they have everything they need. SWRCCS drivers will be delivering prescription medicines, food and other necessaries to those who need it or for whom commercial services are not available or are not a practicable option.

What we can do

By phoning 01445791436 we can be asked to :- Deliver prescription medicines Deliver food Deliver DVDs (from Shieldaig Film Club) or other things to make life a little easier (shared resources so no payment needed) Take small essential household utensils such as kettles etc away for repair / replacement Make a regular phone call to you to make sure you are OK o Do some research for you into what services are available such as boiler repairs, plumbing emergencies etc etc;

Any users of deliveries will need to phone either the local surgery or the shop/café and make all the arrangements and necessary payments for what they need. You can then phone SWRCCS on 01445791436 to arrange pick up and delivery. Prescription medicines will be delivered on a particular day for an area and don’t need a phone call from the user.

What you can do

Get in touch and volunteer if you are able to take on deliveries in your area or if you want to volunteer as a telephonist making calls to people to keep in touch and to see if they need anything. To make deliveries you need to have access to a car or other form of transport, have been driving for 5 years minimum, not be self isolating or shielding. To be a telephonist you need to have access to a phone, good organisational skills and have a friendly pleasant nature to support people on the phone.

Phone Peter on 01520755737 (home) 01445791335 or email [email protected] Please keep updated through our website www-swrc-carscheme.com

9 Ferguson Medical Centre Newsletter Thank You

A huge thank you to Sue Robb for organising the Skiffies Tent to be placed in the Surgery car park and to the skiff team who erected it. At the present time, we are trying to reduce the footfall coming into the surgery. The tent shall be invaluable, especially, when we have a downpour! In addition, thank you to all our patients for their patience and understanding, whilst we must operate a bit differently at the Practice. There is a triage system in place, where the Doctor will ring patients, rather than appointments at the Surgery.

Quick Facts

Contacting a Doctor

Our phone number is 01520 722215. Most of the time, you will get somebody answering if you phone between 8am and 6pm. However, there will be an answer phone between 1pm and 2pm, when we are closed for lunch and also on a Wednesday afternoon, when the Practice is closed.

Outwith those hours, please contact NHS24 on 111. There is always a GP available in the Torridon/Lochcarron area. Sometimes you may have to wait a bit to get in touch but please be patient, the system does work

In emergencies day or night phone 999. The Ambulance Control will involve your local GP if appropriate

10 JUNE @ THE INN Hello,

Still here ...... I always said if the world would only stop for a month or two I could catch up, Well that's wrong! Because I have not. But it is not over yet, it seems we have a few more weeks to go especially in the hospitality industry. Every day we read emails, join forums, webinars, zoom ( had never heard of it ! ) all looking for solutions, best way forward, and giving advice and tips on how we can survive, a life with rules and boundaries, move forward, carry on ...... truth is as I write this we do not know what our future holds, we can only predict and prepare as best we can and follow the guidelines . Unless there are drastic changes, I do feel that the Applecross Inn that we knew is gone , and the new normal will be challenging to all ...... if they got a queue at Burger King then what can we expect ! When the time comes ...... and the rules and regulations are made, we will announce our opening date, what we have on offer, how we would expect to serve and run our business's, we are working together on this in Applecross It may not be instant when the rules change, it took a month to stop the boat, but we hope that by next month we are writing some better news and we can be with each other again , albeit at a distance, we so look forward to this, stay safe xx

We are still serving Take Away from Applecross-Inn-Side-Out on a Friday night from 5pm to 7pm , it has been well received, we follow guidelines of pre order and pay, or contactless on collection, we ask for pre orders and times and strict social distancing on collection, no need to leave your car if preferred. Tel. 01520 744262 or email/Messenger Info on our Facebook page accessible to all .

Haddock/Monk /Chips/ Mushy Peas *New All-Inn Burger, delicious Selection of Aron’s Ice Creams (he is working on new flavours) Kids and veggie options too & Specials as per advertised

We are also licensed for Carry Out Ales/Wines/Spirits again please contact for details I am not here all the time!

Please check out our website for more info on upcoming local news and follow us on Facebook for updates! www.applecrossinn.co.uk [email protected] @applecrossinn

11 NATURE NOTES chance a few years ago over at Carron, with the Up to May 15th 2020 Osprey, fish in its talons, flying low enough over I’m writing this on May 15th and me for its wonderful yellow eyes to be clearly watching (on and off…) a visible. Spotted Flycatcher flying out The Owls I wrote about last month are busy from a bare branch on one of our feeding three very healthy-looking owlets. All the beech trees as it hunts for youngsters are beginning to lose their white down insects. Its erratic but dazzlingly acrobatic hunting and it won’t be much longer before they climb out technique is wonderful to observe and we are of the nest and hide among nearby branches. We privileged to have a pair nesting in our garden. see the adults quite often as they bring food in for They have nested here ever since we bought Bank the young during daylight hours and there is House 18 years ago but as the oldest known bird absolutely no mistaking when this happens as a lived for 11 years (RSPB), it would be safe to loud cacophony of alarm calls is struck up by all assume we now watch another generation of these sorts of garden birds. beauties. At 4.15 this morning, I was listening to the dawn This is the same assumption that I make about our chorus (as you do….). Now at its peak, a Swallows which, this year, turned up to nest in our wonderful potpourri of songs filled the air and shed on April 23rd (we were actually standing in some of the clearest calls came up from the loch. the yard when the male arrived hot-winged from Sounding like the ‘shocked and scandalised cries Africa). Their life span is also noted as 11 years. of a pantomime dame, with particular echoes of Again, we have enjoyed the summer presence of the late comedian Frankie Howerd”, the comical this species for 18 years and they are, at this time, calls of some male Eider Ducks added to the busily refurbishing an existing nest. For many symphony, three or four of them calling almost in years our Swallows have managed successfully to unison and, no doubt, performing extravagant rear two broods of 4/5 young and I have some display moves. If you’re not familiar with this lovely phone footage from a couple of years ago particular sound, I urge you to listen to a recording of the actual moment that a group of young left the of Eider ducks – it will bring a smile to your face. nest for the first time. It was a noisy, joyous Famous for their very soft, downy breast feathers moment in time. with which they line their nests, Eiders are still I have been aware of House Martins flying above ‘farmed’ in Iceland. Traditional farmers collect the house but, alas, during our time here we have down from nests at the start of the breeding never had any nesting on the side of the house. season, leaving enough to avoid eggs chilling and Mind you, if they ever had, they would have had a giving the female time to pluck more from her lot of trouble from some of the many House breast to keep her eggs warm, a practice that has Sparrows that have taken up residence been around for hundreds, if not thousands, of here…..Sparrows claiming squatter’s rights cause years. Although eiderdowns have, for the most a lot of problems for House Martins. part, become a thing of the past there is still a call I received reports of Cuckoos being heard in for this, now very expensive, material and the way Achintraid on April 15th and 17th. Some Cuckoos it is gathered is hugely more desirable than how keep to specific territories but others may choose some goose down is still collected. If you are to go where there is a high density of ‘host’ unaware of the practice of the ‘live plucking’ of species. Cuckoos parasitize species such as goose down, read up about it. Meadow Pipit, Dunnock and Reed Warbler. These On a visit to Lindisfarne many years ago, I saw are the most common although, according to large numbers of Eider Ducks or ‘St Cuthbert’s reference books, possibly up to a hundred others ducks’ (a centuries old Northumbrian name for have been used. Eiders, still used today). Cuthbert was a 7th On April 19th, we were treated to the sound and century missionary whose hermitage was on the sight of 6 Crossbills in our garden. They passed Farne Islands. He was an early conservationist and through during the morning, pausing for a while in naturalist who gave protection to the abundant one of our Scots Pines, three males and three wildlife there and tradition has it that he “had a females – a real treat. Another particular treat (but special attachment to the ducks sharing his remote which unfortunately I didn’t see) was the sight of island cell and laid down rules for their protection an Osprey hunting over the village shoreline on in the breeding season…..Today it is also true that May 12th – Jan Overmeer reported watching the at the Northumbrian sites associated with St bird hovering over the loch before it travelled Cuthbert, particularly Lindisfarne and the Farne eastwards up the loch. The sight of one of these Islands, the duck features strongly, like the saint birds plunging its talons into water and them himself”. (Birds Britannica). emerging amid a glittering shower of spray is Porcelain and pottery models of Eiders are unforgettable, a breath-taking moment. I was available as souvenirs on Lindisfarne and the lucky enough to witness this spectacle quite by bronze sculpture by Fenwick Lawson of St

12 Cuthbert at Lindisfarne Priory includes one of these ducks sitting at the saint’s feet. Kishorn Notes

We have been seeing plenty of butterflies We have all enjoyed an exceptionally dry sunny including good numbers of Orange Tips which is Spring which has certainly helped us in our strange lovely. The leaves on trees are a glorious, fresh 'lockdown' status. There is always the other side of the green and our bluebells are, at the time of writing, coin and sadly Achintraid was dealt a fearsome blow looking just wonderful. with a very frightening hill fire. The hill was tinder The garden is colouring up fast and the gutters are filling up with leaf cases shed from our copper dry and it was awesome to see how fast a small fire beech as its leaves open out. ripped away up the hill and along behind the village The hawthorn trees are flowering and the destroying a hundred-acre plantation in its tracks. An rhododendrons are in full bloom. There is energy Sgurr, at the other end of the village, looked like a all around the garden. volcano in the crystal-clear night as the fire raced up As I come to the end of this writing, there is the hill. pandemonium in the trees….one of the parent owls has returned to feed the babies and all the The community spirit was as alive as the fire, with all garden birds are trying to mob it and every alarm the able-bodied out fire fighting with the fire brigades. call imaginable is filling the air. There’s a baby The wind changed at about 4 am which was a miracle wood mouse popping in and out of its hideaway to as the hill started to burn away from the village and feed on sunflower seeds dropped by the there was no loss of life or property. No one slept that squabbling Goldfinches and Siskins that are on our night and no one relaxed until the helicopter the feeders. following afternoon water-bombed the remaining fires I am looking out of the window at the garden and and at last gave everyone peace of mind. We would counting my blessings (which I do every day). like to record a very big thank you to Colin Murdoch Happy listening, looking and watching. for organising the helicopter on behalf of Reraig estate, without whose help the fire undoubtedly would Hatty Arthur have continued on its greedy path. We owe an Bank House enormous thank you to all the fire brigades and to the 722551 [email protected] volunteers who worked until their eyes were red and their heads were full of smoke. Hopefully the lesson Willow Warbler has been learnt and, as Helen Murchison writes in her article, we must take great care. I sit here in the sunshine One of our well-known village residents has reached of an April afternoon, the dizzy age of ninety. We would like to congratulate lulled by the Springtime trickle Mark Pattinson on this achievement and to wish him of a willow warbler’s song, Many Happy Returns of the day. If he continues in his a lilting cadence present healthy lifestyle, we shall all be celebrating with him in ten years’ time! The arrival of eight melodious as water’s murmur fluffy yellow goslings at Brynaport was a fitting in a mountain stream. Birthday present. Above, the sky is blue, an azure field unbroken by the trails Carol Cocks of passing planes. Only a sough of softest wind, a hum of bumblebees, WANTED busy about blossom, breaks the Covid-19 quiet: that, and the fluting Articles for your local paper. of the willow warbler’s song, Anything considered. Please liquid as tears upon email Michelle at the wide world’s grieving cheek. [email protected] Francis Minay

13 Spiders Shieldaig News

When I was living in the cottage in , I And so, it continues.... had two spiders for company, one was very large and lived under the radiator, the other very small Lockdown life has certainly become the norm and behind the bookcase. The little one made a small everyone has adjusted in their own way. We are all web nightly by the fire place. I moved it and starting to think about what life will be like when back the web would be. Both spiders came out at restrictions get lifted. I certainly can't wait to be able night. The larger one sometimes shot across to to see family, friends and neighbours properly, me at great speed and back again. I mentioned it without having to just have a chat on the phone, to one of my carers one day and she refused to through a car window or across a garden fence. sit near it as she was petrified. I have seen grown men who would not enter a room with even a You can be certain when the time comes, Shieldaig very small spider in it. will be having a party to celebrate but that might be a while away! The RSPB is encouraging us to love spiders. They are the most common phobia people have. The Shieldaig Coronavirus Support Group has been Just remember it and its cousins get rid of tons of doing great things for residents and thank you to all pests each year such as mites and silver fish. I the volunteers involved in this. This support means watched a large spider once doing battle with a so much to everyone and will have taken a lot of wasp. House spiders and daddy-long-legs eat hard work to organise. There is a separate article on millions of invertebrates every year. There are all the activities and support, provided by this group. large spiders that make the lovely spider webs we see in the traditional shape out in our gardens Nature has definitely seen the benefit of this in autumn shining with drops of dew. Not all lockdown, with less traffic on the roads and in the spiders make webs. Some lurk in a hole in the sky. Nature carries on despite us. The tide goes in ground until some prey comes its way. and out, the sun goes up and down and the midges My husband who was an Artist was asked by the WILL arrive but until that time comes, I for one, am enjoying the calm, still evenings! Professor of Poetry at Oxford University to illustrate a book of animal poetry he was If anyone can spare some time (that's one thing we compiling. My husband was able to choose the do have just now). I would encourage you, to take ones he’d like to illustrate. One began “A spider part in a really interesting research project, about our weaves a silken ball” referring to its egg-case daily lives and outdoor activities in the Wester Ross which it grasps between its fore-feelers. It area. It involves a 20-30 min phone interview, happened that a spider and its ball were in a cup certainly not arduous. If you are able to help contact on a shelf at my parents’ home. We took it back [email protected], a PhD student at to Plockton in a jar where David started to draw Zurich University. She has been across here the last and paint it with water colour. Changing the few summers but is unable to this year, so any help water, he accidently put the water in the wrong is gratefully received. jar thus parting the now bedraggled spider from its egg-case. David laid it on his table gently fanning it with a hair-dryer. Slowly one feeler moved up and gradually it made its way back to Thank You grasp its egg-case. As well as keeping your house free of other insects, spiders eat bugs that would otherwise Following Alastair's admission to feast on our crops. They are effectively the hospital, Alastair, Seonag & James world’s best pesticide. would like to say a heart-felt thankyou Arachnophobia is common in Britain where we have 650 species of spider. to Kirsten & Mason. Look at a spider’s web in your garden and see Ambulance and air ambulance teams what a marvel it is. Children when young love for a very quick response, and the staff watching insects go about their business so at Raigmore. encourage them to love spiders and not be afraid of them. All those who phoned, offered help, arrived with baking, flowers and gifts Kath Koster and for all your prayers we were very touched by all your kindness.

14 15 SLUMBAY HOUSE - LOCHCARRON Holiday let in the heart of the west coast.

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16 SAMARITANS Whatever you’ve done. Whatever life’s done to you. Call Samaritans. No pressure. No judgement. We’re here for you any time. 0845 790 9090.

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17 Current situation: As I write, the country and the tourism industry are still in lockdown, of course. The last few weeks have been ones of almost continuous processing of news, sharing information out to members and others that have asked, and assisting North Highlands Initiative with their Community Support Grant Scheme. In case you have never heard of this, you can find out more on the relevant website at:

http://www.northhighlandinitiative.co.uk/community-support- covid19

Basically, we can help funding provision of £1,000 (approx.) for a wide range of local initiatives that have started up as a result of the Covid-19 virus. The process can turn around a simple application within a week.

I'll also just remind you of the support pages available for businesses, although pretty much all our members have been told several times by now, so excuse the repetition!

Highland Council - https://www.highland.gov.uk/coronavirus Federation of Small Businesses - Note that this source is open to ALL, whether members or non - members - https:// www.fsb.org.uk/campaign/covid19.html Scottish Tourism Alliance - https://scottishtourismalliance.co.uk/ Association of Scotland’s Self Caterers - https://www.assc.co.uk/

Re – Opening the tourism Industry. There's also the question of exactly WHEN the industry can re-open, and one other item we've been involved in during the last ten days or so, are almost daily discussions / meetings about that aspect of things.

The bottom line is that (personal opinion, here) I don't think the industry as a whole will open before mid-August AT THE EARLIEST. I could well be proved wrong, as this depends on things like infection rates / vaccines / treatments etc. However, many have effectively written off 2020 as a season, and are considering the option of mothballing their businesses with a view to a restart in 2021 - but of course that also might depend on furlough schemes and many other items.

Collectively, we have put together a letter that will be going to the First Minister and several other government departments this week, though, in connection with re- opening, and the best way to go about this that respects and acknowledges the concerns in rural areas about suddenly throwing a switch and opening up. The powers that be need to understand that these areas are not the same as cities.

This is an open letter, and has been backed by nearly 80 businesses (including many well - known hotels) and a range of other destination groups and business associations that we regularly work with. Visit Wester Ross, LADBA, Welcome Ullapool, and the Applecross Trust have all backed this.

How soon will visitors come back? Will they be happy about doing so? We don't know the answer to these questions. One thing I DO know: Within an hour or so of Johnston commenting that it was now possible to drive to visit outdoor spaces, at least one local accommodation provider received a booking enquiry for early June - which was refused. Let's not rush into this, or Covid-19 v2 will be with us before we know it.

Well, that's the main items for now – we ARE working on the post - covid scene, and hope to have some interesting news for everybody very soon. However, that's for the future, and of course we don't know exactly when that future will be. Until then, everybody take care of themselves.

Who are we? Why...... we are: www.visitwester-ross.com www.facebook.com/Wester.Ross

Should you want to contact, comment, feedback - or even join us - Speak to : Douglas Gibson, Secretary, 01445 712085 or email : [email protected]

18 19 Local fire crews respond to Kishorn knapsack sprayers close to the fire front. wildfire Mon 4th- Thurs 7th May Some pizza even appeared on the hill to help keep our own fires burning! Day 1 The fire directly above the village was At around 1620hrs on Monday 4th May, contained just as darkness was falling – a Applecross, Torridon & Kyle Fire Stations timely opportunity for a crew change, with were paged to attend a controlled burning Kinlochewe, Gairloch, Glenelg & Balintore that had become out of control in the Kishorn taking the nightshift on a watching brief. area. The lack of traffic on the roads due to Before heading back for a wash and well- lockdown meant that there were less delays en earned rest, Kyle crew (assisted by the local route than normal in May (barring the estate worker and his argocat) headed over to frolicking lambs), especially on the single- Reraig Forest to ascertain how far over track roads. For the 4-crew attending from towards Ardaneaskan the fire had spread. Applecross, it was the quietest drive over the Bealach ever! The Applecross crew were first on the scene, quickly making an assessment and establishing control. They faced a good going fire on grass and heather, which was moving quickly due to wind and dry conditions. Torridon and Kyle appliances arrived shortly after, and together, the crews set to work using beaters, knapsack sprayers, hosereel jet and multi-purpose nozzle to extinguish the fire. The fire spread swiftly in many directions, with 2 of the crews tasked with protecting property that was under threat

Day 2 As dawn broke on the second day of the fire, the Kinlochewe crew were alerted as fire spread down into woodland at the back of Achintraid. They were deployed to the area with beaters and knapsack sprayers and soon had it under control, damping down pockets of fire within the woodland. Applecross, Lochcarron, Torridon & Kyle were paged again at 0500hrs to relieve overnight crews. The fire had slowed overnight as anticipated, but was still going, with the smoke visible for miles around. There were now several fronts to the fire, so crews were deployed to Glen Mhor House from fire spread in an area of trees adjacent to (Kyle/Broadford; fire extinguished in heather it. & small trees) and Reraig Cottage Once this danger had been contained, the (Applecross/Lochcarron/Torridon; fire Torridon crew remained at the initial site in extinguished in forest & open hillside). case of any flare ups, with all other crews Beaters and knapsack sprayers were used, (Lochcarron now also in attendance) redirected along to Achintraid village. From here they were deployed to the hill behind the village, which was now well alight. Crews worked hard on difficult ground in arduous conditions to prevent the spread of fire down towards the village, using hosereel jets, beaters and knapsack sprayers. Locals were a tremendous help, supporting the crews by beating and carrying buckets of water from the burns so that firefighters could refill their

20 with a helicopter collecting water from a conditions, and also the local residents who nearby loch & water-bombing the blaze with supported us over the four days. devastating accuracy. Your local crews (Applecross, Lochcarron, Crews were supported by the Command Unit Torridon, Kyle, Kinlochewe & Gairloch) would & Welfare Unit from . Tea and a like to thank YOU for your support during SFRS Hot Pack (akin to army ration packs) this incident. Particular thanks to: never tasted so good! Especially when they Achintraid residents who took to the hill were transported to us half-way up the hill by on the first day to help us protect their argocat – fantastic support from the estate homes. workers, thank you. Lisa Watson and other Achintraid As the day crews were relieved, Gairloch & residents for their kindness (food & Glenelg appliances teamed up again for an offers of help) overnight watching brief between Achintraid Lochcarron Bistro for a wonderful curry & Ardaneaskan. By this point, the fire was delivery mostly out, with small patches reigniting in Estate workers who assisted with use of the argocat on the hill All local employers who released staff from their main employment so that they could help to protect their community And last but not least, as always thanks to our partners, friends, families and colleagues who keep the home fires burning when the pagers go off. If you would like more information about Wildfire and ways to prevent it, please go to https://www.firescotland.gov.uk/your-safety/ wildfires.aspx Duncan Ross (Watch Commander Lochcarron), Kenny Tallach (WC Gairloch), Neil Morrison (WC Kinlochewe), Andrew the burnt area. Maclean (Crew Commander Kyle), Marion Day 3 Gilroy (CC Applecross), Emily John Gairloch & Glenelg were stood down in the (Firefighter Torridon) morning, with Torridon, Applecross & Lochcarron mobilising again that afternoon to investigate areas of smoke seen by members of the public above Achintraid and over at Reraig. Torridon commenced turning over and damping down with beaters and knapsack sprayers above Achintraid, with Applecross & Lochcarron extinguishing outbreaks of fire in Reraig forest. Day 4 With the incident drawing to a close, and the promise of rain coming later that day, Applecross & Lochcarron were called out for a final time at 0830hrs and spent the day monitoring & damping down. Overnight rain cemented the excellent work they had done extinguishing the final hotspots, and following consultation with Glen Mhor Estate, no further assistance from SFRS was required. Thanks Station Commander Iain Baker would like to thank all crews in attendance (including Ault- bea, Beauly, Broadford, Cromarty, Dingwall, Inverness) for their hard work in arduous

21 floods to roof level, Caving in Applecross making access or exit impossible. Because this find It's easy to believe that there's nowhere left to explore on this coincided with the planet. It's over a century since Shackleton, Scott and club's 50th anniversary Amundsen led their expeditions to the Antarctic and not so celebrations, we found very much less since the mountains of Tibet and later Nepal wider than usual were mapped in detail by Himalayan climbing expeditions. interest, and even spent In the present day, every square metre of the Earth's surface a day helping film it is regularly photographed from aircraft or satellites. for TV programmes An Là and Reporting So, it may surprise readers to learn that we are still Scotland. uncovering the secrets of our own part of the West Highlands, with significant discoveries as recently as In late 2016, I returned February this year. That's because the places we are to the stream bed exploring aren't visible from the sky; they are the caves slightly above Uamh hidden underneath the surface. There's no way to know Breagaireach, pulling what is hidden there unless you visit in person, and that rocks from one of the requires imagination, ingenuity and a certain amount of spots where water stubbornness. disappears. A couple of afternoons of For a decade or so, I've been a member of the Grampian excavation gained us access to a low crawl which gradually Speleological Group (GSG), and a number of us are trying to descended for fifty metres to meet a substantial stream at a solve the mystery of what happens to the Allt Breagaich in junction. This was what we were looking for - the "master Applecross: water that passes the hydro dam sinks cave" which receives all the water flowing through the underground shortly after, and it doesn't reappear until the smaller caves in the area. If we could follow this stream in foot of the hill where it joins the mill/campsite burn. We're both directions, this could be an important part of the jigsaw trying to find out what happens to it between those points as puzzle. it makes its journey westwards. It wasn't going to be as easy as that, of course. Downstream, we were immediately confounded - the water disappeared into the bottom of an impassable choke of boulders and mud. The upstream direction yielded a hundred metres or more of easy caving but then ended abruptly in a huge cavern with a waterfall entering ten metres above. It took three months or more until we were able to engineer a route to the top of this and explore a further 150m further upstream, to where the passage was too low to follow even in dry conditions.

Around the same time, another GSG team were examining a hole just a couple of metres away from this entrance. That developed into a cave that runs almost exactly parallel for fifty metres, meeting the master cave just upstream from our junction. This route has some awkward narrow sections, and is even more prone to flooding in wet weather.

Now that we had found a big stream cave high up, and one The first discovery in the area was back in 1974, long before low down, we concentrated our efforts on trying to find a my own involvement in the area. Explorers from the School way in to the passage that we reasoned must connect the of Adventure at Hartfield discovered a hole down through a two. A number of small holes were examined as we looked dodgy boulder pile, which they simply named Uamh for this elusive missing passage; from some of them we Breagaireach after the burn as recorded by the Ordnance removed tons of rock and mud deposited by the last Survey. Under the boulders, they found a narrow passage; glaciation. this is normally dry, but during flood conditions it carries a small overflow stream. Just before this disappears into a hole too small for people, a junction gives access to a network of dry passages, extending for about 500 metres in various directions. These dry passages were also formed by water thousands of years ago, and were left behind as "fossil passage" as the stream found a lower route somewhere else.

I started visiting around 2007, when the GSG were producing the first cavers' guide to the area. A few years later, we entered one of the resurgences, where water emerges at the foot of the hill in wet weather. We knew it as Flood Resurgence No. 2, but once we'd discovered half a kilometre of cave, it was given a "Sunday best" name of Uamh nam Fior Iongantais, meaning the Cave of True Wonders. We spent much of 2011 exploring and recording the many branches of this cave, although it needs to be avoided in wet conditions when the first fifty metres or more

22 Our breakthrough came in 2019. Forest Fires Once again, the key to the discovery was to observe where water sinks into the ground in wet weather. We could see Last month I wrote about modern communications. Little did I into a very tight slot, but it took three days of work over know how thankful we in Achintraid should be for the ability to Easter weekend to widen it enough for us to enter. This summon aid so quickly when vegetation caught fire near the suggested a parallel with an Easter weekend two thousand village, which spread rapidly in these extremely dry conditions. years earlier, so we called it Uamh na h-Aiseirigh, referring How grateful we were to see the fire engines and how quickly to the Resurrection, though its English name is just a every able-bodied person appeared, equipped with shovels and transliteration: Ashery Pot. buckets, ready and willing to help. Well done everybody. When we eventually got into the cave, we were able to At present our common grazing has very little grass left. This wriggle along and down for about ten metres, then we were would have posed a big problem to the earlier generation, who stopped by a low crawl that was full of mud and stones. would be sending their livestock out to the hill for the summer. However, a strong breeze indicated that it must lead On the other hand, such a terrifying fire would probably never somewhere significant, so I spent the next six months have happened, as the crofters burned an area every year so that visiting on my own at weekends to dig through this. The the heather was never more than five years old. work was arduous: wriggling down to dig an armful of material, then shuffling slowly backwards uphill, dragging Nowadays the lack of man power makes it impossible to carry the spoil out to where it could be stored, repeated dozens of out controlled burning. At one time crofters would have called times. Eventually this work paid off, and in November I upon the local Forestry Commission squad for help, on the popped out of the end of the crawl into a chamber big principle that it was in their interest to control the heather near enough to stand up in, followed by a hundred metres of easy to their forests. Increasing mechanisation has reduced the need crawling beyond. At the far end of this crawling, where for manual labour and the days of having a Forest Officer at boulders blocked the way on, there was still a draught to Achnashellach and Lecanashie are but a memory along with the encourage further progress. The work became easier, squad. I have heard it said that fish farming has replaced the because news of the breakthrough inspired other cavers to forestry commission as a source of labour, but I don’t think fish help. We could hear the sound of running water quite farm managers would share their views on the matter. clearly on the other side of the obstruction, which inspired us (or perhaps taunted us) over the next couple of months of In the days of steam engines and belching smoke it was quite common for fires to start from the sparks, near the railway line. slow progress. In dry weather the forestry workers followed the trains to make sure there were no small fires which spread so quickly. Occasionally they would get out of control and workers would be summoned from a wide area to try and extinguish the flames. No fire brigade in those times and certainly no helicopters. Not even protective clothing. It was quite common to see bundles of fire brooms at the roadside for easy access, in case you spotted a fire started maybe by a discarded cigarette or in very hot weather it is possible for a discarded bottle to ignite the grass. Hopefully this was a rare event.

Many things have changed, but dry grass is as inflammable as ever and it behoves us all to remember that and to take great care.

Helen Murchison

Eventually we were able to wriggle through into a big Striptease chamber full of precarious boulders. Underneath the boulders were what we'd been hunting - a substantial stream, The room was bare which we have now followed upwards for a hundred metres, Except for the psychedelic carpet and downwards for around three hundred. This fills in a And the set of ladders. substantial part of the gap in our knowledge of the Although the fire was unlit underground world here, but there are still missing pieces to She found herself stripping and steaming, find and slot into this understanding. In no particular order. Over the last ten years or so, we've gone from knowing only that the burn disappears somewhere underground to having The layers began to peel off- mostly three major pieces of the puzzle in place. That said, each But there were those resistant, private parts find raises almost as many questions as it answers, so it will Which were reluctant to be uncovered be some time before we can claim to fully understand the And needed encouragement and the help of a small tool. underground world of Applecross. It's all on hold during the She managed to scrape by present restrictions, of course, but plenty of work remains Unhindered by the usual comings and goings. for when we return. The age of the explorer is not over just yet. But on day three Despite the torrential rain and gale force winds Footnote: Keeping her in If this article has inspired you to explore the caves for She was beginning to climb the walls yourself, please get in touch, either via the GSG website, or Rather than the ladders. by contacting me personally. The cave environment can be both dangerous and delicate, and we are keen to help She realised that binge decorating beginners learn the skills to protect the caves and Has its limitations. themselves. Toby Speight [email protected] Sue Mitchell http://gsg.org.uk February 2020.

23 Community Councils’ Minutes Comhairle Choimhearsnachd Gearr-chunntais

Lochcarron Community Council *Church Street outside Blythswood to top of Millbrae Draft Minutes of Video Meeting of 10th May 2020 – Strip of potholes. Cattlegrids at Leacanashie and Ardaneaskan – require In attendance: Roger Cundiff (Sec and Acting Chair), installing. Alec Cormack (Treas), Aileen Grant (Min Sec), John Kishorn Hill – first cattlegrid by waterworks – large MacPherson, Colin Murdoch. pothole. Bottom of Kishorn Hill – GlenMhor – strip of holes in 1. Apologies for absence: Helen Murchison, but the the narrowest stretch opposite barrier. Secretary had been briefed by her in advance. He also noted “there are lots of other places which could be mentioned”. A few of these repairs are 2. Minutes of meeting of 9th March: the Secretary had already ongoing. received correspondence on two matters relating to Colin Murdoch asked for no 8 to be looked at again – these Minutes: replacing the cattlegrid at Leacanashie deserves to be Item 5 (Chair's Report) - an objection had been raised prioritised as the lack of a cattlegrid here is causing by the Chair of Lochcarron Community Development problems for crofters. Company (LCDC). It was agreed to re-word this item Matt Wickham had made a request re the Lair Bridge as follows. but his email has not yet been received. “in response to concerns raised about LCDC at the previous meeting, Helen had taken matters up with 4. Chair's Report. Colin Sharp, Chair of LCDC. She reported that Colin Roger, as Acting Chair, reported that Helen wishes to advised that Bell Ingram had acted precipitately in place on record her thanks to all the volunteers/ submitting their request to Planning as no formal volunteer groups in the area giving their time and agreement had been reached between the parties. energy at this time. She particularly wants to thank the Andrew Mackenzie asked to be heard at this point. He Fire Service and all those (Kishorn volunteers and and Neil Ross had also met Colin Sharp and he reported others) who helped to get the recent hill fires under on the outcome of that meeting. He urged members of control. Colin Murdoch also wishes to place on record the public to join LCDC and seek to improve the the thanks of Reraig Forest to everyone in accountability of the organisation. The Community Ardaneaskan, Achintraid, Kishorn and Lochcarron who Council expressed no opinion on the matter.” helped. Item 6 (Lochcarron Estate Community Asset Transfer (possible)) – a letter had been received from David 5. Planning Applications Murray expressing a different view from that attributed Glencarron Cottage, East Strathcarron – 20/01553/FUL to Helen. However, Helen has asked for no amendment - proposed extension to house – no objection to be made and it was agreed that the Minute reflects Rockvilla Guest House (Main Street) – 20/00794/FUL accurately what was said at the meeting. The CC also – siting of mobile catering unit – attention was drawn agreed to invite David Murray or another representative to a letter of objection already submitted. The CC of the new Group to address a future Community discussed the merits of this proposal, (mobile catering Council meeting, whenever they deem it appropriate. unit and fenced seating area opposite the Rockvilla). The amended Minutes were accordingly approved. Concern was expressed about the extra traffic movements, impact on residents nearby, impact on 3. Matters Arising from Minutes other local businesses, and visual impact. It was Salt Bins – The Secretary has made a diary note for mid unanimously agreed that the CC should lodge an -October to contact the new Acting Roads Manager, objection. The Min Sec will draft this and circulate Mack Sutherland, and advised Kenny Jeck Mackenzie prior to submission. about the new officer. Roads and other maintenance – There is a new system 6. Covid-19 Volunteer Network Support Group for gathering info on road maintenance/potholes etc. (Lochcarron and surrounding areas), and other related The Secretary has advised Mack Sutherland of areas action – This Group has been setup by Hazel Boswell where maintenance is currently needed, as follows (* and Michelle Teago. They have a team of volunteers indicates a priorty) who distributed 'flags' to all village residents and are *Top of the Maman – line of potholes. now checking these day-to-day. Any concerns should *Entrance to Tullich Estate to entrance to your roads be reported to Hazel or Michelle as follows: depot. Hazel 07878147484: Michelle 01520 722 688 : or use Bottom of Kirkton Road junction with Main Street. Facebook messenger : or email communitysupport- Junction of Croft Road with Main Street – large [email protected] pothole. Aileen had joined the group as the CC representative, *Gabion Baskets spread along beach east of Church of mainly helping with the Facebook Group In addition Scotland. to this initiative, LCDC made a successful application Main Street at top of Battery Park/Bank House – strip for funding under the 'Supporting Communities Fund' of potholes. and are using the funding to deliver food boxes and

24 fruit parcels to various households throughout the area. for 10 grants in total and, to date, we have They have also obtained compost for free distribution, received nearly £40,000 in grants, the larger ones sent out an information leaflet, provided a kit for home form the Scottish government’s Supporting schooling, organised grass-cutting at the sheltered Communities Fund, the National lottery and housing, and secured materials for mask-making by Foundation Scotland. This figure may increase as volunteers. Other activities in the offing include a we hear back about applications to other funding seed/plant exchange. LCDC are employing a part-time bodies. co-ordinator and 4 part-time drivers. Aileen explained that there is a forthcoming 'meeting' (by video or Newsletter phone) to discuss co-ordination between the two The first action by the Council was to launch a groups and invited anyone else from the CC to join the regular newsletter to keep the community up to call. date on the advice being issued by the government to keep us all safe as well as the support available 7. Correspondence to them through the Community Council. We have The Secretary has kept everyone up to date with now published four issues of the newsletter, very relevant items from the flood of information coming in. kindly distributed by our wonderful posties, Ralph Sadly, Matt Wickham has tendered his resignation, and and Dai, and it will continue for the foreseeable this was accepted with regret. The Secretary has future. written to him to thank him for his contribution. Fuel Assistance

8. Treasurer's report Staying at home has been a central pillar of our No change from last month. national response to the coronavirus outbreak but As the Leisure Centre is no longer going ahead, we are this has meant higher heating and electricity bills required to ask for the return of unspent funds for all households at a time when many people (Community Benefit Scheme). Roger will write to have seen their incomes fall. We have received 14 them to request this. applications for help and the Fuel Assistance Given that the AGM cannot be held in current scheme has granted them all, releasing £3,000 circumstances, it was agreed to publish the accounts in from the community’s coronavirus funds. the next An Carrannach. Care Packages Another major cost for struggling households is 9. Any Other Business the weekly grocery bill. Unlike some other Aileen drew attention to concerns received about the differing boundaries of LCDC and LCC, asking that communities, the Council decided to offer the this be raised for discussion/clarification with Shieldaig community Care Packages rather than Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) when we meet money grants, given the difficulty securing them (postponed from January 2020). This was agreed delivery or click-and-collect slots from Tesco. and this meeting will be pursued as a matter of urgency The first Care Packages were packed up and after lockdown. delivered to households on Thursday 28 April and 10. Next Meeting (by Video) - Monday 1st June at the scheme will continue for the foreseeable 7pm. Alec will send Zoom link to relevant parties. It future. We have received 13 applications from was agreed that we should invite the Police rep and the households, all of which were approved, with our local Councillor to participate. All correspondence to Care Packages now providing support for nearly [email protected] 20 adults and children. Grow Your Own Shieldaig Community Council report With the fine weather at the end of April, many members of the community in Shieldaig let their In the last eight weeks, the new Shieldaig Community Council has met four times, starting green fingers loose on their gardens, with raised beds appearing across the village and coast road. on 20 March, each meeting held by teleconference. Unsurprisingly, only one issue of To support this, the Community Council provided importance was discussed – how to react to the 4 tonnes of compost free of charge to member of coronavirus outbreak and best support the the community to support their desire to ‘grow community through the lockdown and beyond. their own’. The uptake was very strong, with 28 Rather than publish the minutes of these households receiving their share of the compost. Community Council meetings, we thought it The Council has also applied for additional would be more useful to detail all the activities we funding to support the growing of produce. have undertaken during the not-quite-two months Children’s Activities since the new Council formed. With the children at home, the Council was keen to do what it could to help parents manage. In Funding Many funding bodies have responded to the addition to encouraging the kids to make Easter coronavirus crisis by making funds available to cards or paint a rainbow for older members of the community groups. Members of the Community community, the Council sought funding from the Council have run through the application process North Highland Initiative. With £600 received (Continued on page 26)

25 (Continued from page 25) every child in the Council area has now received their very own Arts and Craft Activity Box, packed EMERGENCY CONTACT full of all the materials they need to really get NUMBERS creative. The Grub Hub Opening this week, Shieldaig’s answer to a food bank is a wooden cupboard at the village hall 101(for all services) stocked with food and other household essentials donated by members of the community. The Grub Hub, to be run by an enthusiastic band of Gas volunteers, operates on the mantra “give what you National Gas Emergency can, take what you need”. Available 24/7, the hope is that this scheme will continue well beyond the Tel 0800 111 999 current crisis to provide residents with essentials whenever they need them. Electricity A Random Act of Kindness North of Scotland In common with many other communities, the people of Shieldaig and the other coast road Scottish & Southern Energy villages have shown great collective fortitude and Networks Tel 0800 300 999 individual kindness during this crisis. In recognition, anyone can nominate a neighbour, National Power Cut Number family member or friend to be the recipient of A Random Act of Kindness. Once the nomination Tel 105 has been made, our eager volunteers jump into action to deliver a box of chocolates or another Water small present to the recognised person. If anyone has any questions about the work of the Scottish Water 0800 0778 778 Shieldaig Community Council, please contact the (24hours) Secretary, Hannah Cundiff, at [email protected] We hope you never need these numbers but find them useful if you do.

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36 Lochcarron Community Fund Annual disbursement from the Allt a Chonais Hydro Scheme to the Community. The scheme is open for bids. £10,000+ available! Applications to the Lochcarron Community Fund are encouraged from individuals and groups within the LCC area. Projects must be for the benefit of residents within the LCC area. Applications can be made ANYTIME for the LCC to consider at their next meeting. Applications MUST BE MADE FULLY IN BOTH ELECTRONIC AND PAPER FORM. Application forms can be obtained from the Secretary, Lochcarron Community Council, Jacob House, Croft Road, Lochcarron, IV54 8YA or email:lochcarroncommunitycouncil @hotmail.com:

Available by ordering online or from local Is your computer/laptop running slow? retail outlets. Do emails take forever to appear and Visit as for the internet ..... Well say no more. www.lochcarron.org.uk If so, then bring your pc or laptop to for information about Peter Teago’s P.C. Repair and in no local events, where to time, I should have you up and running again. Hardware/Software stay, eat, shop and visit. installed, commissions taken for new builds. Get the computer that will suit you, from gamers to just email and internet surfers. Apple products serviced as well. Email me at [email protected] or phone me on 07515656783

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